RI-01 Special Election Megathread

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RI-01 has a significant hispanic population, so we could see the first Hispanic congressman from New England. Jorge Elzora would likely be that person.

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RI-02 has a significant hispanic population, so we could see the first Hispanic congressman from New England. Jorge Elzora would likely be that person.

Oddly enough wikipedia has him listed under both "Potential" and "Declined"

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Interestingly the only public expressed interest (on Wikipedia) are all women and 4 are also hispanic.

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We don't really have an elected left-wing at all. I think the U.S. Congress is more left-wing with its Democratic caucus.

Well, Democratic caucus in Congress is fairly left-wing itself now, so it's not especially convincing argument. Back in the days when "for every Tip O'Neal there was it's own Maston O'Neal" - another matter, but this was THEN...

I don’t get the O’Neal thing

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I think we can officially call this a clown car. And since Rhode Island has plurality primaries we could easily see someone win with less that 30%

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I think we can officially call this a clown car. And since Rhode Island has plurality primaries we could easily see someone win with less that 30%

This isn't a clown car. It's two clown cars, forcibly thrown together and dumped on a big travel bus.

It’s the whole damn circus

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Does anyone break 33% at this point?

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State Representative Marvin Abney is in.

I could be wrong, but I think Abney is currently the only black candidate. That might be relevant in the primary.

Stop! Running! For! This! Seat!

We have enough candidates

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State Representative Marvin Abney is in.

I could be wrong, but I think Abney is currently the only black candidate. That might be relevant in the primary.

Also Abney isn’t the only black in the race, there’s also Biah and I believe Matos is Afro-Latino

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Businessman Don Carlson becomes the "lucky" thirteenth Democrat to enter the race.

Jamestown businessman Don Carlson announced Sunday he is jumping into the Democratic primary to replace outgoing Congressman David Cicilline. 

“My family’s roots run deep in this state and in this district,” Carlson said in a statement announcing his campaign. “I will work hard every day to deliver real and meaningful results for the people of this district, and to continue the great work that was done by our Congressman David Cicilline.”

Carlson grew up in Rhode Island, graduating from Toll Gate High School before attending Williams College and Harvard Law School. He clerked for Rhode Island U.S. Appeals Court Judge Bruce Selya.



After his clerkship, Carlson served as legislative director and chief counsel for Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, and later led the transition for Connecticut Congressman Jim Himes after his election to the House.

It's worth noting we still do not have a Republican candidate....

Stop it!

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We’re gonna have more candidates then voters

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Jesus Christ stop

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Can we rename the thread to be about the special election?

Petition to rename this to 16 candidates and coming.

Alternatively 3’s a crowd, 16’s a primary

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Can we rename the thread to be about the special election?

Petition to rename this to 16 candidates and coming.

Alternatively 3’s a crowd, 16’s a primary

16 and *insert pregnancy pun here*?

16 and primaried

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Oo! 16 going on 17

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So his resignation is official now. I believe the debt ceiling deal is the last thing he ever voted on.

Just in time for him to slay all of pride

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So his resignation is official now. I believe the debt ceiling deal is the last thing he ever voted on.

Just in time for him to slay all of pride

You're saying that as if George Santos, the most fantastic human being whom has ever graced our planet, hasn't yet beat him to it.

Santos is the one whose still in congress having to idk work and not WERK!

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Am I the only one who thinks Matos will win pretty comfortably in spite of how large the field is? She seems to be best positioned to win.

I think so too. The handwringing over the large field probably won't matter in the end given all the institutional support Matos is getting (nationally and locally), which could help her win over a large chunk of the undecideds.

This is starting to feel like a repeat of the MD-07 special election with Matos winning clearly, but not as lopsided with how Mfume is/was more established then Matos.

For reference that election had 24 candidates running, but only 9 getting more than 1%, and 4 only getting more than 5%.

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If Matos collapses it’ll be a free for all

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Nick Autiello drops out, and even more controversy about signatures for Sabina
https://www.wpri.com/target-12/thats-not-my-signature-newport-residents-dispute-signing-matos-nomination-papers?

Student Gov (alleged), self described “guncle, dog dad” twink drops out

Nothing of value was lost

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https://twitter.com/TedNesi/status/1694471649154769180

Then there were 99

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That’s honestly a surprise. Especially him getting above 30%.

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Fellow Rhode Islanders, or whoever else might know…

Is Gabe Amo going to be the first Black person Rhode Island has ever elected?

I’m pretty sure for Congress. But I also don’t think we have ever had a black statewide Officet either, whether Governor or Lt. Governor or General Treasurer or Attorney General or SoS?

I think Sabina Matos has identified as Hispanic, not black. And I really can’t think of anyone else who might have been black.

I know CD1 isn’t the entire state, but still, this some significant on that front. Especially since RI has a very small black population.

According to Wikipedia Amo does seem to be the highest ranking black person ever in Rhode Island.

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Gabe Amo could be a plausible VP candidate in 2028 or 2032 for someone like Buttigeig or Ossoff (not that either have a realistic chance-I expect a Kamala Harris coronation, if we even have a 2028 election (which would assume a Biden victory in 2024).)

We are way to early for that