Woonsocket and Cumberland voters in Senate District 20 headed to the polls Tuesday in the special Democratic primary to replace longtime Sen. Roger R. Badeau, who died in January.

Rep. Roger A. Picard easily won the primary, fending off challenges from Rosina L. Hunt, of Woonsocket, and Thomas J. Scully of Cumberland.

Facing no opposition in the April 22 general election, Picard is now counting the days until he heads across the rotunda to the Senate chamber.

When, you ask is the special election to fill his House District 51 seat? It seems not until the fall. Election laws dictate that if a seat is vacated in an election year after the first week of February, no special election is needed. A new District 51 representative will be elected in November.

No word yet on possible contenders.

efitzpat@projo.com