Tyska accepts defeat, worries about future of district, and campaign tactics

Posted 9/12/18

Reflecting on his overwhelming defeat in the Democratic primary for R.I. House District 68, Andy Tyska said he still believes he was the best candidate for Bristol and Warren, but the voters who went …

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Tyska accepts defeat, worries about future of district, and campaign tactics

Posted

Reflecting on his overwhelming defeat in the Democratic primary for R.I. House District 68, Andy Tyska said he still believes he was the best candidate for Bristol and Warren, but the voters who went to the polls on Wednesday strongly felt otherwise.

Mr. Tyska had a warning for Bristol and Warren residents about what the vote means for the community now and in the future.

“For me, as someone who has been committed to building a business for 20 years, focusing on jobs and focusing on education … it’s somewhat worrisome. I see myself as the candidate who was for building our community, for creating jobs, for focusing on education.

“My campaign was not about my opponent. It was about me and this community. My opponent’s campaign was about me, and it was about national issues. I think, politically, it’s important to recognize the tactics and the methods used to be elected to office … the tactics that are being used, the information that is being used, the tactic to weaponize information, to get the end, with no concern about the means.”

Mr. Ascencao, a declared “progressive” Democrat, used an array of strategies to win the primary. He and supporters circled the district numerous times, knocking on doors and talking about their platform. They unleashed a groundswell of social media messages, including a wave of personal videos advocating for Mr. Ascencao. They deployed workers to all the polls today, to track who had voted and to encourage declared supporters to get out and vote.

They also attacked Mr. Tyska repeatedly over alleged “ties” to Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello. Mr. Tyska has made donations to a number of political candidates, including Mr. Mattiello.

Asked Wednesday night about the Speaker of the House attacks, Mr. Tyska said, “It clearly was their battle cry, and I think it was a battle cry rooted in untrue accusations. But it clearly was successful for them.”

Asked about his future in public service, Mr. Tyska, the owner of Bristol Marine who has served one term on the town council, said, “Being a small business person dedicated to running for office and serving our community … I can understand why people don’t run for elected office. It’s not easy, it’s not pretty … The positive side is it really helps identify who your friends are.”

Despite the bad feelings about this campaign, Mr. Tyska said he accepts the results.

“Clearly it was a decisive victory,” he said. “Of course I felt I was a better candidate and I represented certain things in this community that I felt were valuable to this community. But the voters who turned out didn’t feel that way, and I respect the results.”

Mr. Ascencao will move on to face Libertarian William Hunt in the General Election in November.

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