Secretary of State of Rhode Island · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island secretary of state race?
Gregg Amore has the strongest record in the Rhode Island secretary of state race. Gregg Amore scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Gregg Amore's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Gregg Amore
63 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Gregg Amore
- On the record2026-04
A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's December 2025 suit against him over the voter list in April 2026; the government appealed and in September demanded he preserve 2024 records.
Source: WPRI, via AOL, Sept. 16, 2026
- On the record2026-07-24
Asked the DMV to audit 2017 to 2019 records after the same vendor's system registered noncitizens in New Jersey; he said Rhode Island's system does not offer noncitizens registration.
- On the record2025-09-16
Refused a Justice Department request for voters' Social Security and driver's license numbers in September 2025, offering only the public voter list.
- Credit2013
Served 10 years in the Rhode Island House representing East Providence after more than three decades as a classroom teacher.
- Credit
Created the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program, which brings students to the State House for workshops and civic projects.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Gregg Amore. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Gregg Amore. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Gregg Amore. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Gregg Amore. More than three decades as a teacher, 10 years in the state House and secretary of state since 2023, with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Gregg Amore. Sworn state representative (2013 to 2023) and secretary of state since 2023; no finding of misuse of office. A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's suit over his refusal to hand over confidential voter data; the appeal is pending.
Source: WPRI, via AOL, Sept. 16, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Gregg Amore. Five House terms (2013 to 2023) and nearly a full term as secretary of state (E9).
Sources: Wikipedia, Gregg Amore, Providence Journal, via Yahoo, March 11, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Gregg Amore. Runs the state's election office and is pushing a specific state voting rights act; chaired the House Small Business Committee in 2019 and 2020.
Sources: Providence Journal, via Yahoo, March 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, Gregg Amore
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Gregg Amore. Two channels: public letters and statements explaining his decisions, and a student civic leadership program. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; campaign site has a short statement only.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, Sept. 17, 2025, Providence Journal, via Yahoo, March 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, Gregg Amore
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Gregg Amore. East Providence native who attended East Providence High School and taught there for over 27 years; represented East Providence in the House.
Sources: Wikipedia, Gregg Amore, Providence Journal, via Yahoo, March 11, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Gregg Amore. Heads the Department of State since 2023; size and audit results not established from an opened source.
Source: Wikipedia, Gregg Amore
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Gregg Amore. Won dismissal of the Justice Department's suit over voter data in April 2026; ordered a DMV review of voter registration records after New Jersey's error.
Sources: WPRI, via AOL, Sept. 16, 2026, Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, July 28, 2026
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Gregg Amore. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Gregg Amore. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island secretary of state race?
Gregg Amore has the strongest record in the Rhode Island secretary of state race. Gregg Amore scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Gregg Amore's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Rhode Island secretary of state race in 2026?
Gregg Amore (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Gregg Amore a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Gregg Amore scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Rhode Island race scored, and the Rhode Island 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.