Sabina Matos

Sabina Matos
Matos in 2025
Sabina Matos
Born	13 2, 1974
Birthplace	Paraíso, Dominican Republic
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	70th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
Known for	First Dominican American elected to statewide office in the United States; first Black statewide officeholder in Rhode Island
Education	Rhode Island College (BA)
Spouse(s)	Patrick Ward
Children	2
Website	[https://www.sabinamatos.com/ Official site]

Sabina Matos (born February 13, 1974) is an American politician serving as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. A member of the Democratic Party, Matos made history as the first Dominican American elected to statewide office in the United States and the first Black person to hold statewide office in Rhode Island. Born in the Dominican Republic, Matos immigrated to the United States as a young woman and built a political career in Providence, Rhode Island, where she served as a member of the Providence City Council representing Ward 15 beginning in 2011 and later as Council President. She was appointed lieutenant governor by Governor Dan McKee in March 2021 and was confirmed by the Rhode Island Senate before being sworn in on April 14, 2021. She won election to the office in November 2022 and, as of February 2026, has launched a campaign for a second full term.

Early Life

Sabina Matos was born on February 13, 1974, in Paraíso, a community in the Dominican Republic. She grew up in the Dominican Republic before immigrating to the United States. Her personal story of arriving in the country as an immigrant and eventually ascending to statewide office became a central element of her public identity and political narrative.

Matos settled in Providence, Rhode Island, where she became involved in her local community. As a Dominican immigrant, she identified as Afro-Latina, a background that would later carry significant symbolic weight when she became the first Black person and first Dominican American to hold statewide office in Rhode Island and in the United States, respectively. The Spanish-language newspaper Diario Libre profiled Matos as a representative of the political power of Dominican women in the United States, highlighting her journey from the Dominican Republic to her role in American politics.

Matos made her home in Providence's Ward 15, a neighborhood on the city's south side, where she raised two children with her husband, Patrick Ward. Her experience as an immigrant and a member of Providence's Latino community informed her later work on the city council and in statewide office.

Education

Matos attended Rhode Island College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Rhode Island College, a public institution located in Providence, is one of the state's three public higher education institutions. Matos's educational background at the college connected her to a wide network of graduates who have played roles in Rhode Island's civic and political life.

Career

Providence City Council

Matos began her career in elected office in January 2011, when she took her seat as the representative for Ward 15 on the Providence City Council. She succeeded Josephine DiRuzzo in the position. Ward 15 encompasses neighborhoods on the south side of Providence, and Matos represented the district for over a decade until her departure from the council in 2021.

During her tenure on the city council, Matos rose through the leadership ranks. In May 2017, she began serving as acting president of the Providence City Council, succeeding Luis Aponte in that capacity. She held the acting presidency until December 2017, when David Salvatore was elected to the position.

On January 7, 2019, Matos was elected president of the Providence City Council, succeeding David Salvatore. Her election as council president was part of a historic shift: the council seated its first-ever female majority at the same time. The Providence Journal reported that the council, under its new female-majority composition and with Matos at the helm, set a new direction for the legislative body.

Matos served as council president until April 13, 2021, when she resigned from the council to assume the office of lieutenant governor. She was succeeded as council president by John Igliozzi, and her Ward 15 seat was filled by Oscar Vargas.

During her time on the council and as its president, Matos was also active in Democratic Party politics at the state and national levels. In 2020, she served as one of Rhode Island's presidential electors in the Electoral College.

Appointment as Lieutenant Governor

On March 30, 2021, Governor Dan McKee announced that he had selected Sabina Matos to serve as the state's next lieutenant governor. McKee had recently ascended to the governorship following the resignation of Gina Raimondo, who left office to become United States Secretary of Commerce. Under the Rhode Island Constitution, the governor has the authority to appoint a lieutenant governor when a vacancy occurs, subject to confirmation by the state legislature.

In announcing his choice, McKee cited Matos's "inspirational story" as an immigrant who had risen to lead the Providence City Council. WPRI reported on the selection, noting that Matos would bring her experience from municipal government to the statewide role.

Matos's nomination was reviewed by the Rhode Island Senate, where she appeared before a committee and was approved. Following confirmation by the full Senate, she was sworn in as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on April 14, 2021. The Providence Journal noted that she became the first person of color to hold the office of lieutenant governor in the state's history.

Lieutenant Governor

As lieutenant governor, Matos has focused on several policy areas, including food access, small business support, and economic development. Her office has been involved in efforts to address food deserts in Rhode Island, advocating for legislation aimed at improving grocery store access in underserved communities. In a May 2025 interview with The Public's Radio, Matos discussed her work on food deserts and other issues, including the state's response to federal policy under the Trump administration and Providence tax policy.

In October 2025, Matos formed the Rhode Island Succession Planning Task Force, an initiative aimed at helping small business owners plan for the transition of their businesses. The task force was created in response to concerns about permanent small business closures that could result from a lack of succession planning among aging business owners. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) covered the initiative, noting the lieutenant governor's focus on preventing closures and preserving the state's small business sector.

2022 Election

In 2022, Matos ran for a full term as lieutenant governor. She won the Democratic primary and went on to face Republican candidate Aaron Guckian in the general election on November 8, 2022. Matos won the race, securing her position as the state's elected lieutenant governor and becoming the first Dominican American elected to statewide office in the United States.

2023 Congressional Campaign

In March 2023, Matos announced her candidacy in the special election for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district, which was called after the resignation of Representative David Cicilline. The Providence Journal reported on her entry into the race. Matos competed in the Democratic primary but was eliminated, failing to advance to the general election. She continued to serve as lieutenant governor following the unsuccessful congressional bid.

2026 Reelection Campaign

On February 4, 2026, Matos formally announced her campaign for a second full term as lieutenant governor. She launched her reelection bid at Farm Fresh RI in Providence, a venue reflecting her policy focus on food access and local agriculture. Multiple news outlets covered the announcement, including WPRI, WJAR, and the Providence Journal.

The race is expected to be competitive. In August 2025, The Boston Globe reported that Matos had a 23 percent job approval rating and less than $15,000 in campaign funds, though polling showed her maintaining support in a potential primary field. The Public's Radio had noted as early as May 2025 that Matos was expected to face competition from fellow Democrats in the 2026 cycle.

Personal Life

Matos resides in Providence, Rhode Island, with her husband, Patrick Ward. The couple have two children. Matos identifies as Afro-Latina, reflecting her Dominican heritage and African ancestry, a background she has spoken about publicly in the context of her historic election as the first Black statewide officeholder in Rhode Island.

Her Dominican roots have remained a significant part of her public identity. Dominican media outlets have covered her career as an example of the growing political influence of the Dominican diaspora in the United States.

Recognition

Matos's career has been marked by several historic distinctions. Upon her swearing-in as lieutenant governor on April 14, 2021, she became the first person of color to hold statewide office in Rhode Island, a state that was founded in 1636. Her election to a full term in November 2022 made her the first Dominican American elected to statewide office anywhere in the United States, a milestone covered by NBC News and other national outlets.

Her election as president of the Providence City Council in January 2019 was also notable, as it coincided with the council seating its first-ever female majority, an event that attracted regional media attention.

Matos's position as an Afro-Latina in statewide office has drawn attention to questions of representation for both the Latino and Black communities in American politics. NBC News profiled her as part of broader coverage of Afro-Latino political representation in the United States, noting the historical significance of her role in a New England state with deep roots in American history.

Legacy

Matos's ascent from immigrant to statewide officeholder in Rhode Island represents a shift in the state's political landscape. Rhode Island, one of the original thirteen colonies with a history stretching back nearly four centuries, had never had a Black statewide officeholder before Matos took office in 2021. Her career has been cited as a marker of the increasing political influence of immigrant communities and communities of color in New England, a region historically dominated by politicians of European descent.

Her role as the first Dominican American elected to statewide office in the nation has also carried significance for the broader Dominican American community, which numbers in the millions across the United States. Dominican media coverage of her career has framed her achievements as representative of the growing political engagement of the Dominican diaspora.

As lieutenant governor, Matos's policy work on food access and small business succession planning has reflected a focus on economic issues affecting everyday Rhode Islanders. Her 2026 reelection campaign, launched amid reports of low approval ratings and limited campaign resources, will test whether her historic profile and policy record can sustain her in an increasingly competitive political environment.