Rhode Island’s 1st district became vacant on May 31, 2023 when former Rep. David Cicilline resigned to become the CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. The governor set the special election for November 7, 2023 with a filing deadline of June 30 and the all important primary election on September 5. The 1st district is safely Democratic, so winning the primary election was tantamount to be elected for this seat.
At first, Rep. Gabe Amo was seen as a longshot and an underdog. Then, he released a poll showing his campaign in second place. Internal polls are often taken with a grain of salt, but this one put him on the radar for winning the messy primary with 12 different people seeking the seat.
Mr. Amo began the race with little name recognition across Rhode Island, but his campaign was buoyed by more than $600,000 in donations from individuals and super PACs. Mr. Amo leaned into his professional background, which includes a stint serving former Gov. Gina Raimondo, now the U.S. secretary of commerce and his upbringing in the Ocean State.
Democrat Gabe Amo on Thursday released a poll showing him surging to second place in Rhode Island’s Sept. 5 congressional primary, with Aaron Regunberg leading the pack and Sabina Matos falling well behind.
The poll of 451 voters conducted for Amo’s campaign found Regunberg at 28%, Amo at 19%, Matos tied with Sandra Cano at 11% each, and Don Carlson at 8%, with 15% still undecided.
Amo’s team released the full poll results — an unusual move by a major campaign — in an effort to give them credibility with reporters and voters. The survey did not list all 12 Democrats on the ballot in the primary by name, only the five who have had enough resources to run TV ads, with the others lumped in as an option for “another candidate not mentioned here.”
The Amo campaign poll suggests the scandal over forged campaign signatures has done heavy damage to Matos’s image among primary voters. She is now viewed unfavorably by 44% of primary voters, up from 24% in a previous poll they did in June, while her favorable rating has dropped to 24% from 44%.
The primary turned heated near the finish line, but Rep. Gabe Amo prevailed with 32% of the vote, which was 7 points better than his nearest rival for this district. Again, this was tantamount to election in a safely blue district.
Amo was leading former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg as of 10 p.m., according to unofficial results released by the R.I. Board of Elections. State Sen. Sandra Cano and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos were in third and fourth place, respectively.
Amo’s father was literally jumping for joy after learning the outcome. Along with his family, friends and supporters, Amo’s watch party had appearances from Congressman Seth Magaziner, Secretary of State Gregg Amore and even Cano by the end of the night.
His win marks an ongoing transition away from the state’s Italian-American political hierarchy, which was embodied by the late Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, Providence’s charismatic longtime mayor who went to prison for corruption.
“I certainly believe I am part of a generational shift that has been under way before me,” Amo said.
Amo defeated Leonard, a US marine veteran who won the two-candidate GOP primary.
Today, I profile the newest Democratic face in Congress, Rep. Gabe Amo!
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Rep. Gabe Amo (Rhode Island-1)
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Early Biography: Who is Gabe Amo?
Rep. Gabe Amo has a good story to tell. It started out as a child of immigrants who migrated to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. A liquor store in a neighborhood of immigrants seems an unlikely place to meet the newest Democratic member of Congress. Yet an intrepid reporter made that trek recently to interview Rep. Gabe Amo and his father.
The father of Gabe Amo, the Democratic nominee for Congress, is behind the counter of the Providence liquor store he has owned for many decades as I walk inside.
His name is Gabriel Amo, and you will find him here most days for 12 hours or more. The store is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Gabriel usually stays afterward to clean up. As owner, he feels that should be his job.
I had arranged to meet candidate Gabe Amo here to see his roots, and soon he walks in, taking a seat on a stool next to his dad. A moment later, a customer orders a small bottle, and Gabe, 35, instinctively reaches for the correctly sized bag. He worked here as a teen, and on and off since, so knows how to assist on the job that has long helped pay the Amo family’s bills.
To be present at this father-son moment – immigrant liquor store owner and congressional nominee – is to glimpse an extraordinary American tableau, a story of how high the humblest among us can rise.
To fully understand Gabe Amo’s background, it helps to visit the store. It's called Summit Liquors, on a hardscrabble corner of Hartford Avenue a few blocks from the city’s biggest housing project. The names of nearby establishments, such as La Gran Via Supermarket, reflect a neighborhood flavored by immigration.
Here’s what life was like for young Gabe Amo.
What’s it like now looking back at where you came from? What runs through your mind first?
It’s a Rhode Island story that happened due to the hard work of my parents: my dad, who was the owner of a small business located on Mineral Spring Avenue in the early 1990s, and my mom, who worked in nursing homes in Pawtucket and in the Providence area over the course of my life.
It has been a long journey, but my values were nurtured in Pawtucket. I had a call to serve others. It is a pivotal time in our government and important to have experienced leaders for first congressional district, and that’s why I am running for Congress.
What were you like as a kid? Were you into reading?
I loved reading and had lots of overdue books and fees from the Pawtucket Public Library, which was such a beautiful building. That’s where I would dig up content about politics. Otherwise, I was just a kid out there with friends in the summer riding bikes, playing in Woodlawn Little League (which I was not good at) and CYO basketball in Quality Hill (which I was not good at either) and going to the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA. I had so many friends and family that I spent a lot of meaningful time with.
Tell us about your family
I have five brothers and two sisters, most of whom are in Rhode Island and lots of extended family, many of whom came to Pawtucket first (from Ghana or Liberia). I also had (non-biological) uncles and cousins whom I grew up with in the area. I had lots of uncle and aunt figures in the neighborhood that shared my Liberian and Ghanaian background.
He went to the prestigious Moses Brown School as a youth, where he quickly stood out as a star student and a football player while there. Not only that, but he has these highlights as well.
He graduated from the Moses Brown college preparatory school in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was part of the student senate and received the Rhode Island Secretary of State's Civic Leadership Award.[3] He also was selected to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C.
He eventually found his way to Wheaton College and then Oxford University. Wheaton College sums up his time as follows:
Gabe Amo graduated in 2010 with a major in Political Science and a minor in the American Economy. After graduation, he studied for a Master of Philosophy in Comparative Social Policy at the University of Oxford on a Marshall Scholarship. As a junior at Wheaton, he also won a Harry S Truman Scholarship. During his time at Wheaton, Gabe led the Roosevelt Institute and was President of the Student Government Association.
Not mentioned in his Wheaton bio: he graduated magna cum laude. The system usually has three levels of honor (listed in order of increasing merit): cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. Generally, a college or university's regulations set out definite criteria a student must meet to obtain a given honor. For example, the student might be required to achieve a specific grade point average, submit an honors thesis for evaluation, be part of an honors program, or graduate early. Each school sets its own standards.
He also became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. An invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa recognizes and honors exceptional academic achievement in the arts and sciences. Gabe Amo has a stellar resume, and with his strong work ethic it was only a matter of time before he was noticed by the movers and shakers.
From Behind the Scenes to His First Congressional Campaign
Rep. Gabe Amo was bitten by the political bug early in his life. He started volunteering for campaigns in his teenage years. He worked on the initial campaign of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in 2006, and followed that by working on the 2008 Obama campaign.
He must have been noticed by the Obama administration, because he started getting roles in the White House, as well as in Gov. Gina Raimondo’s office.
Gabe Amo is the Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs where he serves as President Biden’s primary liaison to local elected officials. Previously, he worked on the Biden-Harris transition team and on the Biden-Harris presidential campaign as the National States Strategy and Program Advisor. Earlier in his career, he was the Senior Advisor for then-Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s re-election campaign and worked in the Office of the Governor as Director of Public Engagement and Community Affairs. During the Obama-Biden Administration, Amo worked in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs as a liaison to Governors and state elected officials, and on the Obama-Biden re-election campaign as National Political Coordinator.
Amo left the White House to enter a very crowded and tough primary in Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district. His rationale for going from the background to his own political campaign was excellent.
“I’ve seen first-hand what’s at stake," he said. "Republicans in Congress want to cut Social Security and Medicare, ban abortion nationally, and they’re doing nothing to combat senseless gun violence and climate change or to lower costs.”
“There’s so much at stake, and that’s why I’ve left the White House to fight for the people of the 1st Congressional District," said Amo, who most recently held the titles "deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and special assistant to the president," working as Biden’s principal liaison to mayors and local elected officials.
This assessment of how his campaign went over with Rhode Islanders comes from Daily Kos poster rugbymom. Although she has yet to meet the new member of Congress, she gave this glowing report.
Lessons: GOTV and personal appeal absolutely matters. Amo took tips from his predecessor, Cicilline, and was everywhere, from farmers markets to an event at the Veterans’ cemetery, to senior centers, to door-knocking. He also sent out several mailers. He touted his experience in the Obama and Biden White Houses, so “ridin’ with Biden” was clearly a plus. And the biography of son of West African immigrants, local Pawtucket kid (doesn't get much more RI than that), star student and football player at the prestigious Moses Brown (Quaker-ish) school (on scholarship), didn't hurt. He cut his campaign teeth as a high school volunteer for Sheldon Whitehouse’s 2006 Senate race, and Sheldon was all-in for him. The Congressional Black Caucus PAC (I think that's the name?) endorsed him. He’s new to elected office, but a known face around DC. And he's a very personable congenial guy — I haven't yet met him in person, but you can see it in his interactions and his X-Twitter feed. People like him. He smiles a lot, a genuine smile.
What Does Rep. Amo Hope to Accomplish in Congress?
Rep. Gabe Amo sat down for an interview with a local NBC affiliate early in his campaign. Near the end, he discussed some of his priorities if he could reach Congress.
He’s also brought up some issues that usually don’t get much attention during his local interviews.
What is an under-the-radar issue you are passionate about which you would make one of your priorities in Congress?
“There are two issues that I believe are flying under the radar, both in this campaign and in the national discourse as well.
“Right now, there are many large entities around the country that are collecting and trading data on us, from the stores we shop in to the social media we consume. In an increasingly digitally connected world, it is of utmost priority that we one, have some control over our identities in life and online, and two, that as that information is bought and sold, that we retain as much of our individual privacy as possible – an issue which is compounded by the growth in Artificial Intelligence and the mirroring of our identities in a range of venues. Additionally, I support the Biden Administration’s efforts to establish a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, and as a member of Congress, I would be focused on getting legislation passed to address both the privacy and workforce concerns that Artificial Intelligence presents.
“The second is the “care economy,” that is the work of caring for our seniors, children, and those unable to care independently for themselves. The burden of this work, traditionally, has fallen on women and has usually been unpaid. This reality has led to many women having fewer savings in retirement and greater instability in their employment, as we have not provided enough support and resources for caregivers to take paid time off of work to take care of their children, aging parents, or other family members. In Congress, I would support legislation to expand and diversify the care economy workforce, increasing the number of CNAs, nurses, and home health aids. I would work to expand access to high-quality childcare so that no family is paying more than 7% of their income on childcare. Finally, and this is not an exhaustive list, I would support legislation to make the expanded child tax credit permanent. The American Rescue Plan did this and the program cut childhood poverty in half.”
He went on to explain what his legislative style would be with another local media source. He also discussed the need to stand up to extremist MAGA Republicans if necessary.
If elected, you would become the most freshman legislator in a 435-person chamber. What would you do to work with other representatives to promote Rhode Island’s priorities?
My whole career, on behalf of presidents and a governor, has been about collaborating with diverse groups of leaders and interests to get things done. One of the projects that I worked on in the White House that I am most proud of is helping to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). As the President’s principal liaison to mayors across the country, I spent lots of time on the phone strategizing with local leaders to help them convince their federal delegations to support the BIL. As President Biden likes to say, there are no Democrat roads or Republican bridges; there are roads and bridges. We need to appeal to each other’s common interests and values. Good-paying jobs, safe communities, and providing a good education to our children are things that most people can agree upon. For example, one of the lead sponsors on the bill in the House that would expand background checks for gun purchases is Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. So, I would make it my mission to work with whomever I can to get things done for Rhode Island, and when necessary, stand up to the extreme factions of the Republican party to protect against any harmful attacks, especially on programs like Social Security and Medicare and a woman’s right to choose.
Rep. Gabe Amo’s First Month In Congress
Amo has had a packed first month in Congress, having been sworn in on November 13, 2023.
It’s official now! Rep. Gabe Amo is a New Face in Congress!
After being sworn in, Amo went on the Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss the experience and how the campaign went.
Since being sworn in, Amo has needed to take quite a few critical votes. He has voted on the two-tier stopgap bill to avert a government shutdown, the defeat of procedural rules for Iran sanctions as well as spending bills, the “George Santos” expulsion, debates on aid to Israel/Ukraine/Taiwan, the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, and the sham impeachment inquiry vote.
He recapped a busy first week and the sharp learning curve that being a member of Congress entails with The Grio.
In a statement obtained by theGrio, Rep. Steven Horsford, D- Nev., chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), welcomed Amo as the 60th member of the caucus. Horsford said the freshman congressman will serve in Congress “at a pivotal time in our nation’s history.”
“[Rep. Amo] will bring to the CBC and the House Democratic Caucus a diversity of lived experience and a shared commitment to standing up to extreme Republicans, keeping our communities safe, and protecting our fundamental freedoms,” Horsford wrote.
Rep. Amo told theGrio that since taking office, Horsford has served as a valuable mentor.
“He has helped me really establish my narrative and one that is of hard work, great resilience and determination,” he said. “We all have a bit of that story, and his mentorship has been tremendous.”
He was placed on the House Foreign Affairs Committee by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Earlier this week, Jeffries recommended that Congressman Amo serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Amo told theGrio, “As a child of West African immigrants” and someone who has worked behind the scenes in Rhode Island, he believes he will be able to work with his colleagues to stabilize nations across the globe.
“I think my worldview has been informed by my immigrant story,” he said.
“We are in a moment where the global theater is unstable. We have the conflict in Ukraine driven by Russia’s aggression. We have the Israel-Hamas war that is happening,” he continued.
“I think there is no more important place for me to be at this time to really lean into our ability as the United States to bring great stability to the world.”
Rep. Gabe Amo plans on running for a full term in 2024, though he has yet to officially file to run for re-election. He is in a good position in a blue seat that he won by about 30 points over his GOP opposition. He will have lots of time to develop a sterling House career with strong constituent services, connections to the Biden administration, and being a rising star in the Democratic Party in Rhode Island.
The Foreign Affairs Committee (same as former Rep. Cicilline) is a good place for Amo to start his career in Congress. It usually stays out of the limelight, and it will give him a chance to acclimate to the demands of the new position. I look forward to seeing how the career of Rep. Gabe Amo develops as he gains more experience!
New Faces in Congress is a diary series meant to highlight our new and diverse members of Congress in the Democratic Party. These 36 House freshmen range from political neophytes to seasoned legislative veterans. The series will run every Sunday morning, bright and early.
Last week, the New Faces in Congress series continued with a profile on Rep. Jeff Jackson from North Carolina’s 14th district. If you missed it, feel free to click on this link to read all about him!
This is the LAST ENTRY in the series for 2023-24, unless there is a special election. My next series will focus on the 2024 elections and will begin January 7th next year. See you then!
Rep. Gabe Amo (Rhode Island-1)
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