Gabe Amo elected as Rhode Island’s first Black congressman

Former White House aide Gabe Amo (D) won the special election to fill the seat of former Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) in Rhode Island, according to a projection from Decision Desk HQ, making him the state’s first Black representative to Congress.

Amo defeated Marine veteran Gerry Leonard (R) to fill Cicilline’s vacancy in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. 

Cicilline announced in February that he was leaving his seat in June to be the CEO and president of the Rhode Island Foundation. Amo won a crowded Democratic primary in September, and a poll from the Pell Center at Salve Regina University in late October found him leading Leonard 46 percent to 35 percent. 

More Election Day coverage from The Hill

• Democrat Andy Beshear wins reelection in Kentucky governor’s race
• Ohio passes Issue 1 ballot measure enshrining abortion protections
• Election Day 2023 live updates: Stay up to date as results come in

The seat went for Biden handily in 2020 and had been held by Cicilline since 2011, making Amo the heavy favorite to win the race.