Cranston’s polls were packed.

And in the end, the incumbent mayor squeaked out a victory.

Turnout in the city was set to break records Tuesday, according to Cranston’s Registrar and Director of Elections Nick Lima.

“Some precincts will likely hit 80% turnout,” Lima said around 5 p.m. Election Day. “Citywide average will probably hit 70%. If we exceed 69% it will be the highest turnout in modern election history — in the last century.”

Cranston’s Top Race

As the Cranston Herald went to the presses, Cranston’s incumbent mayor was poised to claim victory (early ballots were added to the tally, but too many mail-in ballots remained uncounted to call the race for certain at 9:30 p.m.).

The 2024 mayoral race in Cranston has been a long and at times vicious slog.

Democratic City Councilman Robert J. Ferri challenged incumbent Cranston Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins, a Republican, following a tumultuous Republican Primary (in September, Hopkins defeated challenger state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung).

As the results rolled in Tuesday night, Hopkins held an early, but narrow lead. At 9:40 p.m., Hopkins had 18,530 votes (or 52.9%), and Ferri had 16,379 (46.8%).

By morning, those numbers moved slightly: Hopkins ticked up to 19,767, but dropped to 51.6%; Ferri ultimately reached 18,429, increasing his percentage to 48.1%.

Ferri conceded Wednesday afternoon. 

"Though we did not get the outcome we were hoping for, I am proud of the campaign we ran focused on the most pressing issues facing the people of Cranston," he said.

The Bowlarama

Current City Council President and Citywide candidate Jessica Marino attended Robert Ferri’s Election Night celebration at Lang's Bowlarama, at 225 Niantic Ave., Tuesday evening.

“I'm anxious, I’m optimistic and I’m hopeful,” Marino said before the results were tabulated. “And that’s in regards to the council races and also the mayor’s race. Robert has been a wonderful colleague on council; it’s been a pleasure for me to serve with him and for the residents of Cranston that he serves. I hope that our hard work is exemplified tonight with (a) victory for Robert for Mayor.”

As the night drug on, attendees’ eyes were glued to the screen hoping to see Ferri’s name come in as the winner. Numbers continued to show Hopkins in the lead, but the crowd remained positive and optimistic, hopeful of a positive result.

Little by little, people headed home as results continued to drag past 9 p.m. Ferri’s campaign manager Mike Beauregard addressed the crowd at around 9:15, asking people to hang tight as they waited for more votes to come in.

Around 10:15 p.m., Ferri addressed the thinning crowd of people who remained with a tired and disappointed expression.

“I am exhausted,” Ferri said. “I love Cranston but it’s not looking good. Bottom line is that Democrats just did not go out and vote today. I am exhausted, I did my best; you all have supported me. But thank you very much, I appreciate it.”

A dense air of disappointment rang throughout the crowd after the announcement.

HQ at the St. Mary Feast Society

Ward 5 City Council candidate Michael A. “Mayor Traf” Traficante stopped by the Saint Mary Feast Society at 15 Phenix Ave. to await results with Hopkins’s supporters.

“I feel good about the race,” Traficante said. “Winning is not the only thing … It's the most important thing!”

Hopkins did not address supporters until later in the night, choosing to wait behind the scenes with other candidates on his slate to see if mail-in ballots could be counted so the outcome of some of the closer races could be determined.

He stepped to the podium after it was announced that four Republican City Council candidates were winners:  Christopher E. Buonnano (city-wide), Richard Campopiano (city-wide) 3; Frank J. Ritz, Jr. (Ward 4), and Michael A. Traficante (Ward 5).

After exiting a back room to the strains of James Brown’s “I Feel Good,” Hopkins proclaimed: “Four more years, Cranston! Here we go!”

“I’m so proud to be standing here and saying I will be your mayor for four more years,” he told supporters and family.

Referring to Ferri’s campaign and how close the race was, Hopkins added, “We took their best shots and we’re still standing.”

Hopkins said he will use his second term to further the priorities he campaigned on, including the restoration of city finances, investing in quality public schools, and maintaining safe neighborhoods,

He told supporters that he had taken the time to call Ferri. “I wanted to thank my opponent for putting his hat in the ring,” Hopkins said. “I’m so proud to be standing here and saying I will be your mayor for four more years.”

Just before Hopkins speech, the four winning GOP council candidates publicly thanked voters for their support. Their wins mean the Republics gain one more set on the council but are still a minority with a count of five to four.

Aside from Hopkins, the loudest cheers of the night went to former Mayor Michael A. Traficante who has been serving on the School Committee and now won his bid for the Ward 5 City Council seat — at age 85.

“Don’t be fooled by this gray hair, there’s still a lot of fire in this boiler,” he said to the crowd’s delight.

The Chaos

Early Tuesday evening, Lima called Election Day’s constant flurry of activity “controlled chaos.”

He said the city’s 27 precincts saw “phenomenal turnout” on Election Day.

“Some polling places, so far, already have over 1,000 voters,” Lima said around 5 p.m.

At that time, the day’s busiest “in-person poll” was Hope Highlands, with 1,413 ballots cast (as of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5). Lima said it was “possibly the busiest poll in the state.”

And Election Day in Cranston “could have been a lot busier,” Lima said, “if 12,500 people hadn’t voted earlier.”

The city boasts approximately 61,000 registered voters.

“Compared to a mid-term election, it’s night and day,” Lima said.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lima said it was a virtual certainty Cranston would far exceed 60% turnout.

“We will beat 60 percent turnout,” Lima said.

Three hours before the polls closed, 19,965 voters had cast their votes in person Tuesday.

And 16,840 had already voted early or by mail, Lima said (12,466 early voters; and 4,346 mail ballot applications, the bulk of which have already been returned).

“That’s 36,805 who have already voted, and we should get another few thousand before the polls close,” Lima said.

Election workers were set to empty the city’s drop boxes at 8 p.m. Tuesday night, and seal the contents until early Wednesday, when they would be tabulated.

He thanked the city’s 320 poll workers, who kept everything running smoothly.

There were a few minor hiccups.

“We had one machine at Park View Middle School not working, but we had a backup,” Lima said. “And we had one machine with a jam at Arlington School this morning … Those are all things that happen every election.”

But the city’s election team persevered through the close of the polls at 8 p.m.

While the U.S. Presidential election was expected to linger on at very least into the early morning hours, state and local races were decided by 9:30 p.m.

Lima estimated the city would “have a few hundred provisional ballots” and “a few hundred outstanding mail ballots.”

“If any races are within those margins of a few hundred … then (the winner) may not be known (Election Night),” Lima said.

Awaiting Results

At 9:30 p.m., most races were still too close to call.

Marino said that although she was disappointed by Ferri’s loss, she was humbled and honored to be the top vote-getter and to be re-elected to serve the public. Marino said she hopes that Hopkins keeps his campaign promises and proves to be a leader who “can reach across the aisle” to work in a bipartisan manner for the city’s good.

“I have,” she said. “And I still intend to.”

Before the results showed otherwise, Frank Ferri said he felt good about his brother Robert Ferri’s chances.

“Right now I'm feeling optimistic,” he said from the bowling alley celebration. “My brother has worked really hard, done the work and has got a lot of support … I think he has a great chance and he is well-liked and well-known, and I am feeling optimistic.”

At 9:30 p.m., as the Cranston Herald went to press, Ferri was walking around the room, talking to supporters, while his opponent, Hopkins, was behind closed doors at the St. Mary Feast Society.

Hopkins briefly called a Cranston Herald reporter into the back room and granted a two-minute interview at 9:30 p.m.

“Four more years, working for the people of Cranston,” Hopkins said.

“Are you declaring victory?” our reporter asked.

“That’s what they’re telling me,” Hopkins replied.

Editor’s Note: Beacon Media Staff Writers Barbara Polichetti, Rosegalie Cineus and Rory Schuler contributed to this report.