K. Joseph Shekarchi is a Democrat representing District 23 in Warwick, Rhode Island, since January 2013. He has served as Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives since January 2021, currently in his third term, after roles as House Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Labor Committee. A lifelong Warwick resident and openly gay moderate Democrat, he is the second openly gay Speaker of the Rhode Island House.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Attended Randall Holden Elementary School, Hoxsie Elementary School, Mount St. Charles Academy, Suffolk University, and Suffolk University Law School.
• Early Political Experience: Managed Paul Tsongas's Rhode Island campaign for the 1992 Democratic presidential primaries; served as a legislative aide in Governor Bruce Sundlun's administration.
• Legislative Career: Elected to the Rhode Island House in November 2012; advanced to leadership roles, becoming Speaker after Nicholas Mattiello's 2020 defeat.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Prioritized Rhode Island's housing crisis, enacting nearly 60 bills including the state's first dedicated affordable housing funding, bans on housing discrimination for rent assistance recipients, creation of a cabinet-level Department of Housing, and a $120 million voter-approved bond for affordable housing in 2024.
• Sponsored the Qualified Jobs Incentive Act, creating over 3,000 private-sector jobs; negotiated a $250 million deal with IGT and Bally's, securing 1,100 jobs and protecting state revenue.
• Advanced healthcare reforms like safe nursing home staffing with wage increases, Medicaid rate hikes , no-copay mastectomy coverage, and off-label drug coverage for chronic diseases.
• Championed education , economic development , good government , and senior advocacy, while phasing out the state car tax without broad tax increases.