Former RI Democratic Party chair says he's running for Jim Langevin's seat in Congress
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Add former state lawmaker and Democratic Party Chairman Edwin Pacheco to the list of Rhode Islanders running for Congress.
Pacheco, who is the external relations and communications director at Rhode Island College, said in a news release Monday that he understands the challenges families face and wants to go to Washington to help "lift millions of children out of poverty."
Pacheco is the second Democrat to formally declare candidacy for the Second Congressional District seat held by Jim Langevin, who announced last week he would not seek reelection. Omar Bah, founder of the Refugee Dream Center in Providence, announced his bid last week.
Numerous other Democrats are considering running for the seat.
Pacheco, in a news release, said, “Together we can work to lift millions of children out of poverty; establish universal pre-k; help younger generations escape crushing debt through loan forgiveness; create good paying jobs by supporting the blue and green economy; fight for social justice; and support every American’s right to vote."
He released an introductory video.
A Burrillville native now living in Warwick, Pacheco served in the State House from 2005 to 2011.
After three years as state Democratic Party chairman, he stepped down in 2013 and announced a campaign for secretary of state; he later pulled out of the race ultimately won by Nellie Gorbea.
Here's why Omar Bah,founder of RI's Refugee Dream Center, is running for Congress
In his own words:Rep. Jim Langevin: Why I won't be running for reelection in 2022
Others who are running: Who's in and who's definitely out in scramble for Langevin's House of Representatives seat
Even more: Langevin retirement fuels RI GOP's hopes for U.S. House seat
Former Providence Mayor Angel Taveras is serving as Pacheco's honorary campaign manager.
He's among the more than 50 people who signed on as supporters, including state Rep. Grace Diaz, D-Providence, former gubernatorial candidate Paul Roselli and former state lawmakers Juan Pichardo, Frank Ferri, Scott Pollard and Larry Valencia.
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Edwin Pacheco running for RI Second Congressional District seat
