Fung wins GOP Nomination for Governor

By Mark Schieldrop

Voters will choose between Democrat Gina Raimondo and Republican Allan W. Fung to be the next governor of Rhode Island after each candidate won their respective party primaries Tuesday night.

Supporters for each party grew increasingly confident as results began to roll in shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. Each took an early lead and saw those leads grow as the night wore on, especially especially for Raimondo, who was the clear winner with more than 40 percent of the vote before half of precincts reported.

For Fung, the victory ends a bruising campaign against opponent Ken Block, who conceded to fung at around 9:30 p.m. when Fung had a commanding 55 to 45 percent lead with 90 percent of precincts reporting.

“Wow,” Fung said to a crowd of cheering supporters at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Warwick. “Thank you Rhode Island!”

With a hoarse voice, Fung said “after tonight, we can all move forward together as one” and along with thanking his supporters, he said he is ready to complete his journey to the Rhode Island State House as the next governor of Rhode Island in just two months.

“On day one, I will declare Rhode Island open for business,” Fung said before launching into a campaign speech with promised to bring jobs and business to Rhode Island, eliminate impediments to business and “get government out of the way of business.”

And, Fung said, Rhode Island needs tax reform and tax reductions to ease the burden on working Rhode Islanders.

“A vote for me on Nov. 4 will allow me to be the leader to put Rhode Islanders back to work,” Fung said.

With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Fung was ahead 55 to 45 percent with 16,475 votes to Block’s 12,489.

Photo: Gina Catalano