NATIONAL OVERVIEW
Live updates
Polls closed at 8 p.m. in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Race calls are based on reports from the Associated Press, unless otherwise noted. Results are preliminary and subject to certification by the Board of Elections. Last updated at 11:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
- 11:30 p.m., Johnson & Wales University, Providence, via Paul C. Kelly Campos: There were no definitive results by the end of the watch party. But student Trevor Emma left feeling somewhat hopeful. “I think either way, we’re going gonna persevere as a country. Everyone’s gonna be okay, and we’ll move on.”
- 11:14 p.m., Fall River, via Jo Goode: The city of Fall River has traditionally been a blue community where Democrats have thrived. But after the unofficial numbers came in from the city’s 27 polling places, the Spindle City looks like a shade of purple, with former President Donald Trump sliding into first place over Vice President Kamala Harris. The unofficial tally: the Trump/Vance ticket came in at 50.52% of the vote compared to the Harris/Walz vote at 47.58%.
- 10:50 p.m., Johnson & Wales University, Providence, via Paul C. Kelly Campos: 19-year-old Jaden McMaster was one of many students feeling anxious as they watched results come in for swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. “Makes me nauseous, makes me anxious, makes me fear for the future of the country,” he said. McMaster and other students in the room expressed fear about the threats Trump would pose to the environment, reproductive rights, civil rights, and healthcare. 21-year-old Marnie Scholten said they worried about losing access to Medicaid. “I would not be here if there was a cap on Medicaid,” they said. “I had meningitis in March into April, and just kind of the thought of that is super terrifying. Health care and those resources that I was allowed to have is what saved me.”
- 10:47 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat James McGovern wins the race for Massachusetts’ 2nd Congressional District.
- 10:23 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Walter Felag wins the race for Rhode Island State Senate District 10, over Republican opponent Allyn Meyers.
- 10:21 p.m., Lang’s bowling alley, Cranston, via Isabella Jibilian: After Channel 10 called incumbent Republican mayor Ken Hopkins the winner of the Cranston mayoral race, opponent Robert Ferri made a speech telling his supporters that he will likely lose.
- 10:20 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Mary Ann Shallcross Smith retains her seat in Rhode Island State House District 46, defeating Republican Angelo Kapsimalis.
- 10:16 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Kathleen Fogarty wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 35, defeating Republican challenger Jennifer Nerbonne.
- 10:15 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Teresa Tanzi wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 34, defeating Republican opponent Joanne Forti.
- 10:14 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Patricia Serpa wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 27 against challenger Andrew Kowalski.
- 10:13 p.m., Johnson & Wales University, Providence, via Paul C. Kelly Campos: Some Democratic students in attendance at the college’s election night watch party are concerned about the results for Kamala Harris so far in swing-states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. One Pennsylvania resident, 22-year-old JWU student Kay Allen, said “It is terrifying. The state is split dead center. The polls are split dead center. There is no way they are calling this tonight.” Tyler Miles, 18-year-old student and Rhode Island resident, said “I think it’s interesting to see these swing-states unfold. And to see how split we are on human rights.”
- 10:13 p.m.: Incumbent Republican Elaine Morgan wins the race for Rhode Island State Senate District 34, against Democrat Stephen Moffitt.
- 10:12 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Leonidas Raptakis retains his seat in Rhode Island State Senate District 33, defeating Republican challenger James Pierson.
- 10:08 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: Ken Hopkins is now giving his victory speech. He said he got a call from channel 10, calling the election for him.
- 10 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: Successful Republican candidates are starting to make victory speeches at the Ken Hopkins election night party. Although not all the votes are tallied yet, signs point to one city council seat flipping to the Republicans. Earlier in the evening, Ken Hopkins told The Public’s Radio that he was hoping for a staunchly Republican city council.
- 9:59 p.m.: Independent incumbent Frank Picozzi wins the Warwick mayoral race.
- 9:58 p.m.: Incumbent Republican George Nardone wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 28, defeating opponent Scott Guthrie.
- 9:55 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Virginia Susan Sosnowski wins the race for Rhode Island State Senate District 37, defeating Republican Raymond Gardner.
- 9:55 p.m., Graduate Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island Democrats election watch party, via David Wright: Congressman Gabe Amo, who won re-election tonight, said he’s keeping his fingers crossed that Democrats could take back the House tonight. But Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is tempering his early optimism about the Democrats chances tonight. He said he’s still hopeful, but acknowledges it could be a long night.
- 9:54 p.m.: Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Boylan retains her seat in Rhode Island State House District 66, defeating Republican Janine Wolf.
- 9:53 p.m., Government Center, Fall River, via Jo Goode: It’s unofficial, but former President Donald Trump has taken Fall River with 50.52% to Harris with 47.58%. And Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren narrowly beat challenger John Deaton 51.43% to 48.40%. For the open seat in 8th Bristol, it appears that Fall River preferred Democrat Steven Ouellette, who took 38.82% of the vote against Republican Christopher Thrasher‘s 35.75%. Fall River showed only about a 47% voter turnout.
- 9:49 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: John Francis, President of the Cranston Firefighters’ Union, is here in support of mayor Ken Hopkins. He told The Public’s Radio that the union prefers to support the incumbent in order to have a long and stable relationship with the person in the seat of power.
- 9:46 p.m., Lang’s bowling alley, Cranston, via Isabella Jibilian: One of Cranston’s hottest issues this election is the local police gun range. We met Cranston resident Heidi Lavigne at Robert Ferri‘s mayoral election party. She regularly hears gunshots from her home, and is hoping a Ferri win can bring change. “It was like a war zone … no one in the city seems to believe it’s a big enough issue to take it head on,” she said.
- 9:35 p.m.: Incumbent Republican Thomas Paolino retains his seat in Rhode Island’s State Senate District 17, against Democrat Cameron Deutsch.
- 9:29 p.m.: Incumbent Republican David Place retains his seat in Rhode Island State House District 47, beating out Democrat Paul Roselli.
- 9:24 p.m.: Incumbent Republican Robert Quattrocchi retains his seat in Rhode Island State House District 41, defeating Democrat Shaina Smith.
- 9:21 p.m.: Incumbent Republican Michael Chippendale wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 40, defeating Democratic challenger Linda Nichols.
- 9:20 p.m.: Incumbent Dawn Euer wins the race for Rhode Island State Senate District 13, over Republican opponent David Quiroa.
- 9:17 p.m.: Incumbent Republican Jessica de la Cruz retains her seat in Rhode Island State Senate District 23, defeating Democrat Lewis Pryeor. Incumbent Independent Jon Brien wins the race for Rhode Island State House District 49, beating out Independent Michael Disney. Incumbent Democratic Congressman Gabe Amo retains his seat in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.
- 9:16 p.m.: Incumbent Samuel Bell retains his seat in Rhode Island State Senate District 5, over Republican challenger William Connell.
- 9:16 p.m., Government Center, Fall River, via Jo Goode: Unofficial results show that Trump has a strong lead in Fall River.
- 9:15 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: A spokesperson with the Cranston mayor’s campaign said that incumbent Ken Hopkins has a very comfortable lead, and that things would have to go really sideways with the mail-in ballots.
- 8:42 p.m., Graduate Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island Democrats election watch party, via David Wright: Democrats announce overwhelming passage of all Rhode Island bonds for higher education, green economy, housing, and arts funding, as well as the rejection of Question 1, a proposed constitutional convention. Democrats cast that as an attempt by special interests to commandeer state politics.
- 8:34 p.m., The Public’s Radio newsroom, Providence, via Ben Berke: The effort to stage a convention to revise Rhode Island’s state constitution does not seem likely to pass. With more than 80% of the state’s polling places reporting, a broad majority (62.5%) of voters so far have rejected the idea of calling for a convention.
- 8:34 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: People are feeling optimistic, with many of the precincts reporting and pointing toward Hopkins. Hopkins said, based on the turnout, he thinks he’ll win. “the people that I’ve seen at the polls, the numbers that we’ve seen in compared to 2020, we seem to have the same trend,” he said.
- 8:24 p.m., The Public’s Radio newsroom, Providence, via Ben Berke: All four of the state bond referenda questions appear to be on pace to pass. With 75% of precincts reporting, voters so far are signaling support for the state to borrow an additional $343.5 million for public projects, which include an indigenous peoples’ museum, port facilities for the offshore wind industry, a cybersecurity training center at Rhode Island College, the conservation of forests and farms, and many other projects.
- 8:10 p.m. Lang’s bowling alley, Cranston, via Isabella Jibilian: Democratic mayoral candidate Robert Ferri arrives at his campaign watch party.
- 8:05 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: Many of the Cranston voters I spoke to are splitting their tickets, choosing Kamala Harris for president and Ken Hopkins for mayor. Joe and Elizabeth Cerullo said they went with Harris because they believe women should have the right to get an abortion if they would like. But they’re fans of Hopkins. “I think Ken Hopkins has a better personality than Trump does,” said Elizabeth.
- 8 p.m.: Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts retains her seat, defeating Republican opponent John Deaton. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island retains his seat, defeating Republican contender Patricia Morgan.
- 8 p.m., BREAKING: The Associated Press calls Kamala Harris the preliminary winner of the presidential election in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
- 7:56 p.m., Lang’s bowling alley, Cranston, via Isabella Jibilian: Kathryn and Pete Tata have high hopes for change in Cranston. The couple are supporting Robert Ferri for mayor.
- 7:55 p.m., Johnson & Wales University, Providence, via Paul C. Kelly Campos: At the school’s media center last night, a group of about 30 students, largely Harris supporters, gathered around several TVs throughout the room, passing the time between updates by playing games and eating pizza.
- 7:40 p.m., Graduate Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island Democrats election watch party, via David Wright: The party hasn’t quite started just yet at Democratic headquarters here in Providence. There’s not a whole lot of mystery about which candidate is likely to take Rhode Island’s four electoral votes. The last time a Republican nominee won here was 40 years ago, with Ronald Reagan. But speaking to voters today, there’s a fair amount of worry about the rest of the country, even dread. But U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is brimming with confidence, saying he’s increasingly optimistic about a decisive win for Kamala Harris.
- 7:40 p.m., Lang’s bowling alley, Cranston, via Isabella Jibilian: Tuesday night leagues are in full swing, and in the event space, there’s a watch party for Democratic mayoral candidate Robert Ferri. NBC News’s election coverage is playing on the television and supporters are filtering in. You can hear the clash of bowling balls and pins in the background. Ferri is an underdog in this race — he’s up against an incumbent Republican in a city that has had republican mayors for over a decade. But attendees here are quite passionate that a change is necessary.
- 7:34 p.m., Graduate Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island Democrats election watch party, via David Wright: “Obviously Pennsylvania and Ohio are key states,” U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said. “Also I’ll be watching Texas, where Colin Allred has been right at Ted Cruz’s heels. And then I’ll be watching Florida, because I’ve been doing a lot of work down in Florida. If we win there, game over.”
- 7:20 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: Incumbent Republican mayor Ken Hopkins has just arrived at his election night party. The polls are about to close in Rhode Island and the room is filling up. In one corner, the Hopkins campaign has set up a projector where they plan to tally the results precinct-by-precinct. Campaign workers have set up tables with celebratory red balloons and food appropriate for this Italian-American affair. There’s boxes of pizza, calzones and subs. People in the room say they’re feeling hopeful. The last time a Democrat held the mayor’s seat in Cranston was 15 years ago.
- 7:10 p.m., The Public’s Radio newsroom, Providence, via Ben Berke: I’m surrounded by pizza boxes the other reporters left behind when they headed out to meet candidates and voters, watching for the results of Rhode Island’s five ballot questions. They weren’t the main issue driving voters to the polls tonight, but the ballot questions offer Rhode Islanders a direct say over $340 million worth of public projects. Lots of interesting projects could get funding, like the Tomaquag Museum, port facilities for the offshore wind industry, a cybersecurity training center at Rhode Island College, and the conservation of forests and farms. I’m also watching to see whether Rhode Islanders call for the state’s first constitutional convention in almost 40 years.
- 7:04 p.m., St. Mary’s Feast Society, Cranston, via Olivia Ebertz: It’s quiet at incumbent Republican mayor Ken Hopkins‘ election night party. People are just starting to filter in and the mayor is not yet here. Fox News is playing silently on all the television screens, and in one corner, the Hopkins campaign has set up a projector where they plan to tally the results precinct-by-precinct. Campaign workers have decked out the place in giant Hopkins signs and celebratory red star balloons on every table. They’ve set up tables with food appropriate for this Italian-American affair. There’s boxes of pizza, calzones and subs. Hopkins’ chief of staff said he expects local results within two hours, and people in the room say they’re feeling hopeful– the last time a Democrat held the mayor’s seat in Cranston was 15 years ago.
- 4:45 p.m., Calvary Temple Church, Fall River, via Jo Goode: For 86-year-old Charlie Chase, Trump is his candidate and has been “since the beginning.” Sitting in a chair outside of Calvary Temple Church, where the the parking lot is full as voters stream in and out, Chase waves his Trump sign as motorists pass by, many honking their horns in agreement with the octogenarian. For Chase, the biggest issue he see’s in the election is to see the southern border wall be finished and immigration.
- 3:07 p.m., Government Center, Fall River, via Jo Goode: There is robust voter turnout in Fall River with Board of Elections Chairman Ryan Lyons saying that lines wrapped around most of the city’s 27 polling places by 6:30 a.m. this morning. Lyons is predicting a voter turnout of 64%, up a bit from the 62% in 2020. He said the Commonwealth’s five ballot questions have also piqued voter interest, particularly the question on the future of the MCAS testing in schools.
- 10:20 a.m., Summit Commons polling location in Providence, via Nina Sparling: A middle-aged woman with a chic blonde haircut posed in front of the “Vote Here” sign outside the Summit Commons nursing home polling location. “She’s a neighbor and it’s her first time voting,” her friend advised, after I started pestering him with questions. Mona Delgado explained that she had long lived in the United States on a green card. Norwegian by birth, she didn’t want to revoke her citizenship. After Norway changed the rules to allow dual citizenship, Delgado went through the process to become a full citizen. Voting, she said, “was very smooth,” she said. “I can’t imagine how anybody can cheat.” Delgado and her compatriots affixed their I VOTED stickers to their fall jackets. “I’m going to a luncheon where you have to wear one of these to get in,” Delgado said.
- 10:20 a.m., Summit Commons polling location in Providence, via Nina Sparling: Sarah O’Halloran took a selfie with her two kids, all three sporting bright blue stickers. “This was a great experience to bring my kids to show them how lucky we are to be able to have a vote,” O’Halloran said. “Hopefully they’ll take that into account when they get older.” The kids seemed more interested in this reporter’s microphone than the voting process. One had watched their mom vote before. For the other, it was the inaugural experience. “I didn’t know it would be this boring,” he said. Luckily, a steady trickle of late-morning voters meant the wait wasn’t too long.
- 9:55 a.m., Summit Commons polling location in Providence, via Nina Sparling: Norine Duncan arrived at the Summit Commons polling location on Hillside Avenue in Providence a few minutes before 10 a.m., sporting a bright yellow t-shirt reading ELECTION PROTECTION. Duncan had signed up as a volunteer with Common Cause Rhode Island, a nonpartisan group that advocates for voting rights, to monitor the polls. “Everyone who’s eligible has a right to vote,” Duncan said. “Sometimes things get in the way, and they can’t vote.” Common Cause said 80 people signed up to volunteer as poll watchers today. The volunteers aren’t alone, though: the U.S. Department of Justice also sent out election monitors to the polls in Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket. Earlier this year, the federal agency entered into a consent decree with Pawtucket after alleging the city had violated the federal Voting Rights Act by failing to provide Spanish-language assistance for voters in past election cycles.
RACE CALLS
RHODE ISLAND ELECTION RESULTS
MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION RESULTS
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