Gabe Amo is one step closer to making history as the first Black person elected to represent Rhode Island in Congress.

The Associated Press reports that the former White House aide topped his Democratic rivals in a special primary election Tuesday (Sep. 5) to win the party’s nominations for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District. The general election is slated for November 7.

“This primary election shows that Rhode Islanders believe in a state where one of their sons, the son of two West African immigrants from Ghana and Liberia, could receive the love and investment of a community and go from serving the president of the United States … to being the Democratic nominee for Congress for the 1st Congressional District,” Amo told his supporters.

If elected, Amo vows to support a ban on assault-style weapons, block Republicans from slashing funding for Social Security and Medicare, vote to codify abortion rights into federal law, champion legislation to combat climate change, among other traditional Democratic Party values.

Amo worked in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs under former President Barack Obama, acting as a liaison to governors and other state elected officials, and returned to the post as a liaison to mayors and local officials under President Joe Biden.

A special election was called to fill a seat in the House of Representative that became vacant when Democratic Rep. David Cicilline stepped down this summer to take a position as president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.

Cicilline’s resignation opened the door for several Democrats to compete for the open seat in the heavily Democratic dark blue state. The contenders included state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, who positioned himself as the most progressive candidate, winning endorsements from Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as actress Jane Fonda.

Amo also squared off against Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, an Afro-Latina who is the first Black woman to win statewide office in Rhode Island. “While I was hoping for a different outcome, tonight’s results show that Rhode Islanders are ready for more diverse representation in Congress for the first time,” Matos said after Amo’s victory. “We can all celebrate and take pride in this historic milestone for our state.”

In November, Amo will face GOP nominee Gerry Leonard, a U.S. Marine veteran and political newcomer. Amo is favored to win because Rhode Island leans heavily toward Democrats.