Democrat Gabe Amo has won the election for Rhode Island House District 1.

He defeated his opponent, Gerry Leonard (R), and became the state’s first black candidate to be elected to congress.

He states that he “didn’t run to make history” and is eager to serve the state he loves.

He aims to use his position to fight for stronger gun control and to protect social security.

Amo’s other top priority is to ensure the federal government begin to function again.

Amo continues democratic holding of this particular seat.

Twelve candidates are running in the September 5, 2023, Democratic special primary for Rhode Island’s 1^st Congressional District.

The special election will take place November 7 and will be the first congressional special election in Rhode Island since the 1967.

The seat became vacant following incumbent Democratic Representative David Cicilline’s resignation to become the CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. 

Lawmakers passed a campaign finance bill to double contribution limits and define terms regarding in-kind donations.

Senate Bill 846 raises the individual contribution limit from $1,000 to $2,000 per year and doubles permitted anonymous donations from $100 to $200.

In an effort to police in-kind contributions, fair market value is defined as the usual and normal charge for goods and services.

The bill became effective without the governor’s signature on June 27.

The general assembly officially ended the 2023 legislative session on June 16.

Lawmakers passed a bevy of bills addressing procurement small purchase limits, contribution limits, and primary election dates.

House Bill 5962 and Senate Bill 0846 raise the minimum aggregate reporting limit for candidates and committees of all contributions received and expenditures made from any one source within a calendar year from $100 to $200.

The bills also raise the contribution limit for individuals and political action committees from $1,000 to $2,000 per year.

If signed by the Governor the bills would take effect on January 1, 2024.

House Bill 5463 increases the maximum state and municipal small purchase limits from $10,000 to $25,000 for construction projects and from $5,000 to $10,000 for all other state and municipal purchases.

If signed by the governor this bill will take effect on December 31, 2023.

Finally, House Bill 6033 allows the first Tuesday after the first Monday in the month preceding the special election to be available to hold the special primary. This bill has been signed by the Governor and will take effect immediately.

A special election has been scheduled to fill the upcoming vacancy in the state’s 1^st Congressional District.

The seat will become vacant when Rep. David Cicilline’s resignation takes effect on June 1.

A primary election will be held on September 5, followed by a general election on November 7.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term set to expire on January 3, 2025.

Rhode Island lawmakers introduced a bill amending the Lobbying Reform Act to apply registration and reporting requirements to individuals who lobby at the local level.

Senate Bill 2512 expands the definition of lobbying to cover individuals who lobby municipal government executives and legislative bodies as well as local fire districts.

If passed, the new law will take effect immediately.

Democrat Sam Zurier defeated Alex Cannon in a special election to serve as the next Rhode Island state Senator for District 3.

The District 3 seat became vacant after Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned earlier this year to take a job with the Biden administration.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld Rhode Island’s campaign finance law requiring the identification of donors in political advertisements.

The state law requires disclosure of independent expenditures totaling more than $1,000 to the Board of Elections with a listing of the candidate or referendum involved and all individual donors who gave more than $1,000.

The top five donors must also be listed in the ad itself.

The groups challenging the constitutionality of the law said they would appeal the issue to the Supreme Court

Rhode Island State officials scheduled a special election on November 2 for the state Senate seat in Providence District 3.

The seat became vacant when Sen. Gayle Goldin resigned to accept a position as a senior adviser in the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau.

A primary will be held on October 5, if necessary.

Both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly recessed after passing the budget for the fiscal year 2022.

The Legislature is expected to reconvene in the fall in order to address some outstanding issues.

This includes a voting package that would continue less restrictive absentee voting rules temporarily in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea announced a special election for Providence City Council Ward 15 on July 6.

If required, a special primary election is scheduled for June 8.

The city council seat is vacant after Sabina Matos was confirmed and sworn in as lieutenant governor of the state earlier this month.

The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Matos’s term until the end of 2022.

On March 7, an inauguration ceremony was held for Governor Daniel J. McKee.

McKee was sworn in as Rhode Island’s 76th Governor after former Gov. Raimondo resigned to join President Biden’s administration as secretary of commerce.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, current public health and safety requirements limited attendance capacity for the inauguration event.

Rhode Island lawmakers announced a statewide special election for March 2.

The special election relates to bond proposals seeking voter approval to borrow $400 million related to education, green infrastructure, transportation, housing, and arts funding.

Voters have the option for mail-in ballots, early voting in-person, or voting in-person on the day of the election.

In a close vote, Rhode Island voters approved Question 1, a resolution to change the state name.

The resolution removes the term “and Providence Plantations” from the official state name referenced in the Preamble, Article III, and Article IX of the Rhode Island Constitution.

The governor and several political leaders have previously removed the term from official state and local documents over the summer.