A recount by the state Board of Elections Friday morning showed that first-time candidate Marcia Ranglin-Vassell beat House Majority Leader John DeSimone by 21 votes, rather than her initial margin of 17.
The Elections Board attributed the change to the inclusion of provisional ballots. The final tally was 682-661.
Ranglin-Vassell surprised Rhode Island’s political community by upsetting DeSimone, a 24-year incumbent, earlier this week.
Lawyer Louise DeSimone, a cousin of the candidate, was among those representing him during the recount. He said the next step is unclear: “I would have to speak to the candidate first and the other attorneys who are here.”
John DeSimone and Ranglin-Vassell were not present for the recount.
Ranglin-Vassell’s supporters point to her win as a victory for progressive values in Rhode Island. She’ll face Republican Roland Lavallee in the November election.
