WJAR: Rep. Gabe Amo reflects on journey from Pawtucket to Capitol Hill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Who is Gabe Amo?

He emerged from a crowded field of candidates to win a special election in Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District.

And with the victory, he gained power and recognition as a household name in political circles almost overnight.

Amo took NBC 10 News back to Moses Brown, where he was a student, to learn about his upbringing, his passion and his personal life.

It was among the shelves of books inside the Moses Brown Library where 17-year-old Amo would discover the memoire of someone who would become his mentor.

"I remember the area of the library where I pulled out Barack Obama's 'Dreams of my Father,'" Amo said. "I remember pulling it out and being a little late to return it."

For the new congressman who succeeded David Cicilline in a special election five months ago, it was life-changing and symbolic.

"You saw somebody who looked like you, who had a last name that wasn't common, and you said, 'If he can do it, maybe I can too," said Amo.

Riding the RIPTA bus, Amo came from humble beginnings in Pawtucket.

As a scholarship student, it was like two worlds colliding.

"I would say I’m a mediocre high school student, but I knew that my passion in politics and public service was something that maybe I could work in one day," Amo said. "I wasn’t a great athlete."

The son of immigrants, his dad, a liquor store owner in Providence, and his mom, a nurse.

Amo recognized it would take more than just passion to achieve his goals.

He attended Wheaton College and then Oxford University, before going to Washington and serving under one of his mentors, Obama.

Amo served under former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo before heading back to the White House to work in the Biden administration.

He became an overnight congressman, beating a crowded field, and making national headlines as the first Black congressman in Rhode Island history.

"When I ran, I said very consistently that I'm running to make a difference not to make history. That said, I know that that has a whole lot of meaning to a lot of people, and so that means it should be important to me too," said Amo.

However polished he may seem, Amo said he hopes people see where he came from.

"I still hope when people see me, they still see the kid who hopped on a RIPTA bus, who showed to his dad’s liquor store on a weeknight to help out, and someone who is genuine and who has the beginnings and wants to do a good job," Amo said.

The congressman admitted he has a tough time unwinding.

"I have a tough time turning off. I think it’s not a good thing to always be working for survival. We need to shut everything out and focus on how to be best. I try to carve out space. At least a half a day on the weekend to do just nothing," he said.

Amo said he takes at least half of a day for himself. Currently, he's binge-watching "Abbott Elementary."

The kid from Pawtucket, now called congressman, but he holds tightly to his roots.

"It’s weird. I insist on people calling me Gabe," he said.