PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Incumbent Congressman David Cicilline has won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in District 1, Eyewitness News projects.
Cicilline, a Democrat, defeated Republican Patrick Donovan.
“Thank you to every Rhode Islander who took part in this election,” Cicilline said in a statement. “Our democracy only works when people show up and make their voices heard. That’s exactly what has happened today in Rhode Island and in cities and towns across America. This has been the most important midterm campaign in my lifetime. No matter your political party, I know that all Americans can take pride in the strength of our democracy tonight.”
“I especially want to thank the voters of Rhode Island for putting their trust in me to serve another two years in Congress,” he continued. “I ran for this office in order to get things done for working Rhode Islanders. I am looking forward to getting back to this critical work as soon as Congress reconvenes later this month. And if Democrats take back the House tonight, then I know we will hit the ground running in January to fight for the people by rebuilding our infrastructure, lowering health care costs, and cracking down on corruption in Washington.”
A former mayor of Providence who was elected to the House in 2010, Cicilline has quickly moved up the ladder in national Democratic politics, becoming a regular on cable news and winning a position on the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.
Cicilline has already announced he is seeking the House Democrats’ No. 4 job, which would be the highest-profile post for a Rhode Island congressman since Patrick Kennedy ran the party’s campaign arm nearly two decades ago.
