Election results | More coverage | send stories, photos to ReportIt@wpri.com

WPRI.com’s Ted Nesi live blogged Tuesday’s general election.
Here’s a recap.

• Governor: Lincoln Chafee (Ind.)
• US House 1: David Cicilline (D)
• Lt. Governor: Elizabeth Roberts (D)
• Attorney General: Peter Kilmartin (D)
  
• Treasurer: Gina Raimondo (D)
• Secretary of State: Ralph Mollis (D)
• Complete election results

11:34 p.m. | Here’s a postscript – a photo of David Cicilline talking with Jim Langevin at the Providence Biltmore, courtesy Tim White, who just finished up there:

11:27 p.m. | Well, with the big races called I’m going to shut down the live blog to focus on my preview of the Chafee administration. I’ll have much more coverage of the election and its outcome here on Nesi’s Notes in the days, weeks and months to come. Stay with WPRI for live TV coverage of tonight’s election, which continues as I write this with a live interview with Chafee himself.

11:21 p.m. | Chafee only carried Warwick by about 2,000 votes, but in the City of Providence – a Democratic stronghold – he beat Robitaille by 13,000 votes. “That is where Lincoln Chafee won the election tonight,” Joe Fleming says. “The Democrats came to Lincoln Chafee tonight. They abandoned Frank Caprio.”

11:19 p.m. | I know a lot of you will be turning in now that the big races are called, but I hope you’ll check back later tonight or tomorrow morning to read my preview of the challenges that will face Gov.-elect Chafee. And keep stopping by Nesi’s Notes now that the election is over for more coverage of politics and the economy in Rhode Island. I’ll have some more updates tonight for those of you who are sticking around – and our live coverage is continuing on TV as I write this.

11:14 p.m. | Former Rhode Island Gov. Bruce Sundlun, the Democrat who served from 1991 to 1995, is at the Warwick Crowne Plaza to celebrate Lincoln Chafee’s win, WRNI’s Ian Donnis reports on Twitter. Chafee has begun delivering his victory speech there.

11:12 p.m. | Lincoln Chafee’s big win in Providence – 51% to Caprio’s 30% and Robitaille’s 13% – was the ballgame tonight, Joe Fleming says, although Chafee didn’t do as well in Warwick as we expected, only winning 39% of the vote there.

11:11 p.m. | Here’s a photo of John Loughlin delivering his concession speech a few minutes ago, courtesy my WPRI colleague Christine Peabody:

11:07 p.m. | In the General Assembly, it looks like the Democrats have lost four House seats – with one race still too close to call – and also lost four Senate seats. “That’s not bad for them, because the thing to remember is two years ago they won a lot of Republican seats” amid the Obama-driven Democratic landslide, Joe Fleming points out. “So it’s probably going back to what it was now.”

That would only bring Republicans to 18 seats in the 113-seat General Assembly – exactly the same number as they had in the 2007-2008 session. These are still preliminary. (Anchor Rising’s Justin Katz adds independent Ed O’Neill and Democrat Michael Pinga to the Republican column.)

11:01 p.m. | Democrat Ralph Mollis has defeated Republican Catherine Taylor to win reelection as Rhode Island’s secretary of state, WPRI projects.

11:00 p.m. | Republican John Robitaille is now getting on stage with his wife. For a political novice, he ran a very good race and closed well. If he’d had even another week, the outcome might have been different.

10:57 p.m. | Support from unions and liberal Democrats put Lincoln Chafee over the top in the governor’s race, Joe Fleming says. With 99% of precincts reporting, Chafee has 36% to Robitaille’s 34% and Caprio’s 23%. Chafee’s lead over Robitaille in total votes is just 8,001 out of 333,552 cast.

10:56 p.m. | It looks like Democratic Secretary of State Ralph Mollis is going to hold on against a very strong challenge by Republican Catherine Taylor. With 99% of precincts reporting – all but 8 out of 537 – it’s Mollis 51%, Taylor 49%. Just 4,446 votes separate the two out of 320,076 cast.

10:54 p.m. | Not a happy political season for the Caprio family. State Rep. David Caprio lost in the September primary, and now Frank Caprio goes down to a stunning defeat after his campaign imploded in full view of the entire nation.

10:53 p.m. | Joe Fleming thinks Chafee was helped by his late TV ad referencing his father’s advocacy of a state income tax – which lost him the election, only to have his successor call for the same tax in office. “He was very honest with the voters,” Fleming says.

10:50 p.m. | A funny moment as Chafee campaign manager Mike Trainor finds out on stage that WPRI has called the race – on a screen behind him. The Board of Elections also tells us all mail ballots are in and counted.

10:47 p.m. | Lincoln Chafee has won election as Rhode Island’s next governor, WPRI projects.

10:43 p.m. | “The Democrats are still doing very well in the General Assembly,” Joe Fleming points out again. Republicans, who had just 10 of the legislature’s 113 seats in the last session, had been hoping to make some significant gains.

And it’s not too early to think about 2014 – Fleming says Elizabeth Roberts will be the Democratic front-runner for the governor’s nomination.

10:42 p.m. | The Chafee crowd at the Warwick Crowne Plaza is upbeat, WRNI’s Ian Donnis reports on his Twitter feed. They’re blasting Katy Perry. So many jokes, so little time. Chafee campaign manager Mike Trainor says counting the roughly 11,000 mail ballots could take another hour, according to Ian.

10:41 p.m. | I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t a surprise, but Democrat Angel Taveras has been elected the next mayor of Providence.

10:39 p.m. | Chafee’s lead grows to 7,062 votes in the governor’s race with 97% of precincts reporting. The Board of Elections has about 11,000 mail-in ballots, which supposedly are being counted – or have just finished being counted. Problematically for him, Robitaille hasn’t gotten over 50% of the vote in any city or town.

10:37 p.m. | No surprise, but Democrat Frank Caprio has conceded the governor’s race, my colleague Walt Buteau reports. He has just 23% of the vote to Chafee’s 36% and Robitaille’s 34% with 97% of precincts reporting. An epic collapse. The Democratic Governors Association must be beside itself.

10:33 p.m. | Chafee is holding onto his lead as we get the last precincts in. With 96% reporting, it’s Chafee 36%, Robitaille 34% – only 6,273 votes separate them.

10:32 p.m. | With 96% of precincts reporting, Mollis has a 2,611-vote lead over Taylor. That one could come down to mail ballots, too.

10:29 p.m. | Right now, Chafee’s lead of roughly 6,000 votes means we will have to turn to the 11,000 or so mail ballots to figure out who won. Joe Fleming points out that many of those mail ballots were sent in more than two weeks ago, when Caprio was doing better. “Chafee is sitting in a very good position – we’re not ready to call this yet, but he is looking very good at this time,” Fleming says.

10:27 p.m. | Just 38 of the state’s 537 precincts haven’t reported yet, and Chafee has a lead of 5,856 votes over Robitaille. It’s Chafee 36%, Robitaille 34%, Caprio 23%. Also, Ken Block is doing pretty well – he’s at 7% right now, above the 5% threshold that will keep his new Moderate Party on the ballot.

10:26 p.m. | We don’t have all the numbers in, but so far Democrats are “doing very well” in General Assembly races, Joe Fleming says.

10:25 p.m. | Chafee is up by 5,279 votes over Robitaille in the governor’s race, with 87% of precincts reporting. Chafee 36%, Robitaille 34%. Caprio still way down at 23%. A month ago, whodathunkit? Still too close to call though. Soon, perhaps…

10:23 p.m. | Although 11% of CD1 precincts haven’t reported yet, David Cicilline is leading John Loughlin 51%-44%. Cicilline held his own on Aquidneck Island – he carried Newport and did OK in Middletown and Portsmouth. Loughlin needed bigger numbers there and in the East Bay to defeat Cicilline, and he didn’t get them. A hard-fought but ultimately winning battle for the Democrats.

10:21 p.m. | Democrat David Cicilline has defeated Republican John Loughlin in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, WPRI projects.

10:19 p.m. | Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick has defeated Republican Charlie Baker to win reelection, the AP projects.

10:18 p.m. | For secretary of state, Mollis is up over Taylor by just 1,830 votes out of 273,052 counted – 86% of precincts reporting. Even tighter than the governor’s race.

10:17 p.m. | Rhode Island ballot question #2 has been approved, WPRI projects.

10:17 p.m. | Chafee is starting to open up a bigger lead over Robitaille. Chafee is up by 3,286 votes over the Republican with 85% of precincts reporting. And it’s looking to me like tonight’s Republican wave isn’t going to be strong enough to carry John Loughlin to victory over David Cicilline, though still 15% of precincts left to report.

10:15 p.m. | Democrat Peter Kilmartin has won election as Rhode Island’s attorney general, WPRI projects.

10:14 p.m. | Frank Caprio’s collapse is extraordinary to behold. With 84% of precincts reporting, he has only 23% of the vote to Chafee’s 35% and Robitaille’s 34%. Chafee is now opening up a lead of about 2,000 votes. Almost half of Providence precincts have reported.

10:12 p.m. | The R.I. Board of Elections will count approximately 11,000 mail ballots in the governor’s race by 10:30 tonight, Projo reports. Considering how close it is right now, those could matter.

10:11 p.m. | Rhode Island ballot questions #3 and #4 approved, WPRI projects.

10:09 p.m. | Chafee now ahead of Robitaille by 1,754 votes with 81% of precincts reporting. Still very tight.

10:08 p.m. | Chafee is running way ahead of Robitaille in Providence. That could give him the margin of victory necessary to stave off a very strong challenge from the late-surging Republican. Still too close to call.

10:06 p.m. | Democrat Gina Raimondo has defeated Republican Kerry King to win election as Rhode Island’s general treasurer, WPRI projects.

10:05 p.m. | The governor’s race remains unbelievable tight. With 75% of precincts reporting, Robitaille is ahead of Chafee by just 53 votes.

10:04 p.m. | Cicilline still holding onto the lead in CD1 with 73% of precincts reporting – Cicilline 50%, Loughlin 45%. Still waiting to hear from Barrington, Jamestown, Little Compton, Warren, parts of Bristol, Middletown, one-third of Providence.

10:02 p.m. | Democratic Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts has defeated independent Bob Healey Jr. to win reelection, WPRI projects.

10:01 p.m. | The secretary of state’s race has tightened to a tie, with 70% of precincts in – Mollis ahead of Taylor by just 431 votes.

9:59 p.m. | Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian has won reelection.

9:59 p.m. | Republicans have picked up 12 Democratic U.S. House seats and three Democratic U.S. Senate seats, the AP says.

9:57 p.m. | Rhode Island voters have rejected a ballot question that would have deleted “and Providence Planations” from the state’s name, WPRI projects.

9:57 p.m. | Cicilline’s lead down to four points in CD1 with 65% reporting. Cicilline 49%, Loughlin 45%.

9:56 p.m. | John Robitaille still on top for governor with 61% of precincts reporting. Just 1,567 votes separate him from Chafee. A really strong showing by a Republican who was barely known a few weeks ago.

9:55 p.m. | Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts not breaking a sweat yet – with 60% of precincts reporting, it’s Roberts 55%, Healey 39%.

9:54 p.m. | U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin has won reelection in Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, WPRI projects. Cranston Mayor Allan Fung wins reelection, too.

9:52 p.m. | Rhode Island Tea Party organizer Doreen Costa has knocked off longtime state Rep. Kenneth Carter of North Kingstown in the General Assembly. Another lawmaker losing is state Sen. Charles Lesvesque of Portsmouth.

9:50 p.m. | Cicilline is doing better than I expected so far. He’s up by seven points with 46% reporting, and that’s without most of Providence.

9:49 p.m. | Apologies if I’ve been unclear – anytime I say “with X % reporting” – I mean X % of precincts.

9:48 p.m. | Ballot question #2 – to borrow about $78 million for higher education buildings – is very close, somewhat to my surprise. It’s 53% approve right now with 42% reporting. Maybe voters were feeling frugal today amid all the talk of “the budget mess” on Smith Hill.

9:47 p.m. | Secretary of state is tight but Mollis is up by four points with 41% reporting – Mollis 52%, Taylor 48%.

9:46 p.m. | “What we’re finding now is what we thought – as Frank Caprio faded, John Robitaille moved up,” Joe Fleming says. With 40% reporting, it’s Robitaille 34%, Chafee 33%, Caprio way behind at 25%.

9:45 p.m. | No worries for Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts so far. With 35% reporting, it’s Roberts 57%, Healey 37%. Cicilline’s got a 7-point lead in CD1 with 39% in. Raimondo and Kilmartin costing for treasurer and AG so far.

9:44 p.m. | Just 15 votes separate Chafee and Robitaille with 34% of precincts reporting.

9:43 p.m. | The effort to remove “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name is going down in flames right now. With 33% reporting, it’s 78% rejecting the idea.

9:42 p.m. | We’re up to a third of precincts reporting in CD1, and it’s Cicilline 50%, Loughlin 44%.

9:41 p.m. | Robitaille on top for governor, with 28% of precincts reporting. Robitaille 34%, Chafee 33%, Caprio 26%. Robitaille is definitely doing better than expected right now. Can he pull it off?

9:40 p.m. | Interesting results from different communities: Robitaille is winning Woonsocket at 38%, with 7 of 16 precincts reporting, and he’s in second-place ahead of Chafee in Johnston. Chafee only four points behind Caprio in Central Falls.

9:37 p.m. | Let’s look at ballot questions. Q1 – name change – 20% reporting – reject 78%.

9:36 p.m. | 1st District – Cicilline up by five points with 21% reporting. Cicilline 50%, Loughlin 45%.

9:35 p.m. | Up to 15% reporting in RI governor’s race – Robitaille 34%, Chafee 31%, Caprio 28%.

9:35 p.m. | Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick still holding onto a solid lead with 37% reporting – Patrick 49%, Baker 42%, Cahill 8%.

9:34 p.m. | Double-digits! With 13% of precincts reporting, it’s Roberts 57%, Healey 36%, Venturini 7%. For SoS, it’s Mollis 53%, Taylor 47%. Still early, of course.

9:30 p.m. | U.S. Rep. Barney Frank has defeated Republican Sean Bielat in Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District, the AP says.

9:29 p.m. | With 5% of precincts reporting in the governor’s race, it’s Robitaille 34%, Caprio 30%, Chafee 29%. It’s still very, very early.

9:28 p.m. | We now have 59% of precincts reporting in Massachusetts’ 4th District, and Barney Frank is leading Sean Bielat 63%-35%.

9:26 p.m. | Cool Moose Party candidate for lieutenant governor Bob Healey is here in the studio, preparing to go on the air with my colleague Erin Kennedy, who’s also tracking national races with me. Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Roberts has to be nervous about this race – I spoke to a few people today who made a spur-of-the-moment decision to back Healey once they were in the voting booth. Unhappy voters may use her office to rebel.

9:24 p.m. | Democratic New Hampshire U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a surprise victor back in 2006, loses to Republican Frank Guinta.

9:20 p.m. | Republicans have picked up eight Democratic U.S. House seats and three Democratic U.S. Senate seats so far tonight.

9:19 p.m. | Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick has a wide lead with 26% of precincts reporting. Patrick 50%, Baker 41%.

Still only 1% of precincts reporting in Rhode Island.

9:18 p.m. | Republicans have picked up another U.S. Senate seat from Democrats in North Dakota (as expected). But the AP has now called the West Virginia Senate race for Democrat Joe Manchin, which will lead to a lot of sighs of relief on the left.

9:15 p.m. | The R.I. Board of Elections website just went down. Don’t worry, though, that’s not our source for results, so we’ll keep them coming. Here’s our results page.

9:11 p.m. | The first numbers are coming in for Rhode Island. With 1% reporting, the leaders are Chafee, John Loughlin, Gina Raimondo and Catherine Taylor. I may go with last names tonight.

9:10 p.m. | In Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley and Secretary of State Bill Galvin have won reelection, the AP says.

9:09 p.m. | NBC News is now projecting Republicans will win 236 U.S. House seats tonight, with Democrats winning 199 – more than enough to make John Boehner the next House Speaker.

9:06 p.m. | There’s Tim White at the Providence Biltmore, Democrats’ headquarters. That place is going to be Awkward City tonight, huh? I’m told a number of top Democrats are privately rooting for Chafee after Shoveitgate and other disagreements with Frank Caprio.

9:05 p.m. | Republicans have picked up six seats from the Democrats in U.S. House races nationally, the AP says. 106 races have been called – 76 for Republicans, 30 for Dems. Republicans need 39 seats to win back the majority, so 33 pickups to go for them if they are to succeed.

9:03 p.m. | Alex DiPrato points out that Sean Bielat was only five years old when Barney Frank was first elected to Congress back in 1980. Bielat is 35, Frank is 70.

9:02 p.m. | In Massachusetts, results are still trickling in. With 9% reporting, Deval Patrick is on top for governor 49%-42%. In the 4th District, with 15% reporting, Barney Frank is on top 63%-34%. Take those numbers with a grain of salt, though, because I don’t know which precincts they represent and most districts haven’t reported yet. My colleague Alex DiPrato is reporting on the Frank-Bielat race on air as we speak.

9:01 p.m. | A reader admonishes me that I should have come up with a clever WWE Smackdown reference when former wrestling chief Linda McMahon lost in Connecticut. Mea culpa! I’m quick but not necessarily clever these busy news nights.

9:00 p.m. | Polls are closed in Rhode Island! No results yet.

8:59 p.m. | It’s cold out, huh? My Mac says 41 degrees in Providence. Brrrr. Don’t forget – our live coverage of election night on TV begins at 9 p.m. and will run commercial free from then on. Countdown is on now.

8:59 p.m. | Angel Taveras will address Democrats at the Providence Biltmore around 9:30, with U.S. Rep. Jim. Langevin following him, Tim White reports from there. I assume they’re planning victory speeches. Sixty seconds until polls close in Rhode Island.

8:52 p.m. | Democratic hopes dashed in Virginia and Florida, where full-throated liberal Reps. Tom Perriello and Alan Grayson lost their House seats. Another Virginia Dem, Rep. Rick Boucher, also lost.

8:49 p.m. | I just complained to Joe Fleming that Massachusetts’ results are coming in very, very slowly – still single-digits reporting – but he says the Bay State usually takes awhile to get going, then the results come in a flood. Only 11 minutes to go before polls close in Rhode Island.

8:48 p.m. | The AP has issued a reminder that it has not called the West Virginia U.S. Senate race for Democrat Joe Manchin, despite what some people are reporting. Told you – Nesi’s Notes is fast but accurate on election night!

8:45 p.m. | Lincoln Chafee has arrived at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Warwick to await the results in the governor’s race, Projo reports.

8:41 p.m. | Democrat Richard Blumenthal wins the U.S. Senate race in Connecticut, the AP says.

8:40 p.m. | Most of the focus in Rhode Island tonight is on the marquee races, naturally – governor and the 1st District. But all of the General Assembly’s 113 seats are also on the ballot today, and Republicans are hoping to pick up a few seats after they got shellacked in 2008.

Joe Fleming thinks the G.O.P. stands a good chance of picking up more seats – not hard to do when you’re down to just 10 seats out of 113. Democrats won a number of state legislative seats in 2008 that are traditionally Republican districts. We’ll see what happens after the polls close at 9.

8:33 p.m. | No surprise – Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas loses to Republican challenger John Boozman, says AP.

8:26 p.m. | Numbers starting to trickle in for Massachusetts, but still just 1% of precincts reporting.

The Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race – which pits former Rhode Islander Pat Toomey (R) against Joe Sestak (D) – is going to be a squeaker, but a CNN exit poll has Toomey up by two points. More polls close at 8:30, so I expect more national calls from the AP then.

8:25 p.m. | And here’s a view of the setup at the Providence Biltmore, where Rhode Island Democrats will be gathering, courtesy Tim White (see 7:57 for the Republicans’ Warwick headquarters):

8:23 p.m. | No results yet in Massachusetts, but I expect some soon. Polls close in just over a half-hour in Rhode Island.

8:18 p.m. | Democratic New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch has defeated his Republican challenger, the AP says.

8:13 p.m. | Democrat Chris Coons has defeated Republican Christine O’Donnell in the much-watched Delaware U.S. Senate race, the AP says. Other calls are Ayotte, Mikulski, Rubio, Shelby, Lynch – I’ll let you Google who they are.

For U.S. House races, the AP has called 36 races – 30 for Republicans and 6 for Democrats. It’s actually a net gain of one seat for Democrats so far, because they picked up a seat in Delaware – I doubt that trend will last. Dem John Yarmouth also held his seat in Kentucky, a competitive race. And of course there’s 399 House races to go!

8:12 p.m. | Joe Fleming and I are getting nostalgic here in WPRI’s studio, where we’ve set up shop. He was regaling me with the story of how, years ago, WPRI used exit polls to call Ed DiPrete’s gubernatorial victory over Bruce Sundlun – by six-tenths of a percentage point.

“I’ll always remember Walter Cryan turned to me and said, ‘Sixth-tenths of a percent?’ That was way too close to call,” he said, laughing.

8:00 p.m. | Polls are now closed in Massachusetts. No results yet, since they closed seconds ago. One hour to go in Rhode Island.

7:57 p.m. | Here’s a photo of the Rhode Island Republican Party’s stage setup at the Warwick Crowne Plaza, courtesy my colleague Kat Sotnik:

7:55 p.m. | So far, The AP has called 20 U.S. House races for Republicans and two for Democrats – none of them were pickups or losses. So we don’t know much new yet about the House. Lots of big calls are coming up at 8 p.m., according to AP’s Phil Elliott in Washington.

Republicans picked up a U.S. Senate seat in Indiana with Dan Coats’ victory.

A reminder that polls close in Massachusetts at 8 p.m., so may start to get a picture of what’s happening in the Bay State within the next hour. And then polls close at 9 in Rhode Island.

7:45 p.m. | David Cicilline’s campaign manager Eric Hyers was feeling optimistic when Tim White spoke to him earlier (see 6:55) – no surprise. You rarely hear somebody in Eric’s position say, “We’re getting slaughtered!”

But the reports I’m getting from out in the 1st District should certainly be making Cicilline’s team – and national Democrats – a little nervous.

Turnout appears to be pretty weak not only in Providence, but in other cities that are important for Cicilline to win, like Central Falls and Pawtucket. By contrast, turnout in the suburbs and on Aquidneck Island has been moderate to strong – which should boost John Loughlin. We also don’t know whether Loughlin made any inroads with Cicilline’s base of voters on Providence’s East Side.

I’m not predicting a Loughlin win. But I’m not predicting a Cicilline win either. I think this one will be close. An hour and 15 minutes till polls close…

7:39 p.m. | When it comes to Rhode Island politics, our analyst Joe Fleming is my Buddah. And Joe just reminded me that since no exit polls are being conducted here in the Ocean State (nor in Massachusetts, according to Cook Political Report), all the rumors we’re hearing about how turnout is and who it will help are just that – rumors.

“Right now, everything’s speculation,” Joe said. “We have no exit polling. All the turnout numbers are just estimates of what we’re seeing out there.” So take it all with a grain of salt.

7:31 p.m. | If Gov. Deval Patrick manages to win reelection in Massachusetts tonight, he will be the first two-term Democratic governor of Massachusetts since Mike Dukakis, AP reporter Phil Elliott points out. Patrick is facing Republican Charlie Baker and ex-Dem Tim Cahill.

7:29 p.m. | We’re likely to know the outcomes of Rhode Island’s big races – including governor and 1st Congressional District – by around 11 p.m., according to our Eyewitness News political analyst Joe Fleming.

“I’m pretty sure we should have a clear picture by 11:00,” he told me a few minutes ago.

Computerized voting machines have made it much easier to tally up votes than it was years ago, which should spare us a late night even if some of the contests turn out to be close. I’ll be stationed next to Joe on the set (but off-camera!) as the results come in, so I’ll be about as close as I can be when the contests are getting called. Stay with us – only 90 minutes to go before the polls close.

7:07 p.m. | In Massachusetts, where polls close in less than an hour, Republicans have been buoyed by reports of high turnout, although Democrats are claiming that will help them, GateHouse News Service reports. Gov. Deval Patrick is trying to hold on against Republican challenger Charlie Baker in the Bay State.

7:05 p.m. | Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Dan Coats of Indiana have won the U.S. Senate races in those states, The AP reports. Incumbents Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were also reelected (no surprise).

7:01 p.m. | Question #1 on today’s ballot in Rhode Island asked voters whether they wanted to remove the phrase “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s official name. Our poll last week showed it was likely to lose by a wide margin.

That won’t upset Josh Marshall, founder of the path-breaking liberal blog Talking Points Memo. Marshall, who earned a Ph.D. in history from Brown University right here in Providence, posted a lengthy essay yesterday saying he hoped the state would keep the controversial phrase. Here’s an excerpt:

The folks in ‘Providence Plantations’ were among the first principled opponents of slavery anywhere in the Americas, certainly in New England and by most measures everywhere in North America. Folks like Roger Williams, Samuel Gorton and a bunch of other guys who died more than three centuries ago whose letters and records I spent way too much time reading in my 20s. It’s a fascinating legacy. The roots of slavery in Rhode Island, both as an internal institution and as a key force in the slave trade, came from the other original colony, Rhode Island and settlements in southern Rhode Island that were tied to it.

Because of my own background, I have a certain antiquarian interest in this old name. But it seems unambiguously true to me that purging “Providence Plantations” from the state’s name, in addition to being a strike against the state’s history, would have the perverse effect of silencing the legacy of the people who were anti-slavery long, long before many people in the Western World even recognized it as a moral question.

I get the reasons for trying to change the name. In modern English, ‘plantation’ means a southern estate with black slaves picking cotton. And the state is for the its living residents and citizens, not what someone who’s got some relatively obscure historical knowledge about what these ancient names mean. Still, for all the reasons I’ve stated, if they trim the state’s name down to just “Rhode Island” I think it will be a big mistake.

6:55 p.m. | Cicilline campaign manager Eric Hyers tells Tim White that “East Side precincts are already over 80% of where I would like them to be by 9 p.m.”

6:49 p.m. | Another fascinating data point from the national exit polls – “about 4 in 10 voters said that they supported the Tea Party movement,” according to The New York Times.

6:45 p.m. | Drudge says exit polls show Republicans winning U.S. Senate seats in Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Nevada tied – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid may stand a chance.

6:41 p.m. | The Associated Press has an early take on what exit polls show. In short, the American electorate is anxious, unhappy with President Obama and Congress, and down on Democrats and Republicans alike. Here’s an excerpt:

The economy eclipsed any other issue.

Almost everyone surveyed — more than 80 percent — expressed worry about the direction the economy will take over the next year. Still, a majority said their own family’s financial situation was the same or better than two years ago, when a recession-plagued nation swept Obama into office and strengthened the Democrats’ congressional majorities.

The four out of 10 voters who said things for their families are worse now favored Republican House candidates.

About a third of voters said their household suffered a job loss in the past two years. Those setbacks didn’t give their votes a clear direction — the group divided over which party to support in House races.

Only about a quarter of voters blamed Obama for the nation’s economic troubles. Voters overall were more likely to point the finger at Wall Street bankers. …

Asked about Obama’s policies overall, about half of voters predicted he would hurt the country.

This view was especially strong among voters who support the tea party — about four out of 10 of those who came to the polls. They overwhelmingly voted Republican. Almost all of them want Congress to repeal the new health care law. They also were focused on reducing the budget deficit, followed by cutting taxes.

In contrast, voters who said they cast ballots for Obama in 2008 mostly stuck by the Democrats and still back the president on health care and the economic stimulus package.

6:38 p.m. | In Massachusetts, Republicans are hoping to follow-up on Scott Brown’s surprise U.S. Senate victory last January by picking up a few more offices, The Associated Press reports:

A nearly two-year Massachusetts gubernatorial race was wrapping up Tuesday as candidates and the public alike voted in a race that could produce the first two-term Democratic governor since Michael S. Dukakis in 1986 — or a return to Republican leadership after a four-year hiatus.

Gov. Deval Patrick was trying to fend off a pro-GOP, anti-incumbent wave that threatened his colleagues in 37 races across the nation, while challenger Charles Baker sought to take advantage of that tide. …

Secretary of State William F. Galvin predicted “near-record” turnout for a nonpresidential year, and midday results in Boston showed a slight uptick from turnout in January’s special Senate election, when Republican Scott Brown upset Democrat Martha Coakley. …

The national party sought several trophy wins: over Patrick because he shares Chicago roots and consultant ties with President Barack Obama; over Rep. Barney Frank with upstart Sean Bielat after the veteran congressman spearheaded financial regulation legislation; and bolstering state Rep. Jeff Perry in his bid to claim the House seat encompassing the Cape Cod district where Kennedy himself used to vote.

State Republicans focused on Baker, but they also set their sights on gains in the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature, as well by treasurer candidate Karyn Polito, auditor candidate Mary Connaughton and James McKenna, who won a write-in primary campaign for attorney general in a bid to hand Coakley her second electoral loss this year.

6:36 p.m. | My pal Tim White is stationed at the Providence Biltmore, the traditional gathering place for Rhode Island’s Democrats on election night. It’s going to be an interesting night there, to say the least, in the wake of Shoveitgate and the strained relations between a number of the party’s candidates.

Tim caught up with Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who isn’t on the ballot today in the 1st District for the first time since 1994. “Kennedy looks the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him,” Tim reports. “He says he likes campaigning for someone else a whole lot more than doing it himself.”

Tim also asked Kennedy what he thought about Caprio’s “shove it” comment to President Obama, particularly since Kennedy’s Uncle Jack was president himself. Kennedy said it was a mistake for Caprio to say that, and added that Caprio has admitted as much. He also said enough time has passed since the comment was made last Monday that the Democrats’ wounds have healed. (I’ll have to take your word for it, congressman.)

6:13 p.m. | It hasn’t gotten much attention since the Sept. 14 primary, but one of the races on the ballot tonight is mayor of Providence. Democrat Angel Taveras – who beat both Steve Costantino and John Lombardi in the primary – is all but certain to defeat his independent opponent Jonathan Scott.

Although that race ended almost two months ago, WRNI’s Ian Donnis (full disclosure: a Nesi’s Notes mentor) dug up the final campaign finance reports for Costantino, Taveras and Lombardi – and it turns out Costantino spent more than Taveras and Lombardi combined, only to come in a distant third with 20% of the vote. Not the greatest investment by the outgoing House Finance Committee chairman, huh? If you want more, check out my September story about who donated to Taveras.

6:05 p.m. | Famous folks with Rhode Island ties are all over the place this evening.

In Pennsylvania, Republican Pat Toomey – who graduated from LaSalle Academy with my colleague Mike Montecalvo back in 1980 – stands a good chance of winning a Democratic-held U.S. Senate seat. And Cook Political Report expert Jennifer Duffy – an Ocean State native and a favorite here at Nesi’s Notes – will be crunching numbers on behalf of a network-that-shall-not-be-named because it isn’t our own CBS or Fox. Here’s a photo of her at that network’s studio today, sent along by her brother, Duffy & Shanley honcho Jon Duffy:

6:01 p.m. | Tonight promises to be a fascinating evening – and I’m not just saying that so you keep clicking refresh. (Though you should keep clicking refresh.)

Here in Rhode Island, we have a number of very competitive races, including governor (Chafee v. Caprio v. Robitaille), the 1st Congressional District (Cicilline v. Loughlin), lieutenant governor (Roberts v. Healey) and secretary of state (Mollis v. Taylor). Across the border in Massachusetts, we have another gubernatorial race (Patrick v. Baker v. Cahill), Barney Frank’s 4th District battle with Sean Bielat, and the fight for retiring Congressman Bill Delahunt’s seat.

Then, of course, there is the national picture – which is mostly a question of just how great the evening will turn out for the resurgent Republican Party.

Democrats are expected to lose control of the U.S. House of Representatives tonight and see their 59-seat majority in the U.S. Senate sharply reduced (if not lost, too). There are also a record 37 governorships on the ballot from coast to coast. And true political aficionados also know that who wins control of state legislatures will be key, as well, because incoming lawmakers will oversee the congressional redistricting process that will follow the new Census.

The first polls just closed at 6 p.m. in Indiana and Kentucky (all times are Eastern), and I’ll be watching to see whether Republican Tea Party favorite Rand Paul wins – and if so, by how much – in the Kentucky U.S. Senate contest, as well as which way three Democratic congressional districts go.

5:45 p.m. | So let’s talk about how many people are voting. Both Projo and WRNI’s Ian Donnis report that turnout is light in Providence, which is a troubling anecdote for Democrat David Cicilline, who needs a strong turnout in the cities of the 1st Congressional District to defeat Republican John Loughlin. But there’s still more than three hours left for people to go to the polls.

5:43 p.m. | For a reporter, one funny thing about Election Day is that while it’s one of the biggest news days of the year, it’s also one of the dullest – until the polls close. There’s usually not much to say until then. Voters are voting, campaigns are trying to get out the vote, and everybody is trading rumors about turnout.

Luckily for you, dear WPRI.com reader, I’ve collected anecdotes and factoids galore to keep us busy until polls close at 8 in Massachusetts and 9 in Rhode Island – so we won’t lack for things to discuss. Share your own insights with me – whether about politics or what you saw at your polling place – by sending an e-mail to ReportIt@wpri.com.

5:34 p.m. | Welcome to WPRI.com’s live blog for Election Day 2010!

This is the place for breaking news updates, reports from my Eyewitness News colleagues stationed with the candidates throughout Rhode Island, some trivia about the races on the ballot today, and live results starting at 9 p.m. when the polls close. I’ll also keep you posted on the results in Massachusetts, where polls close at 8, and nationwide.

And of course, we’ll have the latest information on TV starting at 8 p.m. with special reports during regular programming and then with extended live coverage beginning at 9 p.m. We’ll also be streaming video from the candidates’ headquarters here on WPRI.com.

Tags: campaign 2010, live blog