The race for the two open spots on the Warren Council was too-close-to-call as the in-person and early votes were tabulated on Election Day, November 5, 2024, while two General Assembly incumbents representing the town — Senator Walter Felag Jr. and Representative June Speakman — were the apparent winners of their local campaigns by the end of the evening.

In the three-for-two Council chase and with five of five polling stations reporting, first-time candidate Derrik Trombley finished Tuesday atop a near evenly split decision with 2,704 votes or 36.3%. Louis Rego, the former Councilor seeking a return to the body after some two decades, was next with 2,355 or 31.6% and another newcomer to electoral politics, Timothy White was a tight third with 2,331 or 31.3%.

Of the trio, Trombley, the town native and attorney, appears to be in the best position pending the final tally of all ballots.

Tuesday's results also included early voting counts from the Warren Town Hall site. The race won't officially be decided until mail-in or other ballots are added to the counts. And the Council margin, particularly between Rego and White, seems to fall within the range of a potential recount.

"The indications are very strong that I have been elected to the Warren Town Council and I am very grateful for the confidence that my community has placed in me and I look forward to serving them," Trombley said late Tuesday night.

(Updated, 7:15 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6) As for the Assembly seats, Democrat Felag was elected to a 14th term in the upper chamber from District 10 comprised of Warren, Bristol and Tiverton with a total of 8,536 votes, 57.8%, while his opponent in a rematch of the 2022 election, Republican Allyn Meyers, finished with 6,202, 42%.

In the State Rep District 68 contest from Bristol and Warren, incumbent Dem Speakman defeated John Hanley, the Warren Town Councilor running as an Independent, 58.3%-41.2%,4,362-3,077.

It's Speakman's fourth win for state office. She was initially elected at a special election in 2019, won the next year at the general, then the last two cycles as well.

State Senate notes
At the conclusion of their first contest two years ago, an "off-year" election in 2022, Felag garnered a convincing win, 64.6%-35.2% or 2,613 votes-1,422 for Meyers. 

Felag's home turf of Warren came through for him big time in 2024. The town native and former Councilor won the day-of voting by a large margin, 59.5%-40.1%, with 3,124-2,108. In neutral Bristol, Felag won, 53.1%-46.5%, 1,343-1,176. In Tiverton, Meyers' place of residence, the challenger kept things close from in-person tallies, but Felag eventually pulled away when the early votes were added to win 2,460-2,173, 53%-48.6%.

"Every election has its own issues and this one had some, but I'm glad I got through. I think it shows the people of the district respect what I do," said Felag, who credited the "silent majority" for his success, an old political refrain he refers to as people knowing he "answers their phone calls and listens to their concerns."

Felag said he expected to do well where he did and was pleased that he eventually prevailed in Tiverton as well.

"I know Tiverton is tough because it's the furthest away. My strong points are always Bristol and Warren," Felag added. "As long as I maintained a close race there (in Tiverton) I felt comfortable. Last time beat him 55%-45% in Tiverton, so it's consistent"

In Senate 10 race, there were approximately 1,700 mail-in ballots from the entire district to be counted, which appears unlikely enough for Meyers to recoup and overtake Felag.

State Rep notes
Last Tuesday, in her adopted hometown of Bristol, Speakman won 56.2%-43.3%, 2,382-1,835. More impressively, the incumbent beat the Warrenite Hanley in his native locale, 56.6%-43.0%, 1,381-1,048.

"I am deeply grateful for the support the voters of Bristol and Warren have shown in me and I again look forward to serving them in the House of Representative and work on the issues that are important to them and me. I'm grateful and excited," Speakman said after her apparent win. She also thanked the town clerks and election officials "who madse the day possible."

For Speakman, she has now won elected office for 19 years, including 14 in her former home on the Barrington Town Council. For Hanley, whom Speakman said conceded the race later Tuesday evening, he still has two years left on his Town Council term.

"I've worked hard for the voters of my district since I was first elected to the House in 2019 and I know my opponent Mr. Hanley has done the same as well during his time on the Town Council in Warren," Speakman continued, adding over the race overall, "I never thought that it would not be close. All of my races been close. It's pretty much how all my races have always been."

More notes
Last but not least from Tuesday, incumbent Nicky Piper and newcomer Christine Barlow were the only candidates running for the two open seats repping Warren on the Bristol/Warren Regional District School Committee.

Barlow was the top vote-getter of the two with 3,295 or 51.8%. Piper received 2,952 or 46.4%.

"Serving on the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee for the last four years has been a huge honor, and I am ready to roll up my sleeves to serve again," Piper said at night's end Tuesday.

"I'm looking forward to supporting the new chair in building a cohesive committee with many new members," she continued. "We have a lot to do, including complete the school construction projects on time and on budget, planning for a difficult budget cycle as we lose funding on multiple fronts, and pushing for improved student outcomes and experiences for all students. And I cannot wait to get started.

"Over the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Christine, and the new Bristol members, and feel confident the capacity to serve our students and staff will only grow by their addition to the Committee."

Likewise, Democrat District 67 (Warren, Barrington) incumbent Jason Knight received 4,579 or 94.4% of the ballots as he went unchallenged in 2024.