Incumbent running for re-election to House seat

Jason Knight aiming for a fourth term

By Josh Bickford
Posted 6/28/22

Rep. Jason Knight is the only Barrington legislator seeking re-election this year.

Earlier this month, Rep. Liana Cassar (D. District 66, Barrington and East Providence) and Sen. Cindy Coyne (D. …

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Incumbent running for re-election to House seat

Jason Knight aiming for a fourth term

Posted

Rep. Jason Knight is the only Barrington legislator seeking re-election this year.

Earlier this month, Rep. Liana Cassar (D. District 66, Barrington and East Providence) and Sen. Cindy Coyne (D. District 32, Barrington, Bristol and East Providence) announced they would not be running for re-election. 

But last week, Rep. Knight (D. District 67, Barrington and Warren) shared his intentions to seek a fourth term in the RI House of Representatives. Rep. Knight praised the new leadership team at the RI General Assembly, adding that he has been able to accomplish a number of key changes over the last two years. 

During an interview, Rep. Knight said he was particularly proud of legislation that eliminates court costs and some other fees for indigent people. He said the costs would often lead poor people to skip court dates, which then would lead to warrants being issued for “failure to appear.” 

“It becomes a cycle of debt and incarceration,” he said. 

Rep. Knight listed other General Assembly accomplishments in a press release: They passed the Act on Climate legislation to get Rhode Island to zero emissions by 2050; they passed legislation to ensure the state is powered 100 percent by renewable energy by 2030; they passed gun legislation including a ban on high capacity magazines; they made a $250 million investment in affordable housing, including $10 million directly to Crossroads, and outlawed income discrimination in the housing market; and the exempted military pensions from the income tax, raised the minimum wage to $15, and fully eliminated the car tax.

“Personally, I have sponsored and passed legislation to remove barriers to re-entry for criminal offenders who have finished their sentences, protected elders by reforming the elder abuse statute to make it more efficient and responsive, and passed legislation to punish people who purchase firearms and then resell them to prohibited persons,” he wrote.

“And there is much more to do. Our schools need attention and funding, our infrastructure continues to need investment, and we need to continue the fight for abortion access. I am committed to these causes.”

Rep. Knight said he had planned to continue his service at the Statehouse even before Rep. Cassar and Sen. Coyne announced their upcoming retirements. 

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