Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos defeats four primary challengers

Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos held on to her seat, defeating four Democratic primary challengers Wednesday night with 37% of the votes just before 9 p.m., according to preliminary, unofficial results from the Rhode Island Board of Elections.

The Democratic incumbent’s victory comes as her gubernatorial counterpart, Gov. Dan McKee, was trounced in his reelection bid against challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes. Matos’ win was not assured, having been outfundraised by many of her Democratic challengers and polling neck-and-neck with one of them, former Newport mayor and current councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong just two weeks ago.

“This is a victory of the voices of working people, who are the backbone of the Democratic party, over the backroom insiders, the wealthy donors, and the corporate interests who want to keep themselves at the top,” Matos said in a statement Wednesday night. “As the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, I look forward to the work of uniting all Rhode Islanders behind a vision of a state that prioritizes the needs of working families over the wants of the elites.”

Trailing Matos by more than 10 points as of 9 p.m., Khamsyvoravong conceded the race, congratulating Matos in a statement provided by text message Wednesday night.

Matos, 52, is the state’s first Afro-Latina lieutenant governor.

She was McKee’s pick for the No. 2 spot in state government after he ascended to the governor’s seat in 2021. But their relationship frayed as each official faced their own set of scandals. For Matos, that included fake signatures on her nomination papers during the 2023 Democratic primary for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, which ended with criminal charges and probationary sentences for two of her campaign workers. Matos was never charged, and maintained her innocence.

More recently, last week, Matos’ campaign came under fire from Khamsyvoravong, marking the first sparks in an otherwise quiet and congenial primary. Khamsyvoravong denounced Matos’ campaign for a $100,000 advertising spend by a “dark money super PAC.” The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association spent money on mailers and radio ads on Matos’ behalf in the final days before the primary. Khamsyvoravong’s campaign said the association has accepted money from corporate interests, including Amazon and Northrop Grumman, which have ties to “ICE detention and enforcement infrastructure.”

Matos’ campaign defended the PAC donations, which were not accepted in her own campaign account, but made on her behalf. A first-generation immigrant who moved to Rhode Island from the Dominican Republic at age 20, Matos has been outspoken about the need for protections for immigrants while denouncing federal enforcement tactics. 

Matos drew support from unions and advocacy and municipal groups, reflecting her work as lieutenant governor and prior tenure on the Providence City Council, where she served from 2011 to 2021, leaving as council president. She did not place any TV ads, the only Democratic candidate other than Ponaganset High School teacher Ross McCurdy not to use traditional broadcast messaging in her campaign. 

Khamsyvoravong, the son of Laotian refugees, would have been the first Asian American elected to the seat in Rhode Island.

Matos’ incumbency did not translate to a campaign cash advantage. Khamsyvoravong outraised the incumbent lieutenant governor by more than triple during the campaign cycle, outspending her by even more.

The former Newport city mayor, and current member of the city council, Khamsyvoravong, 42, leveraged political ties that transcended the City by the Sea, receiving endorsements from local Democratic party leaders, Attorney General Peter Neronha and U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, among others.

The primary also featured Providence City Councilor Sue AnderBois, who received 17% of votes; former R.I. Sen. Cindy Coyne of Barrington with 13% of primary votes;  and McCurdy at just under 6% of votes as of 9 p.m.

Matos will face Republican John Loughlin in the November general election.