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Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023 (September 5 Republican primary)
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Former Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Gabe Amo (D) defeated Marine Veteran Gerry Leonard (R) to win the special election to fill the seat representing Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House on November 7, 2023. The primary election was held September 5, 2023. The filing deadline was June 30, 2023.[1]
The special election filled the vacancy left by David Cicilline (D), who resigned on May 31, 2023, to run the Rhode Island Foundation.[2][3]
Amo listed "preventing gun violence and ensuring safe communities ... protecting social security and medicare and lowering the cost of prescription drugs ... ensuring access to safe, legal abortion for all" and "fighting climate change" as some of his top issues.[4]
Leonard said the "national debt is the biggest issue that is going to affect our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren" and said the country needs to grow the economy by "enacting pro-growth policies, reducing red tape, and incentivizing small and mid-size businesses."[5]
| Rhode Island voter? Dates you need to know. | |
|---|---|
| Candidate Filing Deadline | June 30, 2023[1] |
| Registration Deadline | August 6, 2023 (primary) October 8, 2023 (general) |
| Primary Election | September 5, 2023 |
| General Election | November 7, 2023 |
| Voting information | |
| Polling place hours | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
As of September 17, 2025, 13 special elections have been called for the 118th Congress. From the 113th Congress to the 117th Congress, 67 special elections were held. For more data on historical congressional special elections, click here.
This page focuses on Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special Republican primary. For more in-depth information on the district's special Democratic primary and the special general election, see the following pages:
- Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023 (September 5 Democratic primary)
- Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023
Candidates and election results
Republican primary election
Special Republican primary for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1
Gerry Leonard defeated Terri Flynn in the special Republican primary for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1 on September 5, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gerry Leonard | 75.7 | 3,076 |
 | Terri Flynn  | 24.3 | 989 | |
| Total votes: 4,065 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- William LeBron Jr. (R)
- Barrett Lynton (R)
- Gary Donald (R)
- Uloma Ekpete Kama (R)
Voting information
See also
- Special elections to the 118th United States Congress (2023-2024)
- Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023
- Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023 (September 5 Democratic primary)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Office of Governor Daniel J. McKee, "WRIT OF ELECTION - UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - RHODE ISLAND, DISTRICT 1," accessed April 4, 2023
- ↑ CNN, "Rep. David Cicilline to resign from Congress June 1 to run foundation," February 21, 2023
- ↑ Clerk.House.gov, "Office of the First Congressional District of Rhode Island to Remain Open to Serve and Assist Constituents," accessed August 15, 2023
- ↑ Gabe Amo, Democrat for Congress, "GABE'S PLAN TO FIGHT FOR YOU," accessed October 20, 2023
- ↑ WPRI, "Meet the Candidates: Gerry Leonard," October 6, 2023
