Democrat Amo, GOP's Leonard Win RI Congressional Primaries For District 1

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island's primary season is over after Tuesday night's results shaped the November race for the state's open congressional seat.

Former White House aide Gabe Amo won the Democratic primary in the special election to fill the U.S. Congressional seat in District 1 formerly held by David Cicilline (D-Providence), according to the Associated Press.

Amo will now join Republican U.S. Marine veteran Gerry Leonard, who won his race earlier Tuesday night, in November's general election.

If Amo wins in November, he would become the first Black candidate to be elected to the U.S. House from Rhode Island.

With 89 percent of precincts' votes reported, former White House aide Gabe Amo is leading in the race to be Leonard's opponent on the Democratic side.

Fifteen candidates qualified for the ballot in Tuesday's primary — including 13 Democrats and two Republicans. But just after making the ballot, Nicholas Autiello dropped out of the race, bringing the options down to 12 for Democrats.

Unofficial Results

98 percent of precincts reported

(Numbers represent vote totals.)

Democrats

• Gabe Amo: 12,391
• Aaron Regunberg: 9,498
• Sandra Cano: 5,290
• Sabina Matos: 3,044
• Stephen Casey: 2,259
• Walter Berbrick: 1,392
• Ana Quezada: 1,317
• John Goncalves: 1,074
• Donald Carlson: 676
• Allen Waters: 491
• Stephanie Beaute: 411
• Spencer Dickinson: 337.

Republicans

• Gerry Leonard: 3,014
• Terri Flynn: 961

During Tuesday's election, polls in Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Woonsocket were monitored by U.S. Justice Department officials. Justice Department officials from the civil rights division were there to ensure the state is following all federal voting rights laws and hear complaints from the public.

"Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the Civil Rights Division has regularly monitored elections in the field in jurisdictions around the country to protect the rights of voters," a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Patch will update this story throughout election night. Check back for updates.

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Correction: Gerry Leonard's race was incorrectly named in the article, when it should have been for Gabe Amo. Patch has corrected the story.