Latest Special Election 2023 Updates: Leonard takes aim at Magaziner, AOC visit

The announcement of Rep. David Cicilline's departure from Congress triggered a special election to fill Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District seat.

After the Sept. 5 primary, Democrat Gabe Amo will face off against Republican Gerry Leonard in the Nov. 7 general election.

Here you will find the latest news from the CD1 race, with the most recent news on top.

• What to know about the special election

9/20: Leonard opens up attack on CD2 Rep. Seth Magaziner

While seeking Rhode Island's open 1st Congressional District seat, Republican Gerry Leonard is targeting his latest attack at 2nd District Rep. Seth Magaziner for inviting "extreme members of Congress" to Rhode Island to talk about offshore wind power and tour the Block Island Wind Farm.

A Marine Corps veteran, Leonard on Wednesday called on Magaziner to rescind his invitation to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – and others on his invite list – for Friday's offshore wind talk-and-tour.

In what appeared to be an unrelated development, Magaziner's office announced late Wednesday that the event had been postponed. His spokesman explained: "The Speaker said the House will be in session over the weekend so the [members] have to stay in DC. We are planning to reschedule the offshore wind trip to a later date."

Leonard's statement earlier in the day, as congressional Republicans edged closer to a potential government shutdown: "Instead of rolling out the red carpet for one of the most divisive members of Congress, our elected leaders should be working across party lines to fix our economy."

Without mentioning the potential government shutdown or interparty feuding between moderates and the hard right in Washington, Leonard said: “Rhode Islanders want to see our representatives in Congress working for us. We should be building infrastructure, funding our military and getting Rhode Islanders back to work. We should not be embracing extremism and political discord."

The response from Magaziner: “As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I am always glad to welcome colleagues to our state to discuss our experience with offshore wind and to find solutions to transition to affordable, job-creating clean energy."

"I will work with anyone if it is in the best interest of working Rhode Islanders," he said.

"This invitation was extended months ago to all Ranking Members of the Natural Resources Committee, which Rep. Magaziner serves on," his spokesman James Kwon added.

Elected in 2022 to a first two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Magaziner is already a target of National Republican Campaign Committee attacks. The most recent accused him of supporting "a radical climate agenda" that could end up "sending gas prices skyrocketing, then banning family vehicles." (Leonard did not mention this issue in his statement.)

Magaziner, seeking an issue to make his own, is focused on offshore wind – as his predecessor, James Langevin, embraced cybersecurity, and former U.S. Rep. David Cicilline went after "Big Tech" in antitrust hearings.

According to a media advisory, Friday's now postponed events were slated to include "three roundtables with panels of experts on the following topics: 1) The Current State and Future Potential of Offshore Wind, 2) Balancing Offshore Wind and Other Ocean Uses: Fisheries, Marine Life, and Affected Communities, 3) Workforce Needs and Opportunities for Frontline Communities."

"Following the roundtable, the members of Congress will travel by boat to view the Block Island Wind Farm, the first commercial wind farm in the United States, which now delivers clean energy directly to 17,000 homes in Rhode Island," the advisory said.

9/20 RI unions endorse Democrat Gabe Amo

Rhode Island unions – including those that backed other candidates in the crowded Democratic primary – are rallying around primary winner Gabe Amo.

The Rhode Island SEIU State Council is the latest union to endorse Democratic primary winner Gabe Amo for the open 1st Congressional District seat.

In a statement, the umbrella group representing four SEIU locals in Rhode Island, union, said: "As the son of an SEIU nurse, he has a deep understanding of the hard work and sacrifice of frontline workers, which he will bring to Washington. "

The SEIU State Council represents about 8,500 workers across the state, including health care, Department of Children, Youth & Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Janitorial, Family Child Care, Department of Labor and Training, Security, Workforce Development and more.

In the wake of the Sept. 5 primary, the National Education Association – which previously backed candidate Sandra Cano, a state senator from Pawtucket, shifted its endorsement to Amo.

A statement issued by NEARI president – state Sen. Val Lawson – said Amo "believes in a fair wage for educators ... [and] shares NEARI's core value of ensuring every child, regardless of zip code, has access to a quality public education. We know he will advocate for the freedom to teach and learn in a safe, welcoming public school and we look forward to supporting his campaign into November."

The Rhode Island Laborers' District Council – which previously backed Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in her congressional bid – also made the switch.

In a statement, the council, which oversees seven local unions affiliated with the Laborers' International Union of North America in the construction, government, health care and gambling industries, said: Amo's "education background and experience working for former Governor Gina Raimondo and in the West Wing for President(s) Biden and Obama, makes him a strong voice for policies that help build our economy from the bottom ­up and the middle out."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI special election 2023: Latest news for the general election