2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election

The 2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election was held on November 7, 2023. The seat became vacant following incumbent Democratic representative David Cicilline's resignation on May 31, 2023, to become the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. This was the first congressional special election in Rhode Island since the 1967 2nd district special election and the first special election in the 1st district since 1935.

The 1st district typically elects Democrats. Cicilline was re-elected with 64.0% of the vote in 2022, while Joe Biden won the district with 63.8% of the vote in 2020. The last time a Republican was elected to represent the 1st district was in 1992, when Ronald Machtley won re-election for a third term. Gabe Amo became the first African American to represent Rhode Island in Congress following the election. Amo has worked in different governmental roles, most recently working in the Biden administration in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Leonard served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 30 years, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Somalia.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee Gabe Amo, former deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (2021–2023)

Eliminated in primary Stephanie Beauté, insurance software executive and candidate for Rhode Island Secretary of State in 2022 Walter Berbrick, former Naval War College professor Sandra Cano, state senator from the 8th district (2019–present) Stephen Casey, state representative from the 50th district (2013–present) Spencer Dickinson, former state representative from the 35th district (2011–2015), candidate for governor in 2018, and candidate for the in 2022 John Goncalves, Providence city councilor Sabina Matos, lieutenant governor of Rhode Island (2021–present) Ana Quezada, state senator from the 2nd district (2017–present) Aaron Regunberg, former state representative from the 4th district (2015–2019), nephew of U.S. Representative Brad Schneider, and candidate for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2018 Allen Waters, investment consultant, Republican nominee for this district in 2022 and for U.S. Senate in 2020

Withdrawn Nick Autiello, climate change activist, business executive, and former economic development staffer in the Raimondo administration (endorsed Matos) Pamela Azar, Lincoln town councilor (endorsed Quezada) Nathan Biah, state representative from the 3rd district (2021–present) (running for state senate) Donald Carlson, senior executive director of the Tsai Leadership Program at Yale Law School and former aide to then-U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy II (endorsed Cano, remained on ballot) Paul LeBon, author, former Nashua, New Hampshire, alderman, and nominee for in 2002

Disqualified Marvin Abney, state representative from the 73rd district (2013–present) Mickeda Barnes, bus driver Kathleen Gaskell, office manager Larry Hutchinson Jr. Gregory Mundy, clinical project manager Bella Machado Noka, Narragansett elder Toni Sfameni Michael Tillinghast, catering server

Declined Karen Alzate, state representative from the 60th district (2019–present) (endorsed Cano) Gregg Amore, Rhode Island Secretary of State (2023–present) Sam Bell, state senator from the 5th district (2019–present) (endorsed Cano)https://twitter.com/SANDRISCANO/status/1686528084357394433 Roberto DaSilva, mayor of East Providence (2019–present) James Diossa, Rhode Island General Treasurer (2023–present) (endorsed Cano) Louis DiPalma, state senator from the 12th district (2009–present) (endorsed Cano) Brendan Doherty, former Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Republican nominee for this district in 2012 Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence (2015–2023) Dawn Euer, state senator from the 13th district (2017–present) (endorsed Cano) Helena Foulkes, corporate executive and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2022 Don Grebien, mayor of Pawtucket (2011–present) (endorsed Cano) Meghan Kallman, state senator from the 15th district (2021–present) (endorsed Cano) Katherine Kazarian, state representative from the 63rd district (2013–present) Xay Khamsyvoravong, mayor of Newport (endorsed Amo) Nirva LaFortune, former Providence city councilor and candidate for mayor of Providence in 2022 Valarie Lawson, state senator from the 14th district (2019–present) (endorsed Cano) Patrick Lynch, former Rhode Island Attorney General (2003–2011) (endorsed Amo) Dan McKee, Governor of Rhode Island (2021–present) Cynthia Mendes, former state senator from the 8th district (2021–2023) and candidate for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2022 Jeff Mutter, mayor of Cumberland (endorsed Cano) Peter Neronha, Rhode Island Attorney General (2019–present) Joseph R. Paolino Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to Malta (1994–1996) and former mayor of Providence (1984–1991) Clay Pell, lawyer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2014 Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2021–present) and former governor of Rhode Island (2015–2021) Maria Rivera, mayor of Central Falls (2021–present) Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2021–present) Brett Smiley, mayor of Providence (2023–present) Angel Taveras, former mayor of Providence (2011–2015) and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2014

Endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 16, 2023CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handGabe Amo (D)$604,406$449,164$155,242Stephanie Beauté (D)$16,201$11,144$5,056Walter Berbrick (D)$183,456$132,976$50,480Sandra Cano (D)$307,352 $247,796$59,556Stephen Casey (D)$87,008$48,646$1,817John Gonclaves (D)$190,236$164,644$25,592Sabina Matos (D)$578,972 $452,718$126,254Ana Quezada (D)$87,255$57,869$29,385Aaron Regunberg (D)$629,821$438,556$191,265Source: Federal Election Commission

Debates and candidate forums Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Gabe Amo Stephanie Beauté Walter Berbrick Sandra Cano Donald Carlson Stephen Casey Spencer Dickinson John Goncalves Sabina Matos Ana Quezada Aaron Regunberg Allen Waters1 Jul. 19, 2023 Ray-ality TV Raymond Baccari Jr.Ryan Lukowicz YouTube (part 1)YouTube (part 2) 2 Aug. 17, 2023 Roger Williams University Edward FitzpatrickSteph Machado YouTube 3 Aug. 22, 2023 Rhode Island CollegeRhode Island PBSThe Providence JournalThe Public's Radio Patrick AndersonIan Donnis YouTube 4 Aug. 31, 2023 WJAR Brian Crandall YouTube W 5 Sep. 1, 2023 WJAR Brian Crandall YouTube W

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorMarvin AbneyGabe AmoNick AutielloSandra CanoDon CarlsonJohn GoncalvesSabina MatosAaron Regunberg Other Undecided August 27, 2023 Carlson withdraws from the raceGlobal Strategy Group (D) August 15–17, 2023451 (V)––19%–11%8%–11%28%8%15% July 19, 2023 Autiello withdraws from the race July 18, 2023 Abney is disqualified from the raceLake Research Partners (D)Lake Research Partners (D) July 12–16, 2023300 (V)–4%6%5%7%2%4%20%12%–33%RMG ResearchRMG ResearchJune 28–30, 2023300 (LV)± 5.7%–8%––3%–17%22%–48%Expedition StrategiesJune 5–8, 2023600 (LV)± 4.0%4%3%3%6%2%5%22%9%4%43%

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee Gerry Leonard Jr., operations executive and retired U.S. Marine Corps officer

Eliminated in primary Terri Flynn, former Middletown town councilor

Disqualified Gary Fagnant, nurse William Lebron Jr.

Declined Robert Flanders, former Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court (1996–2004) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 Aaron Guckian, fundraising consultant, former aide to then-governor Donald Carcieri, and nominee for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island in 2022 John Loughlin, former state representative from the 71st district (2005–2010) and nominee for this district in 2010 Brian Newberry, state representative from the 48th district (2009–present) and former RI House Minority Leader (2011–2017)

Endorsements

Debate and forum + 2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district republican primary debate and candidate forum Date Host Moderator Link Republican RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Terri Flynn Gerry Leonard1 Aug. 24, 2023 The Providence JournalThe Public's RadioRhode Island PBS Patrick AndersonIan Donnis YouTube 2 Sep. 1, 2023 WJAR Gene Valicenti YouTube

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of August 16, 2023CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handGerry Leonard Jr. (R)$122,221$11,138$111,082Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

Independents

Disqualified Stephen Earle Joseph Jean-Philippe, community college instructor Jeffrey Lemire, construction worker and perennial candidate Richard O'Shea, nurse C. D. Reynolds Paul Rianna Jr., nursing assistant and candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 2022 John Dale Ritchie Julian J. Smith, IT manager John Vitkevich, realtor and community activist

Declined Arlene Violet, former Republican Rhode Island Attorney General (1985–1987)

General election

Predictions SourceRankingAs of Inside Elections February 23, 2023 Sabato's Crystal Ball February 22, 2023 The Cook Political Report July 25, 2023 Politico August 29, 2023

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GabeAmo (D) GerryLeonard (R) UndecidedSalve Regina University/Embold ResearchSalve Regina University/Embold ResearchOctober 12–17, 2023386 (RV)± 4.0%46%35%15%

Results

CountyGabe AmoDemocraticGerry Leonard Jr.RepublicanWrite-inMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%Bristol7,46567.16%3,61832.55%330.30%3,84734.61%11,116Newport10,02562.97%5,86536.84%310.19%4,16026.13%15,921Providence 25,80064.76%13,91034.92%1290.32%11,89029.85%39,839 Total43,29064.73%23,39334.98%1930.29%19,89729.75%66,876

See also 2023 United States House of Representatives elections 118th United States Congress List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

Notes

References

External links Official campaign websites Gabe Amo (D) for Congress Gerry Leonard (R) for Congress