PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s Democratic House Majority Leader John DeSimone is losing his seat in the General Assembly.
Friday’s recount of ballots cast in the Providence district he’s represented for 24 years confirmed that he lost Tuesday’s Democratic primary to challenger Marcia (mahr-SEE’-ah) Ranglin-Vassell.
The recount actually widened the margin of his defeat by four votes, to 21.
DeSimone had asked for the recount after election-night results showed him losing by 17 votes to the Providence teacher.
The results are not yet certified by the state elections board.
Ranglin-Vassell faces Republican Roland Lavallee in November.
In four other close Democratic legislative races in Pawtucket and Providence, ballots won’t be manually counted but electronic storage devices will be re-read to check for any discrepancies.
Statewide voter turnout for the primary was 9 percent.
