Rhode Island’s House of Representatives saw a sweeping leadership change Thursday as Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced his intent to seek a seat on the state Supreme Court, Rep. Christopher R. Blazejewski was elected to succeed him as speaker, and Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian became the first woman elected House majority leader in state history.
Shekarchi seeks Supreme Court seat
Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat serving his third term as speaker, announced he has submitted an application to the Rhode Island Judicial Nominating Commission for the position of associate justice on the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The vacancy follows the retirement of Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg.
“It has been my great honor to serve the people of Warwick and the State of Rhode Island in my many years as a member of the House of Representatives,” Shekarchi said in a statement. “After much personal reflection, I have decided to humbly pursue a different path of public service and apply for the opening on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.”
Shekarchi said he was stepping down as speaker effective immediately but will remain a member of the House. He said he would not participate in political activity related to the upcoming election cycle and was immediately suspending all fundraising and disbursement activity from his campaign account, aside from expenditures necessary to meet legal filing requirements.
An attorney for more than 30 years with a focus on land use and zoning, Shekarchi has previously served as legal counsel to the governor’s office and the Department of Transportation, as an assistant Warwick city solicitor, and as legal counsel to the Warwick Housing Authority. He has represented District 23 in Warwick since November 2012 and was first elected speaker in January 2021.
Blazejewski elected speaker
The House voted 65-10 to elect Blazejewski, a Providence Democrat who has represented District 2 since 2010 and previously served as House majority leader. The nominating speech was delivered by Rep. Lauren H. Carson, a Newport Democrat who represents District 75. Rep. David A. Bennett of Warwick and Cranston gave the seconding speech.
“I’m honored and deeply grateful to have secured the overwhelming support of my House colleagues to serve as Speaker, and for Rep. Katherine Kazarian to serve as Majority Leader,” Blazejewski said in a statement. “We have difficult work ahead, with no easy answers, but the people who sent us here to represent them deserve nothing less than our full commitment.”
Blazejewski credited Shekarchi with “changing the culture of the House, opening the doors wider, bringing more voices in, and reminding all of us that good government and good policy is built on respect and collaboration.”
A Cumberland High School graduate who went on to earn degrees from Harvard University and Harvard Law School, Blazejewski has championed housing affordability, environmental protection, public education, civil rights, senior services, health care and economic opportunity, according to his office. He cosponsored and led passage of the Act on Climate, the Reproductive Privacy Act and the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, as well as laws prohibiting high-capacity firearms magazines, banning firearms from school grounds and banning untraceable “ghost guns” and 3D-printed guns. He also led passage of legislation aimed at lowering prescription drug costs and creating the Deborah DeBare Domestic Violence Prevention Fund.
Kazarian makes history
The House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected Kazarian, a Democrat representing East Providence and Pawtucket, to serve as majority leader, making her the first woman to hold the position in Rhode Island history. She had previously served as House majority whip since January 2021.
“I am tremendously honored to have such overwhelming support from my colleagues,” Kazarian said in a statement. “Working with Speaker Blazejewski and former Speaker Shekarchi has taught me so much about effective, responsive leadership. I’m honored and excited to continue the great work of this chamber.”
Blazejewski praised her selection. “Congratulations to the first woman in Rhode Island history to serve as House Majority Leader, Katherine Kazarian,” he said. “Katie and I have worked very closely together over the last six years, and I appreciate her steady leadership, depth of knowledge, and tireless work ethic. I am incredibly proud to have her lead my team and I am quite sure this is not the last time Katie makes history.”
Kazarian, an attorney at CMBG3 Law, was first elected to the House in 2012. She graduated cum laude from Roger Williams Law School in 2024, where she was a Presidential Scholar and a member of Law Review and the Honors Program. Before law school, she worked in the technology sector at Personify Health, formerly Virgin Pulse, and at Upserve by Lightspeed. She is a 2012 graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, with a degree in urban studies and economics, and a 2008 graduate of St. Mary Academy Bay View in East Providence.
Bennett delivered the nominating speech for the Blazejewski-Kazarian leadership team at the Democratic Caucus, with Rep. Karen Alzate of Pawtucket and Central Falls giving the seconding speech.
