Lammis VargasServing

Lammis Vargas

State SenateDemocrat

RI-District 28 State Senate

Colombian·State Senator District 28 (since Jan 2025)

Why This Race Matters

Vargas is the first woman of color ever elected to Cranston City Council and now serves in the RI Senate. Her term ends January 2027, meaning she is up for re-election in November 2026. She won the 2024 five-way Democratic primary with 36.6% and the general with 95.3% of the vote. District 28 is a safe Democratic seat.

Vargas succeeded retiring Sen. Joshua Miller in District 28 (Cranston/Providence). She defeated Darrell Brown, Melissa Carden, John Croke Jr., and Bernice Morris in the September 2024 primary. Endorsed by a coalition of Latino elected officials including Treasurer Diossa, Sen. Cano, and Reps. Diaz, Alzate, Batista, and Giraldo, plus multiple labor unions (Teamsters 251, ATU 618, Laborers' District Council, IAFF 1363). Diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia during her first 2016 council campaign but refused to drop out. No 2026 opponents have filed yet.

Key dates to watch: General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Lammis Vargas is a Rhode Island State Senator representing District 28 (Cranston and Providence). A cancer survivor and daughter of Colombian immigrants, she was the first woman of color elected to Cranston City Council in 2018 and continues to champion racial equity and diversity initiatives.

Family & Heritage

Lifelong Rhode Islander who grew up in Central Falls. Daughter of immigrants from Colombia. Cancer survivor - diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) just weeks after declaring her first candidacy for Cranston City Council in 2016; spent a month in the hospital but refused to drop out. Mother of two (Nevari and Christian). Married to a Warwick police officer and Army Reserve veteran.

Political Career

Before Politics

Chief Administrative Officer, City of Somerville, MA (2023-present); Deputy Secretary of State & Director of Administration under Nellie Gorbea (2021-2023); Director of Unclaimed Property & Deputy State Treasurer under Seth Magaziner (2015-2021); Dean of Operations, Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy (2014-2015); Staff Aide/Interpreter to U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee (2005-2007); Senior Policy Advisor to General Treasurer James Diossa

Education

BA in Justice Studies, Rhode Island College

Key Issues & Priorities

*Affordable housing and homeownership
*Environmental protection (Pawtuxet River and Narragansett Bay)
*Equitable education funding for multilingual learners and special education
*Healthcare access, equity, and reproductive freedom
*Small business support and local economy
*Universal school meals
*Climate-related flooding preparedness

Endorsements

General Treasurer James Diossa
Sen. Sandra Cano
Sen. Jonathon Acosta
Rep. Grace Diaz
Rep. Scott Slater
Rep. Karen Alzate
Rep. Jose Batista
Rep. Joshua Giraldo
Teamsters Local 251
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 618
RI Laborers' District Council
Cranston Firefighters IAFF Local 1363
RI State Association of Firefighters
RI Democratic Party

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