State Rep. Jason Knight (D-Barrington), known in part for his advocacy to impose more stringent gun laws in Rhode Island, announced Monday evening his campaign to be the state’s next attorney general.
Knight, 55, who is serving his fifth term in the state House of Representatives, spoke to supporters at the Guild in Warren.
In an earlier interview, he said his background as a Navy veteran, former state prosecutor, and lawyer in private practice qualifies him to be Rhode Island’s next attorney general.
“It really needs a leader who has a wide breadth of experience, in terms of legal experience, political experience and life experience, frankly, and I bring all those things to the table, along with a record of delivering results,” Knight said.
Knight faces another former state prosecutor, Keith Hoffmann, who announced his run last week, in a Democratic primary next September.
Term limits prevent current Attorney General Peter Neronha, first elected in 2018, from seeking re-election.
It remains unclear if the Democratic field is settled. Another possible candidate is former prosecutor Kim Ahern, now chair of the state Cannabis Control Commission. State Rep. Joe Solomon (D-Warwick) is also considering a run.
Another candidate, state Rep. Robert Craven (D-North Kingstown) dropped out of the race last week after scrutiny about old domestic violence charges, and he said Monday he is resigning as House Judiciary chair and will not seek re-election next year.
Knight’s advocacy on guns has delighted members of Rhode Island’s gun safety community, while making him an object of scorn among gun rights supporters.
“I think the biggest challenge facing the next attorney general is to continue to be a line of defense against these policies coming out of Washington,” he said. “I mean, listen, I think President Trump is essentially lawless at this point.”
Knight was among supporters of codifying a woman’s right to choose an abortion in Rhode Island.
He promised a vigorous campaign, and said it will depend on how hard candidates work, although he declined to cite a figure for how much he needs to raise to run an effective campaign.
With degrees from Emerson College and Suffolk Law School, the Barrington Democrat said his experience includes serving on submarines in the Navy and, after studying theater, briefly managing Havard’s Sanders Theatre.
Knight and his wife, Nicole, have two children.
Knight worked as a state prosecutor for four years during Patrick Lynch’s time as attorney general.
