Seven-term congressional representative David Cicilline (D-RI) will resign his office on June 1. The surprise announcement comes just three months after winning reelection in November’s midterms.
Voters elected Cicilline to Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District in 2011. Cicilline, the former mayor of Providence, is one of just two representatives in the state. In November, he handily defeated his Republican opponent by 30 percentage points.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Cicilline to lead the second impeachment hearing against former President Donald Trump. In recent months, Cicilline vied for the House majority whip position — challenging Jim Clyburn (D-SC) for the number four position. Cicilline dropped his bid before the vote.
The Rhode Island Foundation announced that Cicilline has agreed to lead their organization. He will serve as president and CEO. According to a report in the Boston Globe, Cicilline’s annual salary will increase from $174,000 to $650,000.
In announcing his resignation, Cicilline said:
“For more than a decade, the people of Rhode Island entrusted me with a sacred duty to represent them in Congress, and it is a responsibility I put my heart and soul into every day to make life better for the residents and families of our state.”
Cicilline added: “The chance to lead the Rhode Island Foundation was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even more direct and meaningful impact on the lives of residents of our state.”
The Washington Examiner reported that Cicilline’s staff would “oversee the district until a replacement is appointed through a special election. A date has not yet been set for that race.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) tweeted:
“David Cicilline has been an able, hard-fighting colleague, and I’ll miss his spirit in our delegation, but he’ll be a fabulous leader for the Rhode Island Foundation, so bravos everywhere.”
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