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Rhode Island’s runaway race for Congress

Published

1y ago

Mar 22, 2023 / 2789 Views

Evan Walker

Speculation wound down considerably when RI Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi was sounding like he would run for the congressional seat being vacated by Congressman James Langevin. But then Shekarchi decided he would not run. He made that decision after a 90 minute conversation with Senator Jack Reed about realities of a new, freshman congressman – and in consideration of his 97 year old father’s failing Health. Common perception is that he will wait and run for Governor or for Congress in 2026.

Statement from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi:

“The outpouring of support I’ve received to run for Congress – from friends, family, neighbors, supporters, advocates, community leaders, elected officials, and well-wishers, both here in Rhode Island and beyond — has been humbling, overwhelming and inspiring. It is an honor to know so many people have confidence that I could help get good things done in Washington just as we’ve done at the State House. At this time, however, I believe I can do more to help our state by continuing in my role as Speaker. This decision is not a political one but a deeply personal decision, after discussions with my family, close friends and House colleagues. I remain ever grateful for the opportunity to serve as Speaker – a job I truly love. While I will not be a candidate for Congress this year, I look forward to continuing to work with partners in federal, state and local government to bring people together and improve the lives of Rhode Islanders.”

Helena Foulkes

Interest picked up for a day or so, and then speculation that Helena Foulkes would run cooled the interest quickly. If she would run, she could clear the field and have an easy victory.

But yesterday, she issued a statement and then chose an exclusive media choice with a morning radio show to say she had decided not to run, but seek another opportunity with executive level functioning. Her statement:

“Over the past few weeks, I have been humbled by the outpouring of support and encouragement from many of you urging me to run for Rhode Island’s soon-to-be vacant congressional seat in the first district. Your unwavering support fills me with immense gratitude, and I’m confident that with our collective effort, we could have run a successful campaign. But I wanted you to hear it from me first: I have decided not to run for Congress.

This wasn’t an easy decision. I’m deeply passionate about serving the people of Rhode Island and incredibly honored that so many of you believe that I would represent you and your families well in Washington. But right now, I believe that I can have a bigger impact in the long run by working with members of our community on local issues here at home. From our housing crisis to our struggling public schools to the test of the new economy, the challenges facing our state are real and immediate. I want to help fix them here.

I ran for governor driven by the belief that my leadership and executive experience could be channeled towards serving the state I love. And while our pursuit fell short, I remain convinced that there is still a lot that we can achieve together. Since last year’s race I have returned to several private and public sector responsibilities and have spent time with community leaders across the state, learning and giving counsel. I love coaching other leaders and have been inspired by how I can help people working on issues that matter to all of us. The challenges we face are real, but the opportunities we can embrace together are exciting.

While I cannot say for certain what the future holds, I remain deeply committed to our beautiful state and its potential to be a beacon of hope and progress for generations to come. Running for governor–and meeting all of you–was one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you for everything, and let’s continue to work together to get big things done for Rhode Island.

With gratitude – Helena”

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Lt. Governor Sabina Matos

Lt. Gov. Matos announced previously that she will run for Congress. First came an announcement that she would announce. Then she made a Twitter video announcement from the Slater Mill, Pawtucket area. Then she said she would make a formal announcement soon.

I’m running for Congress!

Rhode Islanders deserve a champion in Washington who has a deep connection and commitment to the vibrant communities that make up our state. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work!

Join our team ➡️ https://t.co/IIAExwtjvw pic.twitter.com/LRklv0yQtZ
— Sabina Matos (@Sabina_Matos) March 13, 2023

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Cynthia Mendes

@cynthiamendes4ri
The answer to the question about my run for Congress. #willowproject #climatecrisis #blm✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 #transrightsarehumanrights #medicareforall #queertiktok #liberation #imagine #livingwage #justice
♬ Turntables (from the Amazon Original Movie “All In: The Fight for Democracy”) – Janelle Monáe

Cynthia Mendes, former candidate for Lt. Gov. (with Matt Brown running for Governor) announced in a teary-eyed Tik-Tok video that she will not run: says she “does not trust power to get us out of this mess” and is unsure what her next steps should be.

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Sen. Sandra Cano

Within minutes of Helena Foulkes announcement that she would not run, Sandra Cano’s statement came in:

“Senator Sandra Cano announced she is running for Rhode Island’s First Congressional seat with overwhelming support from members of the community and a successful exploratory phase.

“Our community needs someone who knows what it is like to face the challenges that so many of our neighbors face on a daily basis; someone with the life experience and Democratic values to fight for working families across our state,” said Cano.

“I have worked to ensure that our children get the quality Education they deserve and teachers get recognized as the pillar to their success. I have stood on the front lines with advocates and legislative champions to protect the right to abortion by passing the Reproductive Privacy Act. I have fought to protect the environment by co-sponsoring the Act on Climate and working to ensure its passage. And I helped lead the successful effort for earned sick leave and fair pay for women and families. Now, I am ready to bring this energy and focus to Washington and fight for our future!”

“We need a leader who will continue the strong advocacy of Congressman Cicilline. We need a leader who will work to protect the rights of workers, allowing them to collectively bargain for family-sustaining wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. We need a leader who will ensure Healthcare is accessible and affordable for everyone. And, we need a leader who will fight for a national assault weapons ban and bring true gun safety to this country. I am ready to lead this fight,” Cano continued, “as a longtime resident of District 1, I am extremely grateful for all of the support that I have received from residents and community leaders.”

Cano is the first announced candidate who actually resides in congressional district 1, and the first candidate to open their Federal Election Commission (FEC) account, which is legally required for candidates to support their campaign.

Elected to the Rhode Island Senate (SD8) in a special election in 2018, Sandra Cano serves as the first Latina chair of the Education Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee and the Permanent Joint Legislative Commission on Child Care. Senate accomplishments include passing legislation to ensure all children have access to Healthcare in Rhode Island; providing financial literacy training in classrooms; and providing fair wages to state contractors who provide janitorial and security services.

Prior to serving in the Senate, Sandra served on the Pawtucket City Council from 2014-2018 and on the Pawtucket School Committee from 2012-2014. Sandra has consistently been the highest vote-getter in each of her eight elections, including the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary as a delegate to the National Convention for Congressional District 1.

If elected, Cano will be the first woman to represent District 1, the first Latina to represent Rhode Island in Congress, and the first Colombian immigrant in Congress.

A formal campaign launch will be held in the coming weeks.

Sandra Cano lives in Pawtucket with her fiancé, James, their daughter, Arianna Hallel, and their son, Alessandro James.”

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Allen Waters

Allen Waters who had run for office in the past announced early on, and changed to the Democratic party became the first candidate to announce. He describes himself as a blue dog Democrat.

As candidates have touted the number of women running for office, and media outlets have also noted this, with almost no coverage of well-known, but formerly Republican candidate, Waters posted a light-hearted message on Twitter:

“Women, this. Women, that. Women. Women. Women. But don’t forget the Black and Afro-Latino males trapped by decades of neglect. I am a K-8 graduate of Providence schools and Classical HS ’73. In our minority majority city, Progressives of Color leaders are just as guilty as whites on top… “My Democrats are lost. I give voters in the R I Democratic Party and others a great opportunity to find their way back to what traditional Democrats are.”

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Nick Autiello

Declaring late on Tuesday, Nick Autiello, who describes himself on Twitter where he chose to announce, as a “climate warrior”, was formerly an aide to Gov. Raimondo, who now works at State Street Bank. Active in the LGBTQ community, he is a progressive Democrat from North Providence and had considered running for Treasurer, in the campaign entered by Diossa, who serves in that position now.

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