Sabina Matos

70th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island

Sabina Matos was born on February 13, 1974, in the province of Barahona in the Dominican Republic. She immigrated to the United States in April 1994, first settling in New York City before moving to Providence, Rhode Island with her family. She currently resides in Providence with her husband and two children.

Matos holds the historic distinction of being the first Dominican American to hold statewide office in the United States and the first Black statewide officeholder in Rhode Island. She is also the second woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.

Political Experience

Matos began her public service career on the Providence City Council, representing Ward 15 from January 2011 until April 2021. She made history as the first Latina elected as Council President Pro Tempore in Providence in 2015, and was subsequently elected City Council President in 2019, becoming the first Latina to hold that position in the city's history.

Governor Dan McKee appointed her as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island on April 14, 2021, following confirmation by the State Senate with a vote of 34–0. She was elected to a full term in November 2022 and launched her reelection campaign in February 2026.

Notable Achievements and Current Positions

As Lieutenant Governor, Matos has prioritized addressing Rhode Island's housing shortage, improving access to fresh food in underserved communities, and supporting entrepreneurship and employee-owned businesses. She chairs three statewide policy councils: the Emergency Management Advisory Council, the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, and the Small Business Advocacy Council. She also serves on the state's Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Disease Research and Treatment and carries forward the office's role in serving veterans through programs including the Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund and Operation Holiday Cheer.

Prior to her election to the city council, Matos worked as a coordinator for multiple nonprofit agencies and later served as Chief of Program Development at the Rhode Island Office of Diversity, Equity, and Opportunity. She has held leadership positions with several organizations, including serving as past President of the Educational Center for the Arts and Sciences, the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund, and the Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee.