PROVIDENCE – Sen. Sandra Cano, D-Pawtucket, who has served in the R.I. General Assembly for the last six years and recently had a brief run at a congressional seat, announced late Thursday in a letter to the community that she is resigning from the R.I. Senate and withdrawn her reelection candidacy.
Cano in her letter states she is stepping down from her Senate seat because she has an “opportunity to serve in a new capacity in a field … which I have long been passionate” about. Cano would announce more details about her upcoming endeavors “in the coming weeks.”
“Representing the people of Pawtucket in the Senate has been the honor of my lifetime,” Cano said in the letter. “I hope and believe that I was able to bring about impactful change through my service, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to building stronger communities in new ways in the future.”
The Boston Globe reported Thursday Cano was being vetted by President Joe Biden’s administration for a position with the U.S. Small Business Administration, noting that the SBA’s New England regional administrator position is currently vacant. Cano – who is the commerce director for the city of Pawtucket – did not immediately respond Friday to questions from Providence Business News if she is indeed taking a job with the SBA.
R.I. Senate spokesperson Greg Pare deferred to Cano for comment on her future plans. On Friday, the Rhode Island Democratic State Committee voted unanimously to appoint Lori Urso, CEO and president of the
Old Slater Mill Association, as Cano's replacement candidate on the November ballot.
According to state law, the Rhode Island Democratic Party had to select a new nominee to represent District 8, which is a portion of Pawtucket, by Friday. State law requires a nominee to be filed no later than 4 p.m. on the third day following the last day of primary elections.
In her letter, Cano – who chaired the Senate Committee on Education – also said much of her focus as a senator had been “in the support of small businesses” in establishing and growing communities, including advocating for minority-owned businesses. She also says the legislation passed that requires financial literacy courses to be taught in schools is among the chances she is "most proud of.”
Cano was first elected to the R.I. Senate in 2018 in a special election after then-Sen. James Doyle II resigned. Doyle in 2019 was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 33 counts of bank fraud and tax crimes.
Last year, after David N. Cicilline
resigned from the 1st Congressional District seat in the U.S. House to become the Rhode Island Foundation’s top executive, Cano was among a large field of Democratic candidates vying for that seat. It was an election
that saw a myriad of controversy with other contenders.
Cano finished third in the special primary election. Gabe Amo, a Pawtucket native, subsequently won the seat.
In a statement, Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, D-North Providence, said Cano has earned the respect of all her colleagues “through her wisdom, tenacity and passion,” and a “valued member” of his leadership team.
“The indefatigable advocacy she brought to the Senate has made an extraordinary impact that will benefit Rhode Islanders for generations to come,” Ruggerio said. “While I hate to see her leave the Senate, I know that she will continue to make a tremendous difference working with her in a new capacity.”
“While I embrace the opportunity ahead, I will always treasure the support and friendship of my amazing colleagues in the Senate,” Cano said in the letter. “Without exception, each and every one of them shares a deep and abiding dedication to improving our state. They work hard, genuinely care, and continue to inspire me every day. Serving alongside them has been the greatest honor of my life.”
(UPDATED fifth paragraph to note the Rhode Island Democratic State Committee's vote to appoint Lori Urso to the November ballot and also minor edits throughout.)
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.
