The Rhode Island Senate unanimously confirmed Sabina Matos (D) as lieutenant governor on April 13. She was sworn in the following day.
Governor Daniel McKee (D) nominated Matos as lieutenant governor on March 31. McKee resigned as lieutenant governor to be sworn in as governor on March 2, replacing Gina Raimondo (D) when she became U.S. secretary of commerce under the Biden administration.
Before serving as lieutenant governor, Matos served on the Providence City Council since 2011. She became president of the council in January 2019.
According to NBC, around 80 people applied to be the state’s lieutenant governor. After selecting Matos, McKee said, “I was looking for someone to be a true governing partner…someone who shares my commitment to supporting our 39 cities and towns and our small businesses, and that’s exactly what I found in Sabina.” Matos is the first person of color and second woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Rhode Island.
Additional Reading:
- Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
- Providence City Council Head Tapped for Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
- Matos submits resignation letter to Providence City Council
