The Day

R.I. Rep. Cicilline to resign from Congress

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— After seven terms in Congress and a rise into the ranks of Democratic leadership, David Cicilline is calling it quits.

Cicilline announced in a press release Tuesday that he would leave Congress effective June 1 to lead the Rhode Island Foundation as its president and CEO.

“For more than a decade, the people of Rhode Island entrusted me with a sacred duty to represent them in Congress, and it is a responsibi­lity I put my heart and soul into every day to make life better for the residents and families of our state,” Cicilline said. “The chance to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordin­ary opportunit­y to have an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of residents of our state.”

State law empowers Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, to set a date for a special election.

“The governor cannot issue the formal writ of election until there is a vacancy for that seat,” said his spokeswoma­n, Olivia Darocha. “We will have more to say on the timing of the special election in the coming weeks.”

Cicilline’s 1st District, which stretches from Woonsocket along the Massachuse­tts border to Newport, is predominan­tly Democratic and the special election is expected to draw a crowd of candidates. Democrats who have already announced that they are exploring a run include state Sen. Meghan Kallman of Pawtucket and Cynthia Mendes, a former state senator who ran for lieutenant governor in 2022.

Joe Shekarch of Warwick, the speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representa­tives, was also mentioned as a possible Democratic candidate, but he said Tuesday that “today is not the day for political speculatio­n.”

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