BREAKING: Democrat Carol Hagan McEntee wins special election to replace former Rep. Donald Lally

House District 33 includes parts of Narragansett and South Kingstown

By Will Collette

Carol Hagan McEntee will be leaving her seat on the South Kingstown Town Council to take the House District 33 seat in the General Assembly after winning today's special election.

But it wasn’t easy. First, she had to pull off an upset primary win over Congressman David Cicilline’s sister Susan who had the backing of powerful House Speaker Nick Mattiello. Then this race turned out to be pretty close.

Over two thousand voters turned out (a very good turn-out). Democrat Hagan McEntee got 877 votes to Republican Robert Trager’s 789.

The two independents in the race – both of whom are actually registered Democrats – trailed. James McKnight got 273 votes and Elizabeth Candas got 232.

Hagan McEntee’s victory over Trager was only 88 votes.

I am still waiting for the backstory on the real reasons why Donald Lally abruptly resigned last March just after winning re-election unopposed.

He gave the usual reason about wanting to spend more time with his family which is standard political code for “don’t call me, I’ll call you.”