Name Nellie Gorbea Preceded by Ralph Mollis Spouse Steve Gorbea | Children 3 | |
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Alma mater Princeton UniversityColumbia University Education Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs |
Nellie gorbea for secretary of state
Nellie M. Gorbea is an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, she is the Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Gorbea is the first Hispanic to win statewide office in New England. She is currently the only Latina Democrat statewide office holder in the country.
Contents
- Nellie gorbea for secretary of state
- Nellie gorbea for secretary of state deputy youtube version
- Career
- Personal life
- References

Nellie gorbea for secretary of state deputy youtube version
Career

Sworn in as Secretary of State on January 6, 2015, Gorbea has rapidly emerged on the national scene as a leader who is taking on some of the toughest issues and getting results, leading the way for other states across the country.


In recognition of her extraordinary leadership and achievements, she has been named Vice Chair for the 2016 Democratic National Convention Platform Committee, Co-chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State Voter Participation Committee, Aspen Rodel Fellow and Hunt Kean Fellow.

Prior to becoming Rhode Island's Secretary of State, Gorbea was the Executive Director of Housing Works Rhode Island, a leading organization working to make housing affordable in Rhode Island, during 5 1⁄2 years. From 2002 through 2006, she was Deputy Secretary of State and Director of Administration at the Rhode Island Department of State. She also worked for Fleet Securities, was the program officer for economic and community development for the Rhode Island Foundation, and founded the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund.

In 2014, incumbent Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis was ineligible to run for reelection due to term limits. Gorbea resigned from Housing Works Rhode Island in July 2013 in order to run in the election to succeed Mollis. She ran her campaign on a platform of making elections fair, fast and accurate, ensuring that Rhode Island businesses can easily start and thrive, bringing transparency to government and increasing civic engagement. Gorbea defeated Guillaume de Ramel in the Democratic Party's primary election, 52% to 48%, and Republican Party nominee John Carlevale in the general election, 60% to 39%.
Personal life
Gorbea is a native of Puerto Rico. She received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and her master's degree in public administration from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. She moved to Rhode Island in the mid 1990s, and lives in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Gorbea and her husband, Steve, have three daughters.