2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election

2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election

← 2022 November 7, 2023 2024 →

Rhode Island's 1st congressional district
 
Nominee Gabe Amo Gerry Leonard Jr.
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 43,290 23,393
Percentage 64.7% 35.0%

Municipality results
Amo:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
Leonard:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

David Cicilline
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Gabe Amo
Democratic

The 2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election was held on November 7, 2023.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Amo has worked in different governmental roles, most recently working in the Biden administration in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.[5] Leonard served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 30 years, serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait and Somalia.[6]

  1. ^ Nesi, Ted; Sherman, Eli; Machado, Steph (March 29, 2023). "Dates set for special election to replace Cicilline in Congress". WPRI-TV.
  2. ^ Shapero, Julia (February 21, 2023). "Democratic Rep. Cicilline to leave Congress in June". The Hill. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' 2020 presidential results by congressional district, for new and old districts".
  4. ^ LeBlanc, Steve (September 6, 2023). "Democrat Gabe Amo one win away from being 1st person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress". Associated Press. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "Gabe Amo '10 appointed to White House role". Wheaton College Massachusetts. March 3, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Meet the Candidates: Gerry Leonard". WPRI.com. August 10, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.