Bartholomewtown News: Post-Game Wrap Up

Bill Bartholomew


SOME CANDIDATE WATCH PARTY SNACKS, RANKED

5. PATRICIA MORGAN: GOLDFISH, CHEESE PUFFS, TOSTITOS
4. AARON REGUNBERG: HUMMUS, ASSORTED VEGGIE PLATE
3. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE: LA AREPA RESTAURANT ASSORTMENT

---

---

2. PETER NERONHA: NARRAGANSETT CAFE BUFFET
1. GIOVANNI FEROCE: CASSERTA’S PIZZA

A WEEK AGO TODAY

Rhode Island voters of all political persuasions proved to be largely unwilling to back so-called ‘opposition candidates’ like Matt Brown and Patricia Morgan at the gubernatorial level, but, as expected, the Democratic Lieutenant Governor’s race proved to be a battle between two well-backed, and well-followed candidates: incumbent Dan McKee and his challenger, Representative Aaron Regunberg.  What set the LG race apart from the gubernatorial battles was three-fold.

Large sums of influential funding supported each camp, with Regunberg’s experience as an east side organizer for Angel Tavares’ Mayoral bid and his own Rhode Island House seat serving as fertile ground for his broader political ambitions.

Each candidate received prominent endorsements at various levels, with McKee enjoying the support of many leaders of Rhode Island municipalities as well as state office holders, and Regunberg obtaining endorsements from Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Justice Democrats and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

​More than anything, perhaps, that set this race apart from the other statewide races last week, is the relationship that each candidate has with their constituencies, particularly the communities they seek to uplift.

Through his years as LG, Mayor of Cumberland, on the board of The Boys and Girls Club, and as a championship youth basketball coach, Dan McKee has earned the support and admiration of thousands of Rhode Islanders.  Though a centrist-Democrat, his core values are in line with what many Rhode Islanders believe the Democratic party should represent.  He is an unfiltered and humanized representation of a set of values.

On the other hand, Mr. Regunberg has earned a well-deserved reputation as an advocate for many of the underserved and overlooked portions of the state, putting his boots on the ground at progressive marches and meetings, and garnering a following of thousands.

Regunberg did resort to questionable attack ads during the campaign, and I wonder if the sour taste his negative messaging left in uncertain Democratic voters mouths is ultimately what cost him the election.

Otherwise, the LG race represented a germaine dichotomy of ideals about what the Democratic party should stand for and pursue as an agenda.

With progressive victories General Assembly, and a strong showing by Regunberg, one week ago today may be looked back on as the day that began the undoing of the modern day Rhode Island Democratic party.  Though the ‘old guard’ Democrats are largely still in power throughout the state, progressives made a strong statement that, with candidates that have strong roots to their communities, and adequate funding, Rhode Island Democrats slowly becoming more progressive.

SPECIAL THANKS to the Bartholomewtown election night team: photographer Tom Berglund (who you may have heard as a recent guest on Bartholomewtown Radio on 990wbob.com) and analyst Brenna Sanches.  The primary was our warmup for what should be a stellar general election.

All photos by Tom Berglund

UPCOMING

Be on the lookout for the pastcast of last night’s episode of Bartholomewtown Radio on 990wbob.com


Follow on Twitter @billbartholomew
@990wbob

#bartholomewtown #btownRI

---

Read More 990WBOB

• Celebrating David Clyde
• Rhode Island's Rematch
• Rhode Island's Five Best Burger Joints
• It's Only One Loss, but the Patriots have some Issues