In preparation for the primary elections on April 2, Rhode Island legislators and members from both the Democratic and Republican parties will be meeting with residents and community members this month. A full calendar of events for each party can be found on the Rhode Island Democratic Party website and the Republican Party of Rhode Island website.
Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos will be available Feb. 13 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wes’ Rib House. Matos currently chairs the Emergency Management Advisory Council, the Long Term Care Coordinating Council and the Small Business Advocacy Council.
In recent years, Matos has previously supported S0563A, which “requires insurance companies to cover both pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis treatments for HIV — better known as PrEP and PEP, respectively,” The Herald previously reported. Matos also supported a $250 million investment to address housing issues in Rhode Island.
In 2023, Matos ran to represent Rhode Island’s 1st district in Congress, but lost to Gabe Amo. Her campaign focused on housing costs, reproductive justice, the environment and sustainability.
The Rhode Island Republican Conservative Caucus will take place Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the R.I. GOP Headquarters.
The forum seeks to “promote public knowledge and interest in conservative political ideology in R.I.,” according to the event’s Facebook group.
A pre-Super Bowl fundraiser for David Stone, a Republican candidate for House District 22 (Warwick), will be held Feb. 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Ollie’s Pub.
Stone previously ran for this position in 2022, but ultimately lost to Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr. (D-Warwick) by roughly 700 votes.
His campaign has mostly focused on issues pertaining to the Ocean State’s treasury. He also plans on prioritizing “appropriate education, essential healthcare and good business practices.”
Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr. (D-Warwick) will be available Feb. 13 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Public Kitchen & Bar.
During the 2023 legislation session, Solomon sponsored H6205, which allocates increased allowance to nursing home residents for personal expenses. He also sponsored H5108A, which increased how much a tenant could deduct from their rent to cover the cost of repairs. This bill went into effect as of Jan. 1, The Herald previously reported.
Solomon was also involved in creating a special commission to study Rhode Island’s declining quahog catch. Quahog clams are an important cultural symbol to the Ocean State, and their declining presence is part of larger environmental issues in the bay, The Herald previously reported.
Senate Majority Whip Valarie Lawson (D-East Providence) will be available Feb. 15 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Chapel Grille. Lawson’s key legislative priorities include “education, public health (and) protections for senior citizens,” according to the Rhode Island General Assembly.
In the 2023 session, she sponsored S0583A to “protect seniors from being denied supplemental Medicare coverage or charged higher rates based on pre-existing conditions.” Lawson also sponsored a package of three bills to combat childhood lead poisoning and a package of 13 bills to address the housing crisis in Rhode Island.
Lawson helped secure state funding to support multilingual learners, special education students and high-poverty districts, as well as $1.8 million in the FY 2024 budget to finance services for the state’s blind and visually impaired students.
Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-1) will be lecturing on Feb. 26 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Stephen Robert ’62 Hall. The event is part of the Noah Krieger ’93 Memorial Lecture, which “brings distinguished public servants to campus” and focuses on topics pertaining to policy and economics.
The R.I. Republican Party “Lincoln Day” Dinner will take place Feb. 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Event Factory. Through this annual event, Republican party members “celebrate the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln — who was instrumental in shaping the Republican Party.”
Avani Ghosh is a Metro editor covering politics and justice and community and activism. She is a junior from Ohio studying Health and Human Biology and International and Public Affairs. She is an avid earl grey enthusiast and can be found making tea in her free time.
