By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos Thursday formally launched her campaign for a full term, one year to the day since she was appointed to the position.

Matos spoke to family, friends and a handful of political figures including Governor Dan McKee, who chose Matos from among a large field of applicants after he was elevated to the governorship after Gina Raimondo became U.S. Commerce Secretary under President Joe Biden.

“This campaign is about everyday Rhode Islanders and the issues that impact their families, their businesses, their neighborhoods,” said Matos, a Providence Democrat and former President of the Providence City Council, whose campaign noted that she is the first Afro-Latina to hold statewide office in Rhode Island.

She listed affordable housing, access to education and job training, services for senior citizens and economic development and job creation among the top issues.

McKee attended Matos’ announcement at the Farm Fresh food hub in the Valley neighborhood of Providence, and while the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately, they have both expressed a desire to change the state constitution to enable the two office-seekers to run as a ticket.

Matos faces at least two Democratic primary challengers, state Representative Deborah Ruggiero and state Senator Cynthia Mendes, who is running in tandem with gubernatorial candidate Matt Brown.