Gabe Amo is elected Rhode Island’s first black congressman

Gabe Amo, a former White House aide who worked in the Biden and Obama administrations, became the first Black person to represent Rhode Island in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. Amo, the son of Ghanaian and Liberian immigrants and a moderate Democrat, handily defeated his Republican opponent, Gerry Leonard, in the race to represent the First Congressional District. The victory was expected in the heavily Democratic district and followed a busy primary in September.

“When I was eight years old and helping my mother study for the citizenship test, I never imagined that I would join her in casting her vote to vote for her son for the United States Congress,” he said, and later added, “I stand on the shoulders of so many who came before me to make this day possible.”

Mr. Amo won the seat vacated by former Rep. David Cicilline, a Democrat who announced in February that he would step down to become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

In September, Mr. Amo won about a third of the vote, defeating 10 other candidates, including a former state lawmaker, backed by national progressive politicians and the state’s lieutenant governor.

In his campaign, Mr. Amo drew on his previous positions with prominent Democrats, including as deputy director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Biden administration — which he left to run for Congress — and worked for Gina Raimondo, the former governor. of Rhode Island.

Amo, 35, told supporters Tuesday in his hometown of Pawtucket that once in power he planned to focus on issues such as retirement security, gun violence, abortion rights and climate change.

“This is just the beginning of a partnership between me and between you and the people of our communities, the people of the First Congressional District, who have given me this great honor tonight,” he said, “and I am committed to building our community. so that everyone can flourish.”