The 2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election is an upcoming special election. The seat became vacant following incumbent Democratic representative

David Cicilline David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ...

's resignation on May 31, 2023, to become the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. Primaries will be held September 5, and the general election will be held November 7. This will be 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 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude Franco-Italian Agreement of 1935, an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * ...

. The 1st district is considered a safe Democratic seat. 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 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

. No Republican has been elected to represent the 1st district since

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...

when

Ronald Machtley Ronald Keith "Ron" Machtley (born July 13, 1948) is an American politician and former president of Bryant University. Machtley served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island from 1989 to 1995. Fro ...

won re-election for a third term.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

* Gabe Amo, former deputy director of the

White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs is a unit of the White House Office, within the Executive Office of the President. It serves as the primary liaison between the White House and state, county (or county-equivalent), local, and t ...

(2021–2023) * Stephanie Beauté, insurance software executive and candidate for

Rhode Island Secretary of State The secretary of state of Rhode Island is an elected office in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. As of 2015, the current secretary of state is Nellie Gorbea. The Rhode Island Department of State or is composed of five separate divisions: *The Ele ...

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...

* Walter Berbrick, former

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associat ...

professor * Sandra Cano,

state senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 U ...

from the 8th district (2019–present) * Donald Carlson, senior executive director of the Tsai Leadership Program at

Yale Law School Yale Law School (Yale Law or YLS) is the law school of Yale University, a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established in 1824 and has been ranked as the best law school in the United States by ''U ...

and former aide to then-U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy II *

Stephen Casey Stephen M. Casey (born September 12, 1968) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives representing District 50 since January 1, 2013. Education Casey earned his bachelor's degree in communicat ...

state representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

from the 50th district (2013–present) * Spencer Dickinson, former

from the 35th district (2011–2015), candidate for

governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

, and candidate for the in

* John Goncalves,

Providence city council The Providence City Council is the fifteen-member legislative body of the city of Providence, Rhode Island. The two major responsibilities of the council are enacting ordinances necessary to ensure the welfare and good order of the city and ad ...

or *

Sabina Matos Sabina Matos (born February 13, 1974) is a Dominican-American politician serving as the 70th lieutenant governor of Rhode Island since April 2021. Sabina Matos is the first Afro-Latina lieutenant governor and the first Dominican-American to hold ...

Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island The current lieutenant governor of Rhode Island is Sabina Matos, who was sworn in on April 14, 2021, after Daniel McKee succeeded to the office of governor. The first lieutenant governor was George Brown. In Rhode Island, the lieutenant gover ...

(2021–present) *

Ana Quezada Ana B. Quezada is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate representing District 2 (Providence) since January 2017. She is a code enforcement officer for the Providence Department of Inspection and Standards. B ...

from the 2nd district (2017–present) *

Aaron Regunberg Jonathan Aaron Regunberg (born January 26, 1990) is an American progressive activist and politician who served as the member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives for the 4th district from 2015 to 2019. He was a candidate for the Democrat ...

, former

from the 4th district (2015–2019) and candidate for

* Allen Waters, investment consultant, Republican nominee for this district in

and for

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

Withdrawn

* Nick Autiello,

ESG ESG may refer to : Groups * Election Support Group, an internationally sponsored organization analyzing and supporting the electoral process in Pakistan * ES Guelma, an Algerian football club based in Guelma * Escuela Superior de Guerra (Argenti ...

consultant and former mid-level staffer to the Rhode Island Commerce Department ''(endorsed Matos)'' * Pamela Azar,

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the sixteenth president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln ...

town councilor ''(endorsed Quezada)'' * Nathan Biah,

from the 3rd district (2021–present) ''( running for state senate)'' * Paul LeBon, author, former

Nashua, New Hampshire Nashua is a city in southern New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 91,322, the second-largest in northern New England after nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, Manchester. Along with Manc ...

alderman, and nominee for in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

Disqualified

* Marvin Abney,

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,

from the 60th district (2019–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Gregg Amore Gregg Amore (born October 28, 1966) is an American politician currently serving as the Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Education Amore earned his bachelor's degree in history from Providence College and his Master of Public Policy from Ne ...

(2023–present) * Sam Bell,

from the 5th district (2019–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Roberto DaSilva Roberto "Bob" DaSilva is an American politician currently serving as the first Mayor of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he previously served a State Representative fo ...

, mayor of East Providence (2019–present) *

James Diossa James A. Diossa (born 1985) is an American politician from Rhode Island. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he is the General Treasurer of Rhode Island, Rhode Island General Treasurer. He served as a member of th ...

Rhode Island General Treasurer The General Treasurer of Rhode Island is one of the five general state officers directly elected by the voters and serves as the custodian of state funds for the Rhode Island government. The General Treasurer is tasked with managing the state's f ...

(2023–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' * Louis DiPalma,

from the 12th district (2009–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Brendan Doherty Brendan Doherty (born March 14, 1959) is a former Rhode Island State Police Superintendent and the 2012 Republican nominee for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district. Doherty was employed at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island as the Direc ...

, former Superintendent of the

Rhode Island State Police The Rhode Island State Police (RISP) is an agency of the US state of Rhode Island responsible for statewide law enforcement and regulation, especially in areas underserved by local police agencies and on the state's limited-access highways. Its h ...

and Republican nominee for this district in

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

Jorge Elorza Jorge O. Elorza (born November 24, 1976) is an American law professor and mayor of Providence, Rhode Island. He defeated former mayor Buddy Cianci in the 2014 mayoral election and on January 5, 2015, was sworn in as mayor of the city. Early lif ...

, former

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

(2015–2023) * Dawn Euer,

from the 13th district (2017–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Helena Foulkes Helena Grace Foulkes (née Buonanno; born July 18, 1964) is an American businesswoman and politician. She unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2022 election and is the former Chief Executive Officer ...

, corporate executive and candidate for

Governor of Rhode Island The governor of Rhode Island is the head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, o ...

* Don Grebien, mayor of Pawtucket (2011–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' * Meghan Kallman,

from the 15th district (2021–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Katherine Kazarian Katherine S. Kazarian (born June 25, 1990 in East Providence, Rhode Island) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives representing District 63 since January 1, 2013. She became House Majority ...

from the 63rd district (2013–present) * Xay Khamsyvoravong, mayor of Newport ''(endorsed Amo)'' * Nirva LaFortune, former

or and candidate for

Valarie Lawson Valarie Lawson (born August 14, 1966) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Rhode Island Senate The Rhode Island Senate is the upper house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of ...

from the 14th district (2019–present) ''(endorsed Cano)'' * Patrick Lynch, former

Rhode Island Attorney General The Attorney General of Rhode Island is the chief legal advisor of the Government of the State of Rhode Island and oversees the State of Rhode Island Department of Law. The attorney general is elected every four years. The current Attorney Gene ...

(2003–2011) ''(endorsed Amo)'' *

Dan McKee Daniel James McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since March 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Rhode Island's 69th lieutenant governor from 2015 to ...

(2021–present) *

Cynthia Mendes Cynthia M. Mendes (born June 14, 1980) is an American politician who formerly served as a member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 18th district. Elected in November 2020, she assumed office on January 5, 2021, and left office in January 2023. S ...

, former

from the 8th district (2021–2023) and candidate for

* Jeff Mutter, mayor of

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

''(endorsed Cano)'' *

Peter Neronha Peter Franz Neronha (born December 17, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician from Jamestown, Rhode Island who currently serves as the Attorney General of Rhode Island. He previously served as the United States Attorney for the District of ...

(2019–present) * Joseph Paolino Jr, former U.S. Ambassador to Malta (1994–1996) and former

(1984–1991) *

Clay Pell Herbert Claiborne Pell IV (born November 17, 1981) is an American lawyer, military officer, and politician. He is a commander and judge advocate in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Internati ...

, lawyer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education, and candidate for

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

Gina Raimondo Gina Marie Raimondo (; born May 17, 1971) is an American politician, lawyer, and venture capitalist who has served as the 40th United States Secretary of Commerce since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 75th go ...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

(2021–present) and former

(2015–2021) * Maria Rivera, mayor of

Central Falls Central Falls is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,583 at the 2020 census. With an area of only , it is the smallest and most densely populated city in the smallest state, and the 27th most densely ...

(2021–present) * Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2021–present) *

Brett Smiley Brett Smiley (September 25, 1955 – January 8, 2016)G ...

(2023–present) *

Angel Taveras Angel Taveras (born August 18, 1970) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the 37th mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, from 2011 to 2015. Taveras was the first Hispanic mayor of the city and the third elected and fourth serving Domin ...

, former

(2011–2015) and candidate for

Endorsements

Fundraising

Polling

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

* Terri Flynn, former Middletown town councilor * Gerry Leonard Jr., operations executive and retired

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

officer

Disqualified

* Gary Fagnant, nurse * William Lebron Jr.

Declined

* Robert Flanders, former Associate Justice of the

Rhode Island Supreme Court The Rhode Island Supreme Court is the court of last resort in the U.S. State of Rhode Island. The Court consists of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices, all selected by the Governor of Rhode Island from candidates vetted by the Judicial No ...

(1996–2004) and nominee for U.S. Senate in

* Aaron Guckian, fundraising consultant, former aide to then-governor

Donald Carcieri Donald Louis Carcieri ( ; ; born December 16, 1942) is an American politician and corporate executive who served as the 73rd Governor of Rhode Island from January 2003 to January 2011. Carcieri has worked as a manufacturing company executive, aid ...

, and nominee for

* John Loughlin, former

from the 71st district (2005–2010) and nominee for this district in

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

* Brian Newberry,

from the 48th district (2009–present) and former RI House Minority Leader (2011–2017)

Endorsements

Fundraising

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

* John Ritchie
Julian Smith
Influencer and IT Manager * John Vitkevich, realtor and community activist

Declined

Arlene Violet Arlene Violet (born 1943) was a religious sister in the Sisters of Mercy and Attorney General of Rhode Island 1985–1987. She was the first female Attorney General elected in the United States.

, former Republican

(1985–1987)

General election

Predictions

Results

Notes

References

External links

Gabe Amo (D) for CongressStephanie Beauté (D) for CongressWalter Berbrick (D) for CongressSandra Cano (D) for CongressDon Carlson (D) for CongressStephen Casey (D) for CongressSpencer Dickinson (D) for CongressJohn Goncalves (D) for CongressGerry Leonard (R) for CongressSabina Matos (D) for CongressAna Quezada (D) for CongressAaron Regunberg (D) for CongressAllen Waters (D) for Congress
{{2023 United States elections Rhode Island 2023 1 Rhode Island 2023 1 2023 1 Special Rhode Island 1 Special United States House of Representatives 1 Special United States House of Representatives 2023 4

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Disqualified

Declined

Endorsements

Fundraising

Polling

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Disqualified

Declined

Endorsements

Fundraising

Results

Independents

Disqualified

Declined

General election

Predictions

Results

See also

Notes

References

External links