Rhode Island Voters to Decide Democratic and Republican Primary Races for Congressional Seat

TO MOVE 12:01 a.m. ET TUESDAY, SEPT 5; Grygiel edited

Photos RI101-104 of the four top Democratic candidates are on hold in NY.

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Rhode Island voters are casting their ballots Tuesday in a primary contest to winnow down a field of candidates vying for the U.S. House seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. David Cicilline, including a handful who could make history by being the first person of color to go on to be elected to Congress from Rhode Island.

Nearly a dozen Democrats are hoping to be their partys nominee. Cicilline stepped down earlier this summer to become the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Two Republican candidates are also facing off in the GOP primary in the heavily Democratic state. The last Republican to represent the 1st Congressional District was Rep. Ron Machtley who served from 1989 to 1995.

Among the presumed pack of Democratic front-runners are Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, state Sen. Sandra Cano, and former White House aide Gabe Amo.