Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) will resign from Congress at the beginning of June, opening up one of Rhode Island’s two House seats just three months after the Democrat was reelected to another term.
Cicilline will step down from office on June 1 to lead the Rhode Island Foundation as president and CEO, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Cicilline had become a prominent member of the Democratic Party during his seven terms in Congress. He was tapped by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to manage the second impeachment of then-President Donald Trump and most recently garnered headlines for challenging House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) for his leadership position late last year. Cicilline later dropped that bid, and Clyburn was reelected to the No. 4 position.
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“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.”
Cicilline was first elected to represent Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District in 2011. The lawmaker handily won reelection in 2022, besting Republican challenger Allen Waters 64% to 34%.
Cicilline’s staff will continue to oversee the district until a replacement is appointed through a special election. A date has not yet been set for that race.
It’s not entirely clear when Cicilline first engaged in talks to take over the Rhode Island Foundation or what prompted the career change. However, the move does come with a significant pay raise. Cicilline will now earn $650,000 a year, a spokesperson for the organization told the Boston Globe. That’s a hefty increase from his current House salary of $174,000.
Cicilline’s resignation opens up the 1st District seat for the first time since 2011, giving Republicans another shot at flipping the district. However, Rhode Island has long been considered a blue stronghold, meaning it likely will remain in Democratic hands in the special election.
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Several of Cicilline’s colleagues praised him for his tenure in the House and congratulated the Rhode Island Democrat on the career change.
“David Cicilline has been an able, hard-fighting colleague, and I’ll miss his spirit in our delegation, but he’ll be a fabulous leader for the Rhode Island Foundation so bravos everywhere,” wrote Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
Before his tenure in Congress, Cicilline was elected mayor of Providence, becoming the first openly gay mayor of a state capital.
