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Two Rhode Island state senators are facing primary challenges after voting against the current Democratic leadership team.

Top Senate Democrats deny orchestrating the primary challenges, citing personal relationships with the new candidates.

A conservative-leaning business group is backing the challengers, who are running against senators who supported an assault weapons ban.

Rhode Island Senate leaders say they are not behind primary challenges to two senators who earlier this year voted against the current Democratic leadership team .

Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone and Majority Whip David Tikoian, the second- and third-ranking members of Senate Democratic leadership, were among more than a half dozen Senate Democrats at a campaign kickoff fundraiser for n

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