Projo Politics Blog

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has denied state Sen. Stephen D. Alves' request for an appeal of his Democratic primary loss, ending his quest for a new election and cementing Michael J. Pinga as the winner, according to Alves' lawyer.

The move means that Alves, a longtime incumbent and powerful Finance Committee chairman, will lose his Senate seat.

Alves had lost the Sept. 9 primary election for the West Warwick Senate District 9 seat by 17 votes to Pinga, political newcomer.

Citing 18 questionable ballots, 10 of them cast by registered Republicans, Alves called for recounts and appealed to the state's highest court for a new election.

The court denied the cert -- the petition that asked the court for an appeal -- and upheld the state Board of Elections decision, which found Pinga had won after recounting ballots.

Pinga said today: "Now I can really say I'm excited because it's over."

Today's decision came after state Supreme Court Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg held a conference in chambers to consider Secretary of State Ralph Mollis' emergency motion to lift a Supreme Court stay of the Board of Elections ruling, a state Judiciary news release said.

As the clock ticked toward the Nov. 4 general election, the court had issued the stay and continued the matter to Oct. 23 to give State Police time to investigate alleged irregularities in the primary. Now it won't be necessary to meet Oct. 23.

The Judiciary statement said Justice Francis X. Flaherty did not participate in the District 9 appeal.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Talia Buford

 Tags  Alves elections Pinga R.I. primary Rhode Island Supreme Court

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