Politics
East Providence and Pawtucket lawmaker tapped to lead Rhode Island Democrats
State Rep. Jenni Furtado is set to take over as chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, succeeding Liz Beretta-Perik, who resigned. The party’s State Committee still needs to ratify the appointment.
State Rep. Jenni Furtado has been selected to lead the Rhode Island Democratic Party, House Speaker Chris Blazejewski announced Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Furtado, 33, represents House District 64, which includes parts of East Providence and Pawtucket. She was first elected in November 2024 and will succeed Liz Beretta-Perik, who resigned amid fraud charges against her husband in Ohio. The charges concern her husband; no allegations against Furtado were reported.
The Rhode Island Democratic State Committee is expected to meet in the coming days to ratify Furtado’s appointment.
“These are difficult political times, and people want to know that Democrats are listening and working on the things that affect their everyday lives,” Furtado said in a statement. She said she looked forward to working with Democrats in communities across Rhode Island.