Cienki stepping aside as RI GOP chair to seek National Committeewoman post

The Rhode Island Republican Party will head into the next election cycle with a new leader, as Sue Cienki, who has led the party for the last four years, has announced she will not run for reelection as state party chair.

Cienki, of East Greenwich, told The Journal on Thursday she plans to run for GOP National Committeewoman, a position Lee Ann Sennick is leaving after taking a communications job in the state Senate minority office.

"Chair is a lot of work. And I loved it," Cienki said. "My goal was to put the infrastructure in and start building a farm team. We had good success with town committees, school committees and town councils in some areas of the state. I need to take a break from that and do some other things."

The state Republican Party will elect a new chair for a two-year term March 25.

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At least one potential successor has thrown his hat in the ring to succeed Cienki as state party chair: Charles "Chas" Calenda, who was the GOP nominee for attorney general last year.

"Now, more than ever, we need a strong Republican Party to challenge the extreme policies coming out from Smith Hill," Calenda said in a news release. "Democrats have gone unchecked for over 80 years, and I will work hard to ensure we curtail their stronghold in Rhode Island."

Calenda took 38% of the vote in losing to incumbent Democrat Peter Neronha.

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Cienki said former state party chair Giovanni Cicione might also run to lead the party again. Cicione, who was chairman when Donald Carcieri was governor, could not be reached immediately Thursday.

Cienki said she hopes to serve the remainder of Sennick's term as GOP National Committeewoman from Rhode Island, which runs through the next Republican National Convention in July 2024.

Last year's elections did not turn out as the Rhode Island GOP had hoped, either at the state level or in General Assembly contests.

What went wrong?

"A lot of our candidates were first-time candidates. They got in late," Cienki said. "Most of them said they are going to run again. It is name recognition and getting to voters earlier. Hopefully in 2024, with a presidential election, you will have more voters out there."

With reports from Journal staff writer Katherine Gregg

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sue Cienki leaving RI GOP chair to seek National Committeewoman post