Conservative and Liberal Groups Claim Wins in Election

Conservative and Liberal Groups Claim Wins in Election

Two key groups, one liberal and one more conservative, have claimed that this week’s election was a win for their causes. Marriage Equality Rhode Island pointed to independent Lincoln Chafee’s election as governor as victory for same-sex marriage. Meanwhile, the RISC Business Network said about half its pro-business candidates were elected.

Big step forward for gay marriage

“The impact of this election is monumental, said Patrick Smock, chair of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, or MERI.

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“We are ready,” Smock said. “Rhode Islanders across the state have spoken out for equality. They cast their votes and are sending marriage equality supporters to the Statehouse to bring fairness and respect to all the families in our state, their friends and neighbors.”

In addition to Chafee’s win, MERI said 25 of the House candidates and 9 of the Senate candidates it had endorsed were elected.

Pro-business candidates elected

It may not have been a good night for Republicans, but conservatives in general did better, according to the state’s largest taxpayer group, which backed members from both major parties as well as independents in the election.

The Rhode Island Statewide Coalition announced that its Business Network had seen nearly half of the candidates it endorsed elected—six out of 13 in the House and seven out of 12 in the Senate.

Statewide candidates endorsed by RISC did not do as well—Republican Congressional candidate John Loughlin, Republican candidate for Attorney General Erik Wallin, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio.