Gabe Amo

Amo was born and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His father and mother immigrated to Rhode Island from Ghana and Liberia, respectively.{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2021 |title=Biden taps Ghanaian Liberian millennial for key White House role |url=https://www.dntghana.com/2021/02/23/biden-taps-ghanaian-millennial-for-key-white-house-role/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=DNT |language=en}}{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Guo| first = Kayla| title = After Primary, Rhode Island Looks Set to Have Its First Black Member of Congress| work = The New York Times| accessdate = 2023-09-06| date = 2023-09-06|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/05/us/elections/rhode-island-democratic-primary.html}} His mother is a nurse and his father owns a liquor store.{{Cite web| title = Gabe Amo just won the Democratic primary in RI's election. Here's what to know about him| work = The Providence Journal| accessdate = 2023-09-07| date = 2023-09-06|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/06/who-is-gabe-gabriel-amo-guide-background-rhode-island-1st-congressional-district-election-candidate/70775825007/}} He graduated from the Moses Brown college preparatory school in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was part of the student senate and received the Rhode Island Secretary of State's Civic Leadership Award.{{Cite web |last1=McGowan|first1=Dan |date=February 22, 2021 |title=Another Rhode Islander has joined the Biden Administration - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/22/metro/another-rhode-islander-has-joined-biden-administration/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}} He also was selected to participate in the United States Senate Youth Program in Washington, D.C.

Amo earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, where he studied political science and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude.{{cite news|url=https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/livefeeds/gabe-amo-commitment-to-service/|title=Gabe Amo: Commitment to service|website=Rhode Island Current|first=Janine L.|last=Weisman|date=August 18, 2023|access-date=September 22, 2023}} He also was a member of the student government association.{{Cite web |title=Gabe Amo |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/iga/meet-the-team/gabe-amo/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=The White House |language=en-US |archive-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319154508/https://www.whitehouse.gov/iga/meet-the-team/gabe-amo/ |url-status=dead }} He received a Truman Scholarship, a Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship, and a Marshall Scholarship to study comparative social policy at Merton College, Oxford.https://www.marshallscholarship.org/media/1204/marshall_annual_57_2010_v13_final.pdf{{Cite web |title=Gabe Amo '10 appointed to White House role |url=https://wheatoncollege.edu/news/gabe-amo-10-appointed-to-white-house-role/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=Wheaton College Massachusetts |date=March 3, 2021 |language=en-US}}

In college, Amo volunteered on Sheldon Whitehouse's 2006 U.S. Senate campaign and then on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.{{Cite web|last=Lund |first=Jenni |date=May 19, 2011 |title=Gabe Amo '10|url=https://wheatoncollege.blog/academics/political-science/gabe-amo-10/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=Blog |language=en-US}} He worked in the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Obama administration, serving as a liaison to governors and other state officials. He was also a national political coordinator for Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.{{Cite web|date=March 7, 2013|title=Gabe Amo|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/author/gabe-amo |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=White House|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=September 20, 2022|title=Gabe Amo - National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voter Rights|url=https://nncvr.com/gabe-amo/|access-date=March 19, 2023|language=en-US|archive-date=March 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319160329/https://nncvr.com/gabe-amo/|url-status=dead}}

Amo served as Governor Gina Raimondo's principal advisor on outreach to Rhode Island's local government, business, and faith communities, and worked as a senior advisor on her 2018 re-election campaign. He returned to national politics as a strategist and program advisor on Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign and later served on his transition team. He then served as the special assistant and deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, working as the principal liaison to mayors and local elected officials.

{{main|2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election}}

File:Gabe Amo in the Pawtucket St. Patrick's Day Parade 2025.jpg]]

Amo left his White House job to run in the 2023 special election for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district, after incumbent representative David Cicilline announced his resignation from Congress to run the non-profit Rhode Island Foundation.{{Cite web |last=Gregg |first=Katherine |date=April 18, 2023 |title=Former White House aide Gabe Amo announces CD1 run |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/18/gabe-amo-former-biden-obama-aide-announces-run-for-1st-congressional-district/70126243007/}} Amo's campaign focused on protecting Social Security, Medicare, and abortion rights, while tackling gun violence and climate change. He received endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus, former Rhode Island representative Patrick J. Kennedy, and former White House chief of staff Ron Klain.{{Cite web| last = Fernandez| first = Madison| title = Former Biden White House aide wins crowded primary for safe Dem seat in Rhode Island| work = Politico| accessdate = 2023-09-06| date = 2023-09-05|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/05/gabe-amo-rhode-island-primary-00114143}} He also was supported by outside spending from Democrats Serve PAC and Collective PAC.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Patrick |last2=Gregg |first2=Katherine |title=How Gabe Amo won, and what it could mean for future campaigns in RI |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/06/ri-congressional-special-election-primary-top-takeaways-from-amos-win/70773795007/ |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=The Providence Journal |date=6 September 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Edward |title=Black leaders hail Gabe Amo's chance to make history in R.I. |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/06/metro/black-leaders-hail-amos-chance-make-history-ri/ |access-date=7 September 2023 |work=Boston Globe |date=6 September 2023}}

Amo was criticized for accepting over $20,000 from federal lobbyists representing major corporations, including Fox Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company, Philip Morris USA, Marathon Petroleum, and others. His receipts also included more than $8,000 from lobbyists for Wall Street firms and banks, such as Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Bitcoin.{{Cite web |first=Edward |last=Fitzpatrick |date=August 28, 2023 |title=R.I. congressional race growing contentious in closing days - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/28/metro/ri-congressional-race-growing-contentious-closing-days/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}} His primary campaign received more than $600,000 in donations in total. In late August, a poll conducted for his campaign showed him in second place.{{Cite web |date=August 24, 2023 |title=Amo's internal poll shows him second to Regunberg as Matos falls behind |url=https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/ri-special-election-congressional-district-1/amos-internal-poll-shows-him-second-to-regunberg-as-matos-falls-behind/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=WPRI.com |language=en-US}}

In September 2023, in an upset, Amo won the Democratic primary to become the party's nominee for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district.{{Cite web| last1 = Fitzpatrick| first1 = Edward| last2 = McGowan| first2 = Dan| last3 = Machado| first3 = Steph| last4 = Milkovits| first4 = Amanda| title = Amo wins R.I.'s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary| work = Boston Globe| accessdate = September 6, 2023| date = September 5, 2023|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/05/metro/amo-wins-ris-1st-congressional-district-democratic-primary/}}{{Cite web|first1=Antonia Noori|last1=Farzan|authorlink1=Antonia Noori Farzan| title = Amo wins Democratic primary for RI's CD1 seat. Here are the results| work = The Providence Journal| accessdate = September 6, 2023| date = September 5, 2023|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/09/05/ri-special-election-results-1st-congressional-district/70772350007/}} The general election was held on November 7.{{cite web |last1=Nesi |first1=Ted |last2=Sherman |first2=Eli |last3=Machado |first3=Steph |title=Dates set for special election to replace Cicilline in Congress |url=https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/dates-set-for-special-election-to-replace-cicilline-in-congress/ |publisher=WPRI-TV |date=March 29, 2023}}{{Cite web |last = Towne |first=Shaun |date=September 5, 2023 |title=Gabe Amo wins Democratic primary in RI's 1st Congressional District |url=https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/ri-special-election-congressional-district-1/gabe-amo-wins-democratic-primary-in-ris-1st-congressional-district/ |access-date=September 5, 2023 |website=WPRI.com |language=en-US}} Amo won the election, becoming the first person of color elected to represent Rhode Island in Congress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/former-biden-aide-gabe-amo-wins-rhode-island-house-special-election-rcna122109|title=Former Biden aide Gabe Amo wins House special election in Rhode Island|date=November 8, 2023|website=NBC News}}{{cite news |title=Rhode Island elects its first Black representative to Congress, Gabe Amo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/07/rhode-island-election-result-gabe-amo-win |access-date=November 7, 2023 |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=November 7, 2023}} He was officially sworn into Congress on November 13, 2023.{{Cite web| last1 = Doiron| first1 = Sarah| last2 = DaSilva| first2 = Melanie| title = Gabe Amo officially sworn into Congress| work = WPRI.com| access-date = 2023-11-16| date = 2023-11-13|url=https://www.wpri.com/news/elections/gabe-amo-to-be-sworn-into-congress-on-monday/}}

File:Gabe Amo in Budget Committee.jpg hearing in February 2025.]]

On November 5th 2024, Amo won re-election to his house seat against Republican Allen Waters by a vote of 139,352 (63%) to 70,742 (32%) [https://ballotpedia.org/Rhode_Island%27s_1st_Congressional_District_election,_2024]

• Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Subcommittee on Europe
• Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia

• House Hunger Caucus
• House Bipartisan Task Force For Combating Antisemitism
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on Armenia{{cite web|title=Committees and Caucuses|date=January 3, 2021 |url=https://amo.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses|publisher=Congressman Gabe Amo|access-date=December 6, 2023}}

Amo voted in favor of three military aid package supplementals for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan respectively in April 2024, along with most Democrats.{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2024-04-20 |title=Roll Call 152 Roll Call 152, Bill Number: H. R. 8034, 118th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024152?Page=1 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2024-04-20 |title=Roll Call 151 Roll Call 151, Bill Number: H. R. 8035, 118th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024151?Page=1 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2024-04-20 |title=Roll Call 146 Roll Call 146, Bill Number: H. R. 8036, 118th Congress, 2nd Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024146?Page=1 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}} After all three bills successfully passed the House, he criticized House Republicans for “months of reckless delays”.{{Cite tweet |number=1781751302386512373 |user=RepGabeAmo |title=Today, I was proud to vote in support of four bipartisan bills that promote American leadership abroad while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our democratic allies around the world. My full statement}}

Amo is Catholic.{{Cite web |last=Patinkin |first=Mark |date=2023-09-17 |title=Patinkin: From a Providence liquor store Gabe Amo's dad paved the way for his son |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/columns/2023/09/17/gabe-amo-learned-lessons-on-success-from-immigrant-fathers-journey/70853189007/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Providence Journal}}

Honors

In 2017, Amo received Higher Ground International's Clan Chief Award. In 2019, he received the distinguished Young Alumnus/a Award from Moses Brown School. In 2022, he was the Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective's distinguished honoree at the Golden Gala and Awards Symposium, honoring senior Ghanaian-American government officials.{{Cite web |last=Ofori |first=Oral |date=September 26, 2022 |title=GH-PAC Inaugural Golden Gala & Awards Symposium celebrated Ghanaian excellence |url=https://ghanaembassydc.org/news-and-events/gh-pac/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=Embassy of Ghana, Washington DC |language=en}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district Democratic primary{{cite web|url=https://www.wlbt.com/2023/02/02/candidate-qualifying-deadline-passes-reveals-slate-2023-statewide-candidates/|title=Candidate qualifying deadline passes and reveals slate of 2023 statewide candidates|publisher=WLBT |date=February 1, 2022|access-date=February 2, 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Gabe Amo

|votes = 12,946

|percentage = 32.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Aaron Regunberg

|votes = 9,960

|percentage = 24.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Sandra Cano

|votes = 5,574

|percentage = 13.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Sabina Matos

|votes = 3,210

|percentage = 8.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Stephen Casey

|votes = 2,329

|percentage = 5.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Walter Berbrick

|votes = 1,453

|percentage = 3.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Ana Quezada

|votes = 1,415

|percentage = 3.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = John Goncalves

|votes = 1,118

|percentage = 2.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Donald Carlson (withdrawn)

|votes = 690

|percentage = 1.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Allen Waters

|votes = 503

|percentage = 1.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Stephanie Beauté

|votes = 428

|percentage = 1.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Rhode Island Democratic Party

|candidate = Spencer Dickinson

|votes = 354

|percentage = 0.9

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 39,980

|percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title=2023 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district special election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Gabe Amo|votes=43,290|percentage=64.73%|change=+0.70}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Gerry Leonard Jr.|votes=23,393|percentage=34.98%|change=−0.78}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|votes=193|percentage=0.29%|change=+0.06}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 66,876

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title=2024 Rhode Island's 1st congressional district general election{{Cite web |url=https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2024/general_election/ |title=2024 General Election |author= |date= |website=State of Rhode Island Board of Elections |access-date= November 22, 2024}}

}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Gabe Amo (incumbent)|votes=139,352|percentage=63.02%|change=−1.71}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Allen Waters|votes=70,742|percentage=31.99%|change=−2.99}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent|candidate=CD Reynolds|votes=10,463|percentage=4.73%|change=−N/A}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|votes=561|percentage=0.25%|change=−0.04}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 221,118

| percentage = 100.00

}}{{Election box hold with party link no swing|

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}{{Election box end}}

• List of African-American United States representatives

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://amo.house.gov/ Congressman Gabe Amo] official U.S. House website
• [https://www.gabeamo.com/ Gabe Amo for Congress] campaign website

{{CongLinks|votesmart=212295|fec=H4RI01265|congbio=A000380|congress=gabe-amo/A000380}}

• {{C-SPAN|138635}}

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{{s-ttl|title=United States representatives by seniority|years=364th}}

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{{Current members of the U.S. House of Representatives}}

{{USCongRep-start |congresses=118th–present United States Congresses |state=Rhode Island}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Amo, Gabe}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:21st-century Roman Catholics

Category:African-American Catholics

Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:African-American people in Rhode Island politics

Category:American people of Ghanaian descent

Category:American politicians of Liberian descent

Category:American Roman Catholics

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island

Category:Marshall Scholars

Category:Moses Brown School alumni

Category:Obama administration personnel

Category:Politicians from Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Category:Rhode Island Democrats

Category:Wheaton College (Massachusetts) alumni