State Dems staff up going into the midterm elections
By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current
The state’s Democratic party announced Riordan’s hiring in its weekly email newsletter on Friday. Riordan, who most recently worked in communications for Democratic congressman Magaziner, fills the full-time, paid leadership role left open after Sam Bader left in December 2025.
Bader, who worked for three years for the Democratic party, including one year as its director, took a new job as campaign manager for Kim Ahern, a candidate for state attorney general.
Riordan, a Rhode Island native and University of Rhode Island graduate, was chosen through a nationwide search that drew candidates from across the country, Liz Beretta-Perik, party chair, said in an email.
“Katherine applied for and was offered the position because of her vast experience in communications, organization and public service,” Beretta-Perik said. “Her experience and energy will be critical as we begin a pivotal election season working to keep Rhode Island Blue.”
A job posting still up on the party’s website lists a $70,000 to $100,000 salary, with a minimum of four years of campaign or related work experience.
Beretta-Perik declined to comment on Riordan’s pay or provide a copy of Riordan’s resume. A LinkedIn page for Riordan was unavailable.
Public government payroll information shows Riordan began working for Magaziner in May 2023. She previously worked as a staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, who held Magaziner’s seat representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District for two decades before deciding not to seek reelection in 2022.
“I look forward to doing everything possible to elect Democrats in the upcoming election cycle,” Riordan wrote in a brief note included in the party’s email newsletter.
She did not respond to email requests for comment.
The Democratic party also hired a new data director, Will Hardy, according to the same email newsletter. Hardy graduated from Brown University in 2025, and held internship positions with the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, according to his LinkedIn page.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
Rhode Island Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com.
