TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 1, 2026

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Rhode Island politicos are watching to see if the beginning of the end of House Speaker Joe Shekarchi’s Statehouse tenure will start next week. Many assume he will announce plans to apply for a vacancy on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. There will be public debate about the state’s revolving door law and possibly a complaint filed with the state Ethics Commission. At the same time, Gov. Dan McKee – from whom he would need a nomination – Helena Foulkes and Attorney General Peter Neronha have not exhibited any qualms about Shekarchi aiming for the Supreme Court. The Warwick Democrat, 63, is well-liked on Smith Hill, and it’s his legislative colleagues who would be voting to confirm such a candidacy. In other words, if Shekarchi applies for the lifetime Supreme Court post, it’s as good as his. For the speaker’s supporters, the way in which Senate Judiciary Chair Erin Lynch Prata moved from the legislature to the court in 2020, arguing that the court is a constitutional office and therefore exempt from the revolving door, offers a roadmap. The Ethics Commission declined to stand in the way of her candidacy, even though the General Assembly put in place the revolving door law after consecutive Supreme Court justices resigned amid scandal in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Asked about that, state Rep. Brandon Potter (D-Cranston) said, “People in Rhode Island have a right to be very suspect (about) anything that happens in Rhode Island politics.” But during an interview on One on One, Potter defended the judicial selection process and he said Shekarchi has the right temperament for the bench. “If he decides to apply and eventually get to the point where we’re making a vote on that appointment, he would have my full support,” Potter added.

Mum is the word for now on whether Speaker Shekarchi, if he applies for the judicial post, would step down from leadership or finish the session in that role. Another question is what becomes of the $4.7 million in Shekarchi’s campaign account. One possible avenue is giving the money away to charity, and the speaker is known for his affinity for dogs.

If Shekarchi winds up on the Supreme Court, he will be the first speaker to leave on his own terms since William J. Murphy passed the gavel to Gordon Fox in 2010. Fox resigned amid scandal and his successor, Nicholas Mattiello, lost his Cranston state rep seat to Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung in 2020. The person lined up to succeed Shekarchi is his number two, House Majority Leader Chris Blazejewski (D-Providence), 46, a lawyer who has spent more than a third of his life in the House of Representatives. “Blaz” cut his teeth hosting Drinking Liberally get-togethers at the Wild Colonial in Providence. His profile is similar to Shekarchi as a consensus-builder steeped in the minutiae of politics. House Democratic Whip Katherine Kazarian (D-East Providence) is well positioned to succeed Blazejewski as majority leader. The Democrats poised for a possible move up in leadership include Reps. Justine Caldwell of East Greenwich, Brandon Potter of Cranston, Arthur “Doc” Corvese of North Providence, Evan Shanley of Warwick and Alex Marszalkowski of Cumberland.

As we gear up for legislative elections this year, the Center for Effective Lawmaking the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University is out with its 2023-24 scorecard ranking Rhode Island legislators on a series of 15 metrics, including the substance of their policy and how far their bills progressed. Reps. Terri Cortvriend of Portsmouth and John Edwards of Tiverton and Sens. Alana DiMario of Narragansett and Dawn Euer of Newport led Democrats in the center’s rankings of effectiveness. DiMario and Euer were stripped of their posts as committee chairs after not supporting Dominick Ruggerio for Senate president in 2025. Top GOP lawmakers included House Whip David Place of Burrillville and House GOP Leader Mike Chippendale of Foster and Senate GOP Leader Jessica de la Cruz of North Smithfield.

A lack of public events has marked statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general so far, but the quest for campaign cash remains relentless. You might think some of the dough would go into broadcast advertising sooner rather than later in the year, when it will be more costly, but we have yet to see that.

Here’s a look at the balance of different candidates following the filing of first-quarter reports.

Graphic by Heide Borgonovo

As the General Assembly heads toward summer recess in June, proposals to hike taxes on the richest Rhode Islanders remains a hot topic.

PRO: Speaking on One on One, Rep. Brandon Potter said he rejected the idea that a solid business climate and higher taxes on the wealthy are mutually exclusive. He pointed to the nexus of growing income inequality, federal tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy, and federal cuts to states. “As an overwhelming Democratic supermajority, I believe that we have a moral obligation to act in accordance with our values and protect the most vulnerable people here, and that takes revenue,” Potter said. “And where we get that revenue, I believe, starts at people who have done really, really, really well and would for all likely intents and purposes continue to do really, really well, even with a modest tax adjustment.”

CON: Senate Majority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-North Smithfield), Senate Democratic Whip David Tikoian (D-Smithfield), Senate GOP Whip Gordon Rogers (R-Foster) were among those who staged a Statehouse news conference this week to argue the other side. “Rhode Island is at a tipping point,” said de la Cruz, who has a multi-year plan to cut the state sales tax. “We can follow a high-tax path that chases away our most successful residents or we can choose a path that rewards work and keeps families together.” Michael DiBiase, president and CEO of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, added: “We need to focus on doing the hard work to tackle our spending problem and build a state that is fiscally responsible and genuinely attractive to businesses and families alike.”

Speaking of RIPEC, the business-backed fiscal watchdog group had bleak findings this week about Rhode Island’s economic performance.

Here is a summary:

“With an over-reliance on low-productivity industry sectors and government spending, Rhode Island’s economy lost ground over the past decade, according to a new report by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC). Using six measures of prosperity based on federal economic data, Rhode Island’s Economic Prosperity Scorecard reveals that the state’s economic growth considerably lagged the U.S. from 2014 to 2024, with its gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and labor productivity growing at less than half the U.S. rate.

“While Rhode Island is positioned positively in the top half of states (17th) and above the U.S. overall in median household income, it ranked lower (23rd) and below the U.S. in personal income per capita—a broader measure of the economic resources available to residents. Rhode Island’s position falls considerably when the state’s relatively high cost-of-living and taxes are considered. Incorporating these factors in a measure of real disposable personal income per capita, Rhode Island’s rank falls to 36th among states and well below the U.S. average.”

If a section of a Cranston on-ramp to I-95 fell on train tracks in isolation (and with no injuries), the story wouldn’t have legs. Coming, though, after the saga of the Washington Bridge, it fits into the narrative of ongoing concerns with the state Department of Transportation. During a media availability this week, acting RIDOT Director Robert Rocchio offered this response when I pressed on why the problem didn’t get addressed sooner: “Because we had no indications that there was an issue with this parapet.” Gov. Dan McKee has ordered accelerated reviews of seven structures with similar construction, six of which were already slated for replacement.

Elsewhere, engineer Casey Jones asked how RI officials can know how to brace the other structures under scrutiny if, as they say, they don’t know the cause of what went wrong in Cranston.

Nellie Burdette is running as a Democrat for the seat held by state Sen. Thomas Paolino (R-Lincoln) …. Rep. Potter says Betty’s Pub is a hidden gem for Chinese food in Cranston …. Thanks to Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian for inviting me for a return visit on Behind the Story …. Check out the powerful new statewide signal for Ocean State Media at 103.7 FM …. Gov. McKee submitted a budget amendment that he says offers big savings for energy ratepayers …. McKee nominated Maria Ferro Deaton and Joanna M. Achille as Superior Court judges …. The FBI released new findings about the Brown University shooter, including how he had planned the attack for years.

My colleague David Wright has an excellent story explaining the debate over a proposed sludge processing plant in North Kingstown. As David reports, “The proposal, backed by a Rhode Island renewable energy company called Green Solutions, comes as the state grapples with how to handle what are known as ‘biosolids’ – the treated sludge left over after wastewater is processed.” Supporters hail the company’s approach for treating sludge. But many residents are unconvinced and concerned about odors. Ultimately, the state needs to settle on a next step or turn to more costly out-of-state treatment as a wastewater treatment plan in Woonsocket is wearing down.

Charles “Chas” Calenda has a new title, but he remains in charge of the federal prosecutor’s office in Rhode Island. Similar changes have taken place in a few other states and legal fallout is expected. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a former U.S. attorney, offered this reaction via statement: “The Trump administration is plainly attempting an end run around the law, which requires this vacancy to be filled by a Senate-confirmed nominee. We have provided candidates to the administration who would receive bipartisan support in the Senate and will continue to work to get a qualified non-MAGA candidate into this key law enforcement position. Rhode Islanders deserve an independent US Attorney.” Calenda said he has attempted to lead the office “at the highest levels of efficiency, integrity and professionalism.”

Rhode Island is no stranger to cases involving the downside of redistricting. Republicans made their only sizable gains in recent memory in a 1983 special election after a badly flawed Democratic Senate redistricting plan sparked $1.5 million in taxpayer costs. Then, when Juan Pichardo won the election in 2002 as the first Latino state senator in Rhode Island, it came at the expense of Charles Walton, the only Black lawmaker in the chamber, and taxpayers spent another $1 million defending the plan. Now, redistricting battles are being fought state by state, and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling may reduce Black representation in a host of offices. In a statement, U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo – who made history as the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress – said, “This decision is a dangerous step backward from the great victories of the Civil Rights movement, and prioritizes hyperpartisan politics over rights and representation. This ruling means that unless states get caught in blatant discrimination when drawing Congressional and state legislative maps, they can oppress minorities, consolidate power, and strip communities of their voice. It is a threat to our multiracial democracy — for all Americans.”

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified when Sens. DiMario and Euer were stripped of their committee chair positions.