RI Supreme Court to discuss Alves appeal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The controversial primary race between State Sen. Stephen Alves (D-West Warwick) and Michael Pinga is heading to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg expects the high court to discuss the case on Oct. 9 to decide if the justices will hear an appeal filed by Alves last week, according to Jeff Brenna, Alves' attorney. 

Alves lost his seat to Pinga, a political newcomer, in the Democratic primary earlier this month.

A recount showed that Pinga received more 19 more votes than Alves, and the Board of Elections certified those results.

Alves appeal asks the justices to order a new primary race.

If the justices decide not to hear the case, Brenna said he believes the challenge will end there.

If the high court decides to hear Alves' appeal, there's no word on how it could affect the November election. The Secretary of State's office needs to finalize the November ballots by October 20.

Meantime, Pinga told Eyewitness News this legal case is crushing him financially. He anticipates this month's legal bills to surpass $10,000 - more than he spent on his campaign. He has started a legal defense fund.