Dawn comes from a working-class background and has always been a passionate activist and organizer. Long before she ran for office, she was on the front lines of the fight for marriage equality, playing a pivotal role in making Rhode Island the 10th state in the nation to recognize the right of all loving couples to marry.

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In a highly contested 2017 special election, Dawn won with 61% of the vote in a four-way primary. She hasn't looked back since.

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As a senator, Dawn has been a driving force behind legislation that makes a real difference in people's lives. She secured access to safe and legal abortion through the Reproductive Privacy Act, years before Roe was overturned nationally. She spearheaded the Act on Climate, establishing Rhode Island's mandatory and enforceable climate reduction targets. She championed the Student Loan Bill of Rights to protect borrowers from predatory practices, and led the charge for the Let RI Vote Act in 2022, expanding voter access and streamlining the electoral process.

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Dawn believes government should work for the people it serves. She shows up every session to prove it.