McKee signs off on special election dates for Congress

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A day after U.S. Rep. David Cicilline resigned from Congress, Gov. Dan McKee formally signed off on the special election dates to replace the Democrat.

A special election for the 1st Congressional District seat will be held on Sept. 5 and the general election is on Nov. 7.

McKee said the deadline for candidates to declare their candidacy is June 29.

At this time, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, state Sen. Sandra Cano, state Sen. Ana Quezada, state Rep. Marvin Abney, state Rep. Nathan Biah, state Rep. Stephen Casey, former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, Providence City Councilor John Goncalves, first time political candidate Don Carlson, political newcomer Stephanie Beauté, former Gov. Gina Raimondo’s staffer, Nick Autiello, Mickeda Barnes, Republican-turned-Democrat Allen Waters, former Navy officer Walter Berbrick, Michael Adrian Tillinghast have filed to run for the seat.

Cicilline was named the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation — the state’s largest community foundation — earlier this year. He started Thursday.

The Democrat has represented Rhode Island in the U.S. House since 2011.