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Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Rep. David Cicilline to resign from Congress to become head of the RI Foundation

In a big surprise, Cicilline will leave Congress after 12 years

Special election will determine his replacement

By Will Collette

Rep. Cicilline sent the following e-mail to supporters this morning:


Earlier today the Rhode Island Foundation announced that they have selected me to lead their organization as its next President and CEO beginning June 1, 2023. At that time, I will be stepping down from elected office as a Member of the United States Congress.

Representing my constituents, friends, family, and neighbors in Rhode Island’s First Congressional District has been the honor of my life, and I would not have had this privilege to serve my community for more than a decade without your friendship, support, and continuous encouragement. For this, I am eternally thankful.

For the past twelve years the voters of Rhode Island placed their trust in me to be their voice in Washington, and each day I worked my hardest to live up to that serious responsibility. With your help, I have had the amazing fortune of waking up each day to do a job that I love — advocating for policies, priorities, and investments to bring meaningful progress and change to Rhode Island and our nation.

While I had not anticipated that my journey as a Member of the United States Congress would come to an end at this time, I am excited to begin this unexpected, extraordinary opportunity to build upon the work I have been leading since first taking elected office — breaking down barriers to expand access to economic stability, affordable health care and housing, and educational success for all Rhode Islanders.

It is with a humbling and overwhelming sense of appreciation that I share this news with you today and express my heartfelt thanks once again for your friendship and unwavering support over many years. I hope to remain in touch with you as I take on this new leadership role at the Rhode Island Foundation, and I look forward to many more years of working together.

While I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done to support me and my work, I want you to know that your friendship and generosity will forever remain a source of great inspiration to me.