Former White House aide wins crowded Democratic primary in Rhode Island special election
Former White House official Gabe Amo has emerged as the winner of a crowded Democratic primary in Rhode Island, positioning him as the likely successor to former Democratic Rep. David Cicilline. Amo's victory, which was projected by The Associated Press, indicates the enduring strength of President Joe Biden's brand within the party. Having defeated 10 other Democrats, Amo is now poised to represent the deep blue district in Congress, succeeding Cicilline, who resigned earlier this year. The general election is set to take place in November. On the Republican side, Gerry Leonard won the primary, though the GOP has not held the seat in decades. The district overwhelmingly voted for Biden in the 2020 election.
Amo, the son of African immigrants who served in the White House under both Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, heavily emphasized his association with the two Democratic leaders during his campaign. Backed by former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, Amo described himself as "Biden's principal liaison to mayors and local elected officials" in his role as deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. His campaign echoed Biden's message, with ads highlighting his experience and the stakes involved by featuring images of the January 6th riot and former President Donald Trump.
Amo's victory is seen as a testament to President Biden's enduring popularity among party members, particularly outside of Washington, D.C. Rich Luchette, a former adviser to Cicilline, acknowledged that Amo's association with Biden played a significant role in his victory and emphasized the difficulty of running for Congress as a first-time candidate.
Notably, more than $3.4 million was spent on advertising during the primary, an unusually high amount for a congressional primary in a safe district. National groups aligned with the Democratic Party also became involved in the primary as they sought to support their preferred candidates.
The special election unfolded over the summer in a district that includes the state capital, Providence, and well-known resort towns like Newport. However, the race was marred by a scandal that severely impacted the campaign of former front-runner Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos. Matos, who would have been the first Afro-Latino in Congress, faced revelations in July that a vendor hired by her campaign had apparently forged some of the signatures necessary to secure her spot on the ballot. While Matos denied any wrongdoing and blamed the rogue vendor, the issue proved difficult for her to shake off.
Amo's victory also dealt a blow to national progressives, as he defeated Aaron Regunberg, a former state representative who had garnered support from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
