The latest political news in Rhode Island

“Juneteenth is a holiday that recognizes the unjust and brutal chains that were forced upon millions of African Americans through the first half of our country’s history,” said Mack, a Providence Democrat. “It is also a joyous event when we celebrate the day that those torturous and inhumane chains were dropped to the ground in the name of freedom and humanity.”

Establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday would create a solemn day to recognize and learn from the horrors perpetrated upon Black Americans, she said, but it would also embrace the culture and history that African-Americans have contributed to the country.

“Not all chains of oppression were broken on June 19 and there is still much work to be done to reach a truly equal and unbiased society,” Mack said. “However, by officially recognizing and celebrating ‘Juneteenth’ as a holiday, we do have an opportunity to come together toward that better tomorrow.”

Juneteenth is marked on June 19 around the country to commemorate the emancipation of slaves in the states that left the Union. Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect Jan. 1, 1863, slave owners in the Confederacy ignored it through the end of the Civil War in 1865. Even though the war ended on May 9, it wasn’t until June 19 that General Gordon Granger, having assumed command of Texas in Galveston, issued an order declaring that all slaves in Texas were to be immediately considered free. The message was met with celebrations by the newly freed slaves, and the date became an annual commemoration of the end of slavery, celebrated by many all over the country.

The Senate voted 37 to 0 for Mack’s bill, which now heads to the House, where Representative Brianna E. Henries, an East Providence Democrat, has introduced companion legislation.

Two state representatives and two Central Falls City Council members on Thursday endorsed state Senator Ana Quezada, a Providence Democrat, in the First Congressional District race.

Quezada, a third-term state senator, received support from Representatives Jose Batista and Scott Slater, two fellow Providence Democrats, and from Central Falls City Council members Franklin Solano and Rafael Peguero, both Democrats.

“I am wholeheartedly endorsing Ana Quezada for Congress because she is a tireless fighter for the people she represents,” Batista said. “She went from the factory floor to the Senate floor because she works hard, always stays focused on the goal, and is fiercely committed to making the peoples’ voices heard in the halls of power. She will truly be a champion for Rhode Island in Washington.”

Slater said he backs Quezada because she knows how to get things done.

“It’s one thing to talk about what you’ll do in Congress, but it’s another thing entirely to be a freshman legislator in Washington,” he said. “Ana understands that challenge. She knows how to collaborate and find common sense solutions to deliver real results for the people she serves.”

Solano said Quezada “is the right person to represent Rhode Island because her story is our story. She doesn’t just talk about the struggles of working families, she’s lived them. She fought hard to get where she is today, and never had anything handed to her. That’s how I know she’ll fight hard for Rhode Island in Washington.”

Peguero said Quezada is “in the community everyday doing the work. When her constituents need help, they know how to find her — and they know she’ll get the job done.”

Quezada said she’s grateful for the endorsements. “They are using their voices to help us spread our message: that the people of Rhode Island are going to win this fight — not the Washington consultants, not the big money donors, the people.”

The Latino Victory Fund, a national political action committee, on Thursday endorsed Democratic Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos in the special election in the First Congressional District.

The group noted that Matos, a former Providence City Council president, would be the nation’s first Afro-Latina and first Dominican-American woman elected to Congress, saying it is “proud to stand with Sabina in this historic bid and can’t wait to see her working as a member of the Democratic Latino bench in the US House of Representatives.”

“Sabina Matos is a visionary leader with a proven track record of advocating and delivering results for communities in Rhode Island,” said Luis A. Miranda Jr., board chairman of the Latino Victory Fund. “She is one of the state’s fiercest champions for affordable housing, where she was instrumental in the historic $250 million investment for housing in the state budget. She is also a reproductive health advocate making services and care accessible for Medicaid recipients and state workers, and a fighter for gun safety supporting the ban on assault weapons and raising the minimum age for legal gun owners.”

Matos said she is honored to receive the group’s support. “This endorsement represents not only their belief in my candidacy but also their recognition of the vital role that the Latino community plays in shaping the fabric of our nation,” she said. “Together, we will work tirelessly to break down barriers, champion justice, and ensure that the voices and needs of Rhode Islanders are heard and addressed at the highest levels of government.”

Three Democratic state representatives — Rebecca Kislak of Providence, Karen Alzate of Pawtucket, and Joshua Giraldo of Central Falls — on Thursday endorsed state Senator Sandra Cano, a Pawtucket Democrat, in the First Congressional District race.

“I trust Sandra to be a fierce advocate for children and families in Congress,” Kislak said. “I’ve seen her get things done — as working moms do. She always centers equity in her work and makes sure the policies she champions will have a positive impact on marginalized communities and working families. I’ve seen her as Senator and chair of the Education Committee work hard for our schools. I know she’ll bring our district’s values and voice to D.C.”

Alzate said, “I’m with Sandra because she is a true community leader that represents Rhode Island’s families and helps them in impactful ways. She always carries with her the voices of her community, and advocates on behalf of working people every time she steps into the State House — and beyond its walls. Now more than ever, we need this energy in Washington. As women, as Latinas, as proud residents of Pawtucket, Sandra and I have worked side by side to stand up and advocate for our communities. She’s always been there for us; now it’s time for us to be there for her.”

Giraldo said he met Cano more than a decade ago when they were advocating for their community in Central Falls.

“I was captivated by her life story, her drive, and her passion with every initiative that we brought forward,” he said. “Since then, I have seen her grow personally and professionally through the Pawtucket School Committee, City Council, and state Senate while raising a family. She is someone who can do it all, simultaneously, and with excellence. In Washington, she will fight for our families while raising her own. She is the true epitome of the American dream and it’s an honor to support her.”

Former Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch on Thursday said he has decided he won’t run for the First Congressional District seat.

“I maintain a deep and abiding appreciation for public service and look forward to potentially serving again, but this race and this position are not something that works for my family or me at this time,” Lynch said. “At the same time, as a native of Pawtucket and a resident of Barrington, I know just how critical it is that we select a candidate who will continue the tremendous efforts and energy we have seen from those who have held the post previously — Patrick Kennedy and, of course, the remarkable leadership of David Cicilline.”

Lynch served as attorney general from 2003 to 2011, and he still has $254,695 stashed away in his campaign account.

“While there is an impressive list of people interested in the position,” he said, “I anticipate endorsing the candidate I feel is best prepared to assume the role and fight for my home district.”

The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, a national organization, on Thursday endorsed both Don Carlson and Nick Autiello in the First Congressional District race.

Carlson, a renewable energy investor from Jamestown, and Autiello, a former aide in former governor Gina M. Raimondo’s commerce department who lives in Providence, are two of 15 Democrats running in a special election for the seat that US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating on June 1.

“Don’s commitment to smart public policy that addresses the real concerns of constituents will make him an exceptional leader in Congress,” said Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. “We are confident that Don will be a vital LGBTQ+ voice for equality in Rhode Island and across the country.”

Carlson said he was honored to received the group’s support. “Representation is power, and I vow to bring my experiences as a gay man to Washington, to promote the principles of equality and justice,” he said. “I am grateful for the continued work of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and look forward to continuing our collaboration.”

Autiello said he, too, was honored to receive the group’s endorsement.

“When I came out at 17, I had no idea if I was lighting my future on fire, but I knew I was being true to myself and that’s all that mattered,” Autiello said. “Role models like David Cicilline and the example of a generation of men [who] faced the AIDS crisis gave me courage to never hide who I was. In Congress, I’ll always bring bold leadership to public fights on behalf of all Rhode Islanders.”

He said he is “looking forward to taking the baton from Congressman Cicilline to get the Equality Act signed into law to protect LGBTQ+ Americans across the country at a time of increasing attacks.”

Monday, May 22

Senator Ana B. Quezada, a Providence Democrat, on Monday announced her campaign team in the First Congressional District race, emphasizing that her staff will consist entirely of Rhode Island residents.

“I’m running for Congress to bring Rhode Island to Washington, not Washington to Rhode Island,” Quezada said. “Rhode Island is about to get flooded with money and people from Washington, D.C., trying to drown out the voices of people like me and my constituents. As long as I’m in this race, I won’t let that happen.”

Quezada’s campaign manager will be Jason Roias, who has run successful campaigns for Providence City Council members Pedro Espinal, John Goncalves, and Shelley Peterson, and state Representative Jose Batista, a Providence Democrat. He is a former vice president of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island, and current treasurer for the Black Lives Matter RI PAC.

The deputy campaign manager will be Jennifer Dalton Vincent, who previously led the Pawtucket Arts Festival, Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth, and the resident services department at Neighborworks Blackstone River Valley in Woonsocket.

The campaign manager for Latino outreach is Carolina Pichardo, a longtime political organizer in Rhode Island’s Latino and Hispanic communities.

Kristina Contreras Fox will be the field director, running the campaign’s get-out-the-vote operations. She has served as campaign manager and field director for multiple state and local candidates, including field director for Jorge Elorza’s successful 2014 mayoral campaign in Providence.

The policy co-chairs will be former state Senator Jeanine Calkin, a Warwick Democrat, and Diego Tomas Arene-Morley, a high school health teacher in Pawtucket who works as a family clinical social worker based in Washington Park and South Providence.

John Taraborelli will serve as the campaign’s director of communications. He is an experienced communications professional who served the same role on Elorza’s winning Democratic primary campaign in 2014.

Friday, May 19

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, this week introduced legislation to launch a life science hub in Rhode Island.

The bill would create a new quasi-public entity, called the Rhode Island Life Sciences Hub, to serve as the coordinating organization of life science initiatives on behalf of the state.

Governor Daniel J. McKee’s proposed state budget includes $45 million for the life sciences sector to development wet lab incubator spaces. Funds would also be used to support grants, loans, business development and incubation services to grow this sector.

“Rhode Island already has so much of the knowledge needed to make our state a hub for the life sciences: world-class learning institutions and hospitals, which will be key partners in this effort,” Shekarchi said.

Neighboring states have created similar entities, he said, citing a Worcester biotech cluster that has created more than 1,000 jobs and an annual economic impact of more than $1 billion dollars.

“There is no reason Rhode Island cannot become a leader in the bio and life sciences,” Shekarchi said. “The workforce development in this industry will help our state retain graduates of our fantastic colleges and universities, which will, in turn, bolster our economy and attract new, high-paying jobs.”

The quasi-public entity would evaluate and potentially invest in Rhode Island-based companies in the life sciences sector that meet vigorous eligibility criteria and promote economic growth and workforce development. It would aim to strengthen the state’s life sciences sector and encourage collaboration and innovation among public, private, and academic institutions.

The organization would be governed by a board of directors composed of leaders from the life sciences, health care, academia, and state government.

Friday, May 19

Senator Sandra Cano, a Pawtucket Democrat running for the First Congressional District seat, on Friday announced she has received endorsements from three Democratic colleagues — Senators Pam Lauria of Barrington, Alana M. DiMario of Narragansett, and Dawn Euer of Newport.

Cano is one of 15 Democrats running in a special election for the seat that US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating on June 1.

“Representation matters,” Lauria said. “As a woman, a mom, a health care provider, and the wife of a teacher, I support Sandra Cano to be our next Congressperson. Sandra is a proven leader who will fight for reproductive justice, a future free of gun violence, environmental justice, health equity, and a public education that works for all R.I. students. We know this because she has already done it here in Rhode Island.”

DiMario said Cano has a “proven record” of addressing critical issues. “From building a childcare system that is affordable for working families and pays living wages, to Early Childhood educators, to expanding access to mental health care supports, I have seen first-hand how Sandra Cano follows through to find solutions and make needed changes,” she said. “Her passion on these issues is personal, because she is truly a part of the community that she has served so well for so long.”

Euer, who announced her support of Cano in April, said, “I have worked closely with Sandra Cano almost my entire time in the Senate. She does what women leaders do: she focuses on the issues, puts in the time to build meaningful coalitions, and does so without seeking credit. Sandra is a dedicated public servant and has shown that she has the tenacity we need in our next congressperson.”

Thursday, May 18

Governor Daniel J. McKee on Thursday nominated former Providence Police commander Thomas Verdi to be the next director of the state Department of Revenue.

“Thomas Verdi’s 35 years of serving the Providence community will be a tremendous asset as he serves as director of the Department of Revenue,” McKee said. “I’m pleased nominate Tom for this important position and know his management experience will serve him well.”

Verdi served for 35 years in the Providence Police Department, retiring as commander and deputy chief of police. Prior to becoming commander, he was commanding officer of the Uniform Division. From 2006-2016 he served on the Rhode Island Parole Board, becoming the first Providence police officer to be appointed to the board.

He now serves on commissions and boards such as the Rhode Island Chiefs’ Association, and the Providence Sports & Leadership and Reentry Campus Program, which helps provide affordable post-secondary educational pathways to formerly and currently incarcerated individuals. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree from Boston University, and he graduated from the FBI Academy.

“I thank Governor McKee for this nomination and the opportunity to work with extremely talented people at the DOR,” Verdi said. “It is an honor and privilege to serve the residents of Rhode Island in this new position. I look forward to both the challenge and opportunity of this new role.”

Wednesday, May 17

The Rhode Island Working Families Party on Wednesday endorsed former state representative J. Aaron Regunberg, a Providence Democrat running for the First Congressional District seat.

Regunberg is one of 15 Democrats running in a special election for the seat that US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating on June 1.

“Aaron is exactly the type of leader Rhode Islanders need in Congress,” said Georgia Hollister Isman, New England regional director of the Working Families Party. “He has an unshakeable commitment to progressive values. He’s dogged enough to take on the Republicans and corporate Democrats organizing to block progressive change, and skilled enough to get things done in tough conditions. From winning paid sick days for over 100,000 Rhode Islanders or walking picket lines with striking workers, Aaron is someone who shows up, brings people together and gets results.”

This marks the first major endorsement in the First Congressional District race by a political organization based in Rhode Island, Hollister Isman said. “We have a history of working with him,” she said. “I’ve worked with hundreds of state legislators in different states, and he stands out in the top tier in terms of commitment to working family values, doggedness, and his ability to organize to get tangible change for working people.”

The Rhode Island Working Families Party said it plans to mobilize its organizers, members, and volunteers, lend campaign strategy, and use its long-standing voter contact infrastructure to help Regunberg in the crowded Democratic primary. In last year’s election season, the group launched canvassers reaching over 25,000 doors, hosted phone banks resulting in more than 70,000 phone calls to voters, and texted over 50,000 voters about endorsed candidates.

“I’m a Working Families Party Democrat, and always have been — we’ve fought together to improve the lives of Rhode Island’s working families for years,” Regunberg said. “We’ve taken power out of the hands of corporations, political bosses, and corporate Democrats, and put it back into the hands of our neighbors. I’m honored to have their endorsement in my race for Congress, and for the chance to fight alongside other Working Families Party Democrats in Congress, like Summer Lee, Jamaal Bowman and Greg Casar, to deliver the progressive change we need.”

Monday, May 15

US Representative Seth Magaziner, a Rhode Island Democrat, on Monday stood outside the Warwick police station, announcing that he is co-sponsoring the “Invest to Protect Act,” which would spend $50 million per year for training, recruitment, and mental health resources for small and mid-sized police departments.

“National Police Week is a time for us all to thank the brave members of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe,” Magaziner said. “I’m proud to announce my support for the Invest to Protect Act, which will deliver critical federal funding for Rhode Island police departments to ensure the safety of frontline officers and continue to keep our cities and towns secure.”

Over the next five years, the bill would spend $50 million per year to invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training; allow departments to provide mental health resources for their officers; and create grants for small departments to recruit new officers, provide retention bonuses, and fund officers’ tuition for graduate studies in mental health, public health, and social work up to $10,000.

Magaziner was joined by Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi, who said, “My greatest responsibly as mayor is ensuring public safety. The Invest to Protect Act will go a long way to help recruit, train, and retain police officers.”

The Warwick police chief, Colonel Bradford Connor, said the legislation “falls directly in line with our commitment to provide quality policing by recruiting the finest candidates and then providing them with up to date training in the area of officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response. If passed, this bill would positively enhance policing for mid-size agencies like the Warwick Police Department.”

J. Aaron Regunberg, a Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District seat, on Monday said that, if necessary, President Biden should invoke the 14th Amendment to continue paying the federal government’s bills, rather than giving in to Republican efforts to use the debt ceiling standoff to enact budget cuts.

Regunberg, a former state representative from Providence, is one of 15 Democrats running in the special election for the congressional seat that US Representative David N. Cicilline will vacate on June 1. The Democratic primary will take place on Sept. 5 and the general election will take place Nov. 7.

“Republicans in Congress are holding our economy hostage in order to enact spending cuts that would devastate thousands of Rhode Islanders,” Reguberg said. “These are programs regular people rely on, nutrition assistance dollars for seniors and single mothers that mean the difference between putting food on the table or going hungry. Pell Grants and Head Start seats that students and children rely on. Critical climate programs that are creating jobs in our communities. President Biden must stand strong against these draconian attacks.”

He noted the 14th Amendment states that “The validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned.”

And he said that “If Republicans in Congress insist on trying to drive our economy off a cliff, President Biden should fulfill his Constitutional obligation to ‘take care that the laws be faithfully executed’ by executing the spending laws that Congress has already enacted. And he should invoke the authority granted by the 14th Amendment to ensure the federal government continues paying all its bills as they come due.”

Gabe Amo, a Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District, will meet small business owners and supporters on a tour of the district Monday.

“As the son of a small business owner, I know how important small businesses are to our community, and I look forward to hearing their stories,” Amo said. “In Congress, I will support policies that ensure Rhode Island small businesses and their employees have the support they need to thrive.”

The tour will include:

9:15 p.m. – Geri’s Bluffing Boutique, 285 Main St., Woonsocket

Noon – Cafe Zara, 130 Taunton Avenue, East Providence

12:30 p.m. – The Burrito Bowl, 809 Broadway, East Providence

1:30 p.m. – Beehive Cafe, 10 Franklin St., Bristol, RI

Friday, May 12

Senator Sandra Cano, a candidate for the First Congressional District seat that US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating, this week sent out fund-raising texts that show a smiling Cicilline along with Cano, her fiance, state Treasurer James A. Diossa, and their daughter.

But on Friday, a spokesperson for Cicilline said, “The congressman’s campaign committee was not contacted” about using that photo in Cano’s fund-raising pitch. And, the spokesperson said, “The congressman does not intend to endorse any candidate in light of the position he will be taking as President and CEO of the RI Foundation next month.”

Cano, a Pawtucket Democrat, is one of 15 Democrats running in the special election for the congressional seat that Cicilline will vacate on June 1. The Democratic primary will take place on Sept. 5 and the general election will take place Nov. 7.

Cano’s text message says, “I’m not sure if you’ve heard the news yet, but Congressman David Cicilline is retiring from Congress at the end of the month. I am so thankful for the work he has done to protect and expand our civil rights, ensure working people are keeping up with the cost of living, and holding corporations accountable.”

The text, which does not state that Cicilline is endorsing her, goes on to say, “I am reaching out to share more information about why I am running, and with a request. Would you be willing to become a founding donor to my campaign?”

Thursday, May 11

Our Revolution, a national progressive political organizing group, on Thursday endorsed J. Aaron Regunberg, a Providence Democrat, in the First Congressional District race.

“Aaron is the progressive candidate in this race and has a track record of organizing broad coalitions to make a difference for everyday people,” Our Revolution stated. “In Rhode Island, he helped pass paid sick days, higher wages, clean energy programs, and more. And that’s what he’ll do in Congress.”

Regunberg, who served in the state House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019, is one of 15 Democrats running in a special election for the First Congressional District seat the US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating.

“I’m proud to have earned the endorsement of Our Revolution, which was launched by Bernie Sanders, and supports progressive leaders with a record of taking on corporate power, fighting for universal healthcare, and winning bold climate action,” Regunberg said. “That’s what I’ve done here in Rhode Island by helping secure passage of landmark progressive legislation including paid sick days and access to renewable energy, and that’s what I’m committed to do as Rhode Island’s next member of Congress.”

Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong on Thursday endorsed Gabe Amo in the First Congressional District race.

Amo is the first candidate who has earned a mayoral endorsement in the 2023 special election to fill the seat the US Representative David N. Cicilline is vacating to become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Fifteen Democrats are running for the seat. Amo, a Pawtucket native who recently left his job as a top aide to President Biden. The 35-year-old Democrat also worked for former president Barack Obama, former governor Gina M. Raimondo, and US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse before joining the Biden administration, where he was special assistant to the president, and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Khamsyvoravong, who decided not to run for the congressional seat himself, won a seat on the Newport City Council in 2022 and went on to be unanimously elected as mayor by the City Council.

“Mayors need partners in Congress who we can count on to show up and help when it matters most. Gabe Amo was often the first call from the White House that my colleagues across the country received when they were guiding their communities through their darkest moments and hardest challenges,” Khamsyvoravong said. “I’ve known Gabe for almost 20 years, and he’s always showed up for Rhode Islanders. I’m proud to endorse Gabe Amo to represent Rhode Island’s First Congressional District.”

Amo said, “I’m proud to be endorsed by a leader who has been a longtime champion for Rhode Island and the people of Newport. Mayor Xay is part of a new generation of leadership and his support is a stamp of approval for the Rhode Island values and vast experience that I’ll bring to Congress on day one. I look forward to meeting people in the City by the Sea, and across the district, to hear their stories and discuss how we can make Rhode Island stronger than ever.”

PROVIDENCE — State Senator Sandra Cano, a Pawtucket Democrat, on Thursday announced her campaign team in the First Congressional District race and released a campaign video.

“I am excited to share my story and experiences with the voters in congressional district one and look forward to the next several months,” Cano said. “I am also honored to have assembled a campaign team that has deep Rhode Island roots. I know that together we will work hard to earn the support of the voters.”

Cano’s team includes Sydney Keen will serve as the campaign manager. Keen worked with Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island on the successful campaign to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act in 2019 to protect abortion rights in Rhode Island.

Checkmate Consulting Group will serve as the campaign’s general media consultant focusing on television, streaming and digital advertising, and direct mail. Founded by Brad Dufault in 2006, Checkmate Consulting Group has worked with Cano on all of her elections beginning with her School Committee race in 2012.

Michael Beauregard of Systems Change Strategies will serve as the campaign’s field and digital strategy consultant. Beauregard has experience in the First Congressional District, most recently managing US Representative David N. Cicilline’s 2022 re-election campaign.

Change Research will serve as the campaign’s pollster. Founded in 2017, Change Research’s clients have included Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, and 2020 Rhode Island Ballot Question 1, which successfully removed “and Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island’s state name.

Wilder Arboleda will serve as the campaign treasurer. Arboleda has been working on campaigns in Rhode Island since 2010 and has worked with Cano since her 2012 school committee election.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @FitzProv.