Sabina Matos
Sabina Matos (Democratic Party) is the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. She assumed office on April 14, 2021. Her current term ends on January 5, 2027.
Matos (Democratic Party) is running for re-election for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on September 8, 2026.[source]
Biography
On March 31, 2021, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee (D) announced that he would nominate Matos to be the state's lieutenant governor.[1] McKee resigned as lieutenant governor to be sworn in as governor on March 2, replacing Gina Raimondo (D) when she became U.S. secretary of commerce under the Biden administration. The Rhode Island State Senate confirmed Matos as lieutenant governor on April 13, 2021.[2] She resigned from her position on the Providence City Council, which she held from 2011 to 2021, that same day.[3] Matos was sworn in as lieutenant governor on April 14, 2021.[4]
Prior to serving as lieutenant governor, Matos served on the Providence City Council, representing Ward 15 from 2011 to 2021. She was sworn in as president of the council in January 2019.[5]
Matos received a bachelor's degree in communications and public relations from Rhode Island College in 2001.[5]
Political career
Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.
Matos' political career includes the following offices:
- 2021-present: Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
- 2011-2021: Providence City Council Ward 15
Elections
2026
See also: Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on September 8, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Incumbent Sabina Matos (D), Susan R. Anderbois (D), and Cynthia Armour Coyne (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on September 8, 2026.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eric Ulis (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
John Loughlin (R) is running in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on September 8, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | John Loughlin | |
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Endorsements
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2023
See also: Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023
Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023 (September 5 Democratic primary)
Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023 (September 5 Republican primary)
General election
Special general election for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1
Gabe Amo defeated Gerry Leonard in the special general election for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1 on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gabe Amo (D) | 64.9 | 43,290 |
 | Gerry Leonard (R) | 35.1 | 23,393 | |
| Total votes: 66,683 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stephen Earle (Independent)
- Julian J. Smith (Independent)
- Richard O'Shea (Independent)
- John Vitkevich (Independent)
- Jeffrey Lemire (Independent)
- Christopher Reynolds (Independent)
- Joseph Jean-Philippe (Independent)
- Paul Rianna Jr. (Independent)
- John Ritchie (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1
The following candidates ran in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Rhode Island District 1 on September 5, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gabe Amo | 32.4 | 12,946 |
 | J. Aaron Regunberg | 24.9 | 9,960 | |
 | Sandra Cano | 13.9 | 5,574 | |
 | Sabina Matos | 8.0 | 3,210 | |
 | Stephen Casey | 5.8 | 2,329 | |
 | Walter Berbrick | 3.6 | 1,453 | |
 | Ana Quezada | 3.5 | 1,415 | |
 | John Goncalves | 2.8 | 1,118 | |
 | Don Carlson (Unofficially withdrew) | 1.7 | 690 | |
 | Allen Waters | 1.3 | 503 | |
 | Stephanie Beauté | 1.1 | 428 | |
 | Spencer Dickinson | 0.9 | 354 | |
| Total votes: 39,980 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Bella Noka (D)
- Nicholas Autiello II (D)
- Nathan Biah (D)
- Paul LeBon (D)
- Toni Sfameni (D)
- Kathleen Gaskell (D)
- Larry Hutchinson Jr. (D)
- Gregory Mundy (D)
- Michael Tillinghast (D)
- Marvin Abney (D)
- Mickeda Barnes (D)
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. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- William LeBron Jr. (R)
- Barrett Lynton (R)
- Gary Donald (R)
- Uloma Ekpete Kama (R)
Matos received the following endorsements.
- U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez Allison (D)
- U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D)
- Rep. Ritchie Torres (D)
- Grace Diaz (D) -
- Ramon Perez (D) -
- Portsmith Town Council President Kevin Aguiar
- Frmr. Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island Elizabeth Roberts (D)
- Rhode Island Laborers’ District Council
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC
- EMILY's List
- Elect Black Women
- Elect Democratic Women
- Her Bold Move
- Higher Heights for America
- Latino Victory Fund
- PODER PAC
- Vote Mama PAC
- Nicholas Autiello II (D) -
2022
See also: Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Incumbent Sabina Matos defeated Aaron Guckian and Ross McCurdy in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sabina Matos (D) | 51.2 | 180,909 |
 | Aaron Guckian (R) | 43.1 | 152,458 | |
 | Ross McCurdy (Independent) | 5.5 | 19,507 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 608 | ||
| Total votes: 353,482 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Keith Harrison (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Incumbent Sabina Matos defeated Deborah Ruggiero and Cynthia Mendes in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sabina Matos | 47.1 | 50,704 |
 | Deborah Ruggiero | 33.1 | 35,620 | |
 | Cynthia Mendes | 19.8 | 21,304 | |
| Total votes: 107,628 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Larry Valencia (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Aaron Guckian defeated Paul Pence in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Aaron Guckian | 67.7 | 13,427 |
 | Paul Pence | 32.3 | 6,396 | |
| Total votes: 19,823 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Providence City Council Ward 15
Incumbent Sabina Matos won election in the general election for Providence City Council Ward 15 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sabina Matos (D) | 95.4 | 1,665 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.6 | 80 | ||
| Total votes: 1,745 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Providence City Council Ward 15
Incumbent Sabina Matos defeated Oscar Vargas in the Democratic primary for Providence City Council Ward 15 on September 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sabina Matos | 64.1 | 662 |
| Oscar Vargas | 35.9 | 370 | ||
| Total votes: 1,032 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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2023
Sabina Matos did not complete Ballotpedia's 2023 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Sabina Matos did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
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| Coronavirus pandemic |
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Matos announced on December 28, 2021, that she tested positive for COVID-19. She said she was vaccinated at the time she contracted the virus.[6]
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Westerly Sun, "Providence City Council head tapped for lieutenant governor," March 31, 2021
- ↑ WPRI 12, "RI Senate confirms Matos as state’s next lieutenant governor," April 13, 2021
- ↑ 10 WJAR, "Matos submits resignation letter to Providence City Council," April 9, 2021
- ↑ WUN, "Sabina Matos will be sworn in as 70th Lt. Governor of Rhode Island on Wednesday," April 13, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Providence Monthly, "2020 Vision: A Sit Down with Sabina Matos," October 2, 2020
- ↑ The Providence Journal, "'Very few symptoms': Lt. Gov. Matos discloses she has a breakthrough COVID case," December 28, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Providence City Council Ward 15 2011-2021 |
Succeeded by - |
