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(Updated 4.22) Rhode Island’s runaway race for Congress
Updates come at the bottom of the article
Speculation wound down considerably when RI Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi was sounding like he would run for the congressional seat being vacated by Congressman James Langevin. But then Shekarchi decided he would not run. He made that decision after a 90 minute conversation with Senator Jack Reed about realities of a new, freshman congressman – and in consideration of his 97 year old father’s failing health. Common perception is that he will wait and run for Governor or for Congress in 2026.
Statement from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi:
“The outpouring of support I’ve received to run for Congress – from friends, family, neighbors, supporters, advocates, community leaders, elected officials, and well-wishers, both here in Rhode Island and beyond — has been humbling, overwhelming and inspiring. It is an honor to know so many people have confidence that I could help get good things done in Washington just as we’ve done at the State House. At this time, however, I believe I can do more to help our state by continuing in my role as Speaker. This decision is not a political one but a deeply personal decision, after discussions with my family, close friends and House colleagues. I remain ever grateful for the opportunity to serve as Speaker – a job I truly love. While I will not be a candidate for Congress this year, I look forward to continuing to work with partners in federal, state and local government to bring people together and improve the lives of Rhode Islanders.”
Helena Foulkes
Interest picked up for a day or so, and then speculation that Helena Foulkes would run cooled the interest quickly. If she would run, she could clear the field and have an easy victory.
However, she quickly issued a statement and then chose an exclusive media choice with a morning radio show to say she had decided not to run, but seek another opportunity with executive level functioning. Her statement:
“Over the past few weeks, I have been humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement from many of you urging me to run for Rhode Island’s soon-to-be vacant congressional seat in the first district. Your unwavering support fills me with immense gratitude, and I’m confident that with our collective effort, we could have run a successful campaign. But I wanted you to hear it from me first: I have decided not to run for Congress.
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Lt. Governor Sabina Matos
Lt. Gov. Matos announced previously that she will run for Congress. First came an announcement that she would announce. Then she made a Twitter video announcement from the Slater Mill, Pawtucket area. Then she said she would make a formal announcement soon.
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Cynthia Mendes
Cynthia Mendes, former candidate for Lt. Gov. (with Matt Brown running for Governor) announced in a teary-eyed Tik-Tok video that she will not run: says she “does not trust power to get us out of this mess” and is unsure what her next steps should be.
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Sen. Sandra Cano
Within minutes of Helena Foulkes announcement that she would not run, Sandra Cano’s statement came in:
“Senator Sandra Cano announced she is running for Rhode Island’s First Congressional seat with overwhelming support from members of the community and a successful exploratory phase.
“Our community needs someone who knows what it is like to face the challenges that so many of our neighbors face on a daily basis; someone with the life experience and Democratic values to fight for working families across our state,” said Cano.
Sandra Cano works in economic development for the city of Pawtucket, is on maternity leave following the birth of her second child, and lives in Pawtucket with her fiancé, James Diossa, RI Treasurer, their daughter, Arianna Hallel, and newborn son, Alessandro James.”
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Allen Waters
Allen Waters who had run for office in the past announced early on, and changed to the Democratic party became the first candidate to announce. He describes himself as a blue dog Democrat.
As candidates have touted the number of women running for office, and media outlets have also noted this, with almost no coverage of well-known, but formerly Republican candidate, Waters posted a light-hearted message on Twitter:
“Women, this. Women, that. Women. Women. Women. But don’t forget the Black and Afro-Latino males trapped by decades of neglect. I am a K-8 graduate of Providence schools and Classical HS ’73. In our minority majority city, Progressives of Color leaders are just as guilty as whites on top… “My Democrats are lost. I give voters in the R I Democratic Party and others a great opportunity to find their way back to what traditional Democrats are.”
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Nick Autiello
Declaring late on Tuesday, Nick Autiello, who describes himself on Twitter where he chose to announce, as a “climate warrior”, was formerly an aide to Gov. Raimondo, who now works at State Street Bank. Active in the LGBTQ community, he is a progressive Democrat from North Providence and had considered running for Treasurer, in the campaign entered by Diossa, who serves in that position now.
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Nathan Biah
RI state Rep. Nathan Biah, principal at Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School in Providence has filed papers and says he will formally announce soon.
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Mickeda Barnes, a RIPTA bus driver, has also declared candidacy.
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John Goncalves
John Goncalves, Providence City Councilman, Ward 1 will run for Congress. He is an elementary school teacher, graduate of Brown University and lives on the East Side of Providence.
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Stephanie Beauté
Stephanie Beauté – a mother, a working-class Rhode Islander. She says, “I am not a politician, and, until recently, politics was never in my purview”. Her most important issues: Housing – how the American Dream is drifting further away; cost to seniors of prescription drugs; mass shootings; putting seniors first, Medicare for all. Criminal justice reform. Gun control.
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Aaron Regunberg
Progressive candidate who ran for Governor and came in better than anyone thought against Gov. McKee. 2-term local representative from Providence, he is resigning a court clerkship to run for CD1. Active in prison reform, BLM issues, he is an attorney, husband and father of a 2-year old. Coming from wealth, Regunberg may choose to fund his own campaign.
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Ana Quezada
Currently serving as Deputy Senate Majority Whip, Quezada has served since 2016 from District 2. She was active in raising the minimum wage, providing for doula services, LGBTQ causes, human trafficking, and bilingual education.
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Marvin Abney
Marvin Abney has served in the RI legislature since 2013, and currently serves as chair of the powerful Finance Committee. He represents the Middletown/Newport area. Originally from Texas, Abney has an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.
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Rep. Stephen Casey
Woonsocket firefighter and the House Municipal Government & Housing Committee chair, Casey is described as an anti-abortion, pro-gun Democrat, and a Kennedy Democrat. Casey may represent a choice for Republicans who have no candidate, at this point, in the race.
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Donald Carlson
A resident of Jamestown, Carlson is a native Rhode Islander, educated in East Greenwich. An attorney, graduate of Harvard Law, he clerked for Justice Bruce Selya and worked for Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II in congress. He has been a CEO, senior educator, and today is a volunteer EMT in Jamestown. Father of 3.
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Gabe Amo
Amo, originally from Pawtucket, works in Washington D.C., at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. He served as senior advisor to the Gina Raimondo campaign. Amo graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, where he earned a Truman Scholarship. He also studied at the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. He has resigned from his DC position to run for office.
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Walter Berbrick
Berbrick, a professor in the War Gaming Dept. at the US Naval War College and a former intelligence officer has announced he will run for Congress, CD1 in RI. He is 38 and lives in MIddletown. After 9/11 he enlisted in the Navy and worked as a bartender in Newport on nights and weekends while earning a master’s degree from Salve Regina University. He is an author of a manual to avoid conflict in the Arctic. He has never run for office.
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Pamela Azar
Pamela Azar, running as a Democrat. Describes herself as an autism spectrum advocate, she is a Town Councilor District 4, in Lincoln, and is a Civics teacher.
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UPDATE 4/22:
CF Mayor Maria Rivera will not run.
Republican Aaron Guckian will not run.
Independent Arlene Violet decided not to run
Sen. Dawn Euer will not run
Dr. Steven Skoly (R) – considering a run as a Republican
This is a developing story and will be updated as candidates announce.