2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2018 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:	2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Country:	Rhode Island
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2014 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2022
Election Date:	November 6, 2018
Image1:	File: Governor_Gina_Raimondo_of_Rhode_Island.jpg
Nominee1:	Gina Raimondo
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	198,122
Percentage1:	52.64%
Nominee2:	Allan Fung
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	139,932
Percentage2:	37.18%
Governor
Before Election:	Gina Raimondo
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Gina Raimondo
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2018 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Rhode Island, concurrently with the election of Rhode Island's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

On September 12, 2018, incumbent governor Gina Raimondo and Cranston mayor and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Allan Fung won the Democratic and Republican primaries respectively, facing each other in a rematch of the 2014 election. Raimondo defeated Fung in the general election on November 6 to win a second term as governor, improving on her plurality win in 2014 to earn a majority of the votes, and becoming the first gubernatorial candidate (incumbent or challenger) to win a majority of votes since Donald Carcieri in 2006. It was also the first time that a Democrat was re-elected as Governor of Rhode Island since Bruce Sundlun won a second term in 1992, and the first time ever they did so for four year terms.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Gina Raimondo, incumbent governor^{[1] [2] [3]}

Eliminated in primary

• Matt Brown, former Secretary of State of Rhode Island and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006^[4]
• Spencer Dickinson, former state representative^[5]

Withdrawn

• Paul Roselli, president of the Burrillville Land Trust (running for State Senate Dist. 23) (Endorsed Matt Brown) ^[6]

Declined

• Lincoln Chafee, former governor and candidate for President of the United States in 2016^[7]
• James Langevin, U.S. Representative^[8]
• Angel Taveras, former Mayor of Providence and candidate for governor in 2014^[9]
• Daniel McKee, lieutenant governor (running for reelection)^[10]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Allan Fung, Mayor of Cranston and nominee for governor in 2014^[11]

Eliminated in primary

• Giovanni Feroce, businessman, former state senator and nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994^[12]
• Patricia Morgan, Minority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives^[13]

Declined

• Robert Flanders, former associate justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court (running for U.S. Senate)^[14]
• Robert Nardolillo, state representative (running for U.S. Senate)^{[15] [16]}
• Joe Trillo, former state representative (running as an independent)
• John Hazen White, businessman

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Allan Fung	Patricia Morgan	Other	Undecided
National Research Inc. (R-Morgan)	July 23–24, 2018	400	–	align=center	44%	33%	–	18%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Fung)	July 11–14, 2018	400	± 4.9%	align=center	62%	22%	4%^[17]	10%

Results

Moderate primary

Candidates

Declared

• Bill Gilbert, chairman of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014^[18]

Independents

Declared

• Luis Daniel Muñoz, physician and community organizer^[19]
• Joe Trillo, former Republican state representative^[20]

Failed to qualify

• Rebecca McLaughlin^[21]

Declined

• Matt Brown, former Secretary of State of Rhode Island (running as a Democrat)^[4]

Minor third parties

Declared

• Anne Armstrong (Compassion Party), cannabis activist^[22]

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, September 27, 2018
• Complete video of debate, October 15, 2018

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[23]		October 26, 2018
The Washington Post^[24]		November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight^[25]		November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report^[26]		November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[27]		November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics^[28]		November 4, 2018
Daily Kos^[29]		November 5, 2018
Fox News^[30]		November 5, 2018
Politico^[31]		November 5, 2018
Governing^[32]		November 5, 2018

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Gina Raimondo (D)	Allan Fung (R)	Joe Trillo (I)	Other	Undecided
Fleming & Associates	October 20–24, 2018	416	± 4.8%	align=center	45%	34%	9%	4%^[33]	8%
SocialSphere	October 5–9, 2018	502	–	align=center	40%	32%	17%	–	11%
University of New Hampshire	September 27 – October 6, 2018	503	± 4.4%	align=center	48%	34%	5%	3%^[34]	11%
Fleming & Associates	September 14–17, 2018	420	± 4.8%	align=center	43%	36%	7%	4%^[35]	9%
Fleming & Associates	July 28–31, 2018	407	± 4.8%	align=center	39%	37%	6%	3%^[36]	14%
SocialSphere	May 30 – June 4, 2018	501	–	33%	33%	16%	–	18%
Fleming & Associates	February 25–28, 2018	419	± 4.8%	align=center	38%	36%	6%	–	17%
TargetPoint (R-Fung)	November 4–6, 2017	600	± 4.0%	41%	align=center	46%	–	–	–

with Gina Raimondo and Patricia Morgan

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Gina Raimondo (D)	Patricia Morgan (R)	Joe Trillo (I)	Other	Undecided
Fleming & Associates	July 28–31, 2018	407	± 4.8%	align=center	42%	24%	8%	5%^[37]	22%
SocialSphere	May 30 – June 4, 2018	501	–	align=center	39%	20%	19%	–	22%
Fleming & Associates	February 25–28, 2018	419	± 4.8%	align=center	43%	25%	9%	–	20%

with Gina Raimondo and Giovanni Feroce

with Matt Brown and Allan Fung

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Matt Brown (D)	Allan Fung (R)	Joe Trillo (I)	Other	Undecided
Fleming & Associates	July 28–31, 2018	407	± 4.8%	21%	align=center	36%	7%	6%^[39]	30%
SocialSphere	May 30 – June 4, 2018	501	–	25%	align=center	35%	14%	–	27%

with Matt Brown and Patricia Morgan

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Matt Brown (D)	Patricia Morgan (R)	Joe Trillo (I)	Other	Undecided
Fleming & Associates	July 28–31, 2018	407	± 4.8%	align=center	25%	21%	9%	8%^[40]	align=center	36%
SocialSphere	May 30 – June 4, 2018	501	–	align=center	30%	20%	18%	–	align=center	33%

with Matt Brown and Giovanni Feroce

By congressional district

Raimondo won both congressional districts.^[42]

District	Raimondo	Fung	Representative
		59%	31%		David Cicilline
		47%	43%		James Langevin

See also

• Rhode Island elections, 2018

External links

• Candidates at Vote Smart
• Candidates at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites

• Allan Fung (R) for Governor
• Bill Gilbert (M) for Governor
• Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) for Governor
• Gina Raimondo (D) for Governor
• Joe Trillo (I) for Governor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Records: Raimondo Has $2 Million Before 2018 Campaign. Usnews.com. 1 August 2018.
2. Web site: Gina Raimondo (@GinaRaimondo) Twitter. Twitter.com. en. 2018-05-29.
3. Web site: Gina for RI – Let's Keep Going. Ginaraimondo.com. en-US. 2018-05-29. January 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127212620/https://ginaraimondo.com/. dead.
4. News: Matt Brown to challenge Gina Raimondo in Democratic Primary. UpriseRI. Ahlquist. Steve. April 25, 2018. April 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425181047/https://upriseri.com/news/elections/elections-2018/2018-04-25-matt-brown-democrat/. April 25, 2018. dead.
5. News: Spencer Dickinson is running for governor. Rhode Island's Future. Plain. Bob. October 2, 2017. October 4, 2017.
6. Web site: Roselli ends race for governor, endorses Matt Brown, will run for vacant Senate District 23 seat. June 14, 2018. Upriseri.com. August 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180615034943/https://upriseri.com/news/elections/elections-2018/2018-06-14-paul-roselli/. June 15, 2018. dead.
7. News: Lincoln Chafee says he will not run for US Senate in Rhode Island. The Boston Globe. Pindell. James. May 29, 2018. June 2, 2018. June 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180602073410/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2018/05/29/lincoln-chafee-says-will-not-run-for-senate-rhode-island/P0aY4H6iat3R7L082hw6DI/story.html. dead.
8. News: Langevin: I may run for governor, but not in 2018. WPRI. Kalunian. Kim. Nesi. Ted. February 26, 2017. February 26, 2017.
9. News: Who will challenge Raimondo in '18?. The Providence Journal. Gregg. Katherine. December 28, 2016. January 1, 2017.
10. News: Dan McKee launches campaign for reelection as lieutenant governor. The Providence Journal. Gregg. Katherine. November 7, 2017. December 4, 2017.
11. News: Fung announces candidacy for governor. WPRI 12. October 24, 2017. October 25, 2017. March 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180326220946/http://wpri.com/2017/10/24/fung-expected-to-announce-candidacy-for-governor/. dead.
12. News: Giovanni Feroce announces run for governor. wpri.com. January 3, 2018. January 3, 2018.
13. News: Patricia Morgan first to formally announce 2018 run for RI governor. WPRI 12. October 23, 2017. October 25, 2017. December 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171223173802/http://wpri.com/2017/10/23/patricia-morgan-announces-run-for-ri-governor/. dead.
14. News: Former Supreme Court Justice Flanders announces run for U.S. Senate . video . . Gregg . Katherine . Nov 16, 2017 . Nov 17, 2017.
15. News: Bang: The 2018 RI Governor's Race is Off and Running. GoLocalProv. Nagle. Kate. November 17, 2016. November 17, 2016.
16. Web site: GOP's Nardolillo declares for U.S. Senate. The Providence Journal. Gregg. Katherine. May 15, 2017. May 18, 2017.
17. Giovanni Feroce with 4%
18. Web site: Office of the Secretary of State: Nellie M. Gorbea: Qualifying Candidates. Sos.ri.gov. August 1, 2018. November 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201125230504/https://www.sos.ri.gov/candidates. dead.
19. Web site: RI doctor, entrepreneur announces gubernatorial run. WPRI. January 16, 2018. February 10, 2018. Lexi. Kriss.
20. News: Joe Trillo to run for governor as an independent. The Providence Journal. Anderson. Patrick. December 5, 2017. December 5, 2017.
21. Web site: Office of the Secretary of State: Nellie M. Gorbea: Qualifying Candidates. Sos.ri.gov. August 1, 2018. May 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516123254/https://www.sos.ri.gov/candidates. dead.
22. News: Political Scene: Gearing up for gun bill battles at General Assembly. Providence Journal. Gregg. Katherine. February 18, 2018. February 20, 2018.
23. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018. The Cook Political Report. en. 2021-04-10.
24. News: The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings. The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
25. Web site: 2018 Governor Forecast FiveThirtyEight. FiveThirtyEight. October 17, 2018 . en. October 17, 2018.
26. Web site: 2018 Gubernatorial Ratings Inside Elections. insideelections.com. en. 2017-11-15.
27. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor. www.centerforpolitics.org. en-US. 2017-11-15.
28. Web site: 2018 Governor Races. RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
29. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings. Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.
30. Web site: 2018 Midterm Power Ranking. Fox News. July 27, 2023 .
31. Web site: Politico Race Ratings. Politico.
32. Web site: 2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups . www.governing.com . en . 2018-07-18 . October 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021005343/http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-governors-races-july-ratings.html . dead .
33. Bill Gilbert (M) and Anne Armstrong (Comp.) with 2%, Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 1%
34. Bill Gilbert (M), Anne Armstrong (Comp.), and Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 1%, other with 0%
35. Bill Gilbert (M) with 2%, Anne Armstrong (Comp.) and Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 1%
36. Bill Gilbert (M), Anne Armstrong (Comp.), and Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 1%
37. Bill Gilbert (M), Anne Armstrong (Comp.), and Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 2%
38. Anne Armstrong (Comp.) with 3%, Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 2%, Bill Gilbert (M) with 1%
39. Bill Gilbert (M) with 3%, Anne Armstrong (Comp.) with 2%, Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 1%
40. Bill Gilbert (M) with 4%, Anne Armstrong (Comp.) with 3%, Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 2%
41. Anne Armstrong (Comp.) with 5%, Bill Gilbert (M) with 3%, Luis-Daniel Muñoz (I) with 2%
42. https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::413e574e-0568-48f4-8e4e-0a31aefa65c2