Providence city councilor enters race for 1st Congressional District seat

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — “Let’s pursue real change for the people of Rhode Island,” Providence City Councilor John Goncalves said in a video announcing his run for 1st Congressional District seat.

The seat opened after Rep. David Cicilline said in February he was resigning from Congress this summer to serve as the new president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

In the nearly three-minute video, Goncalves said he believes in a Rhode Island for everyone. If elected to Congress, he said he will fight to improve education, end gun violence, and protect reproductive and LGBTQIA2S+ rights.

“We need a Congressperson with bold but common-sense solutions that put Rhode Island and its people first,” said Goncalves.

The Brown University graduate concluded his video by saying, “Together, we can build an Ocean State that stands up for working people and together, let’s pursue real change for the people of Rhode Island.”

Goncalves is an educator and a second-term Providence City Councilor.

So far, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, state Sen. Sandra Cano, state Rep. Nathan Biah, former Gov. Gina Raimondo’s staffer, Nick Autiello, and Republican-turned-Democrat Allen Waters have also filed to run for the seat.