Tuesday’s showers did not deter voters in Rhode Island and Massachusetts from heading out to the polls to cast their votes in the 2018 Midterm elections. As of 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Rhode Island Board of Elections reported 346,735 ballots were placed. 

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, retained his seat, beating out Republican challenger Robert Flanders by a wide margin. Incumbent Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo garnered 52.1% of the votes, according to unofficial counts, to beat her biggest rival, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.

In Providence, Mayor Jorge Elorza, another Democrat, won a decisive victory over independent candidates Jeffrey E. Lemire and Dianne Witman.

Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello defeated Republican Steven Frias in District 15. Although the race was a close one, Mattiello won the day. He has said that he has the votes he needs to maintain his speakership, despite opposition from some Democrats.

In Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren secured another six-year term in the U.S. Senate, with a victory over Republican candidate Geoff Diehl and independent Shiva Ayyadurai. Incumbent governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, was elected for a second term, defeating Jay Gonzalez by a wide margin.

All three bond issues on Rhode Island ballots were approved by voters, allotting $250 million to restore and repair school buildings, $70 million to improve higher education facilities, and $47.3 million for green economy initiatives, sewage treatment upgrades and farmland preservation initiatives.