Rhode Island Special Election Pits Democrat Gabe Amo Against Republican Gerry Leonard; State Senate Contest Also on Ballot

Democrat Gabe Amo, a former Obama and Biden White House aide, and Republican Gerry Leonard, a retired U.S. Marine colonel, vie for vacated House seat in historically Democratic district; Jacob Bissaillon and Niyoka Powell vie for state Senate spot in special election with typically low voter turnout.

• The special Congressional election in Rhode Island between former Obama and Biden White House aide Gabe Amo and retired U.S. Marine colonel Gerry Leonard will fill the seat of former Democratic U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who resigned in May after seven terms.
• The historically Democratic district has reliably voted for Democrats for a significant period with a prior holder of the seat, Patrick Kennedy, serving for 16 years.
• A second special election will also take place to complete the term of the late Maryellen Goodwin in the state Senate with the Democratic nominee being Jacob Bissaillon and the Republican nominee being Niyoka Powell.
• Special elections like these typically experience lower voter turnout compared to regularly scheduled elections, and counting may be slower due to absentee, provisional, or other untallied ballots possibly playing a decisive role in determining the result.
• As of Wednesday, the breakdown of registered voters in both districts reveals a Democratic majority with 45% Democrats, 12% Republicans, and 43% unaffiliated voters in U.S. House District 1 and 57% Democrats, 7% Republicans and 36% unaffiliated in State Senate District 1.

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