Will Newport's mayor run for Congress? A social media post makes his plans clear
While the announcement that Congressman David Cicilline is resigning to become the head of the Rhode Island Foundation has generated plenty of speculation on potential candidates to fill the spot, at least one Newport elected official has made it clear he won't be one of them.
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong issued a video through his social media channels Wednesday night saying he will not be a candidate for the seat.
"Over the past 24 hours my name has been floated as a candidate for Congress and while flattered I want to be the first to inform all of you that I will be staying in Newport to focus on my job serving as its mayor," Khamsyvoravong said. "The citizens of Newport and Newport City Council have given me the opportunity of a lifetime and I intend to continue to do that job until the work is done."
Khamsyvoravong's announcement comes after initial remarks to multiple news outlets didn't exactly rule out a potential candidacy.
"Until there's a timeline for the special election, CD1 owes its attention to recognizing Congressman Cicilline's service, and I owe my focus to the City of Newport," Khamsyvoravong said in a post reported by The Public's Radio's Ian Donnis.
Khamsyvoravong is two months into his first elected role after becoming the top vote-getter in the November election for City Council.
Serving as Newport’s Mayor is an honor of a lifetime. We are accomplishing so much together but there is a lot of work still to do. I look forward to continuing serving our beloved City by the Sea. pic.twitter.com/ZvmTDs92I6
— Xay Khamsyvoravong (@XayForNewport) February 22, 2023
While Khamsyvoravong has ruled out a run, at least one other elected official from Newport has voiced interest in the role.
State Sen. Dawn Euer, the new chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told The Providence Journal she is considering a run for the seat.
After clearing the air on his decision, Khamsyvoravong went on to congratulate Cicilline and open the door to future collaborations.
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"I'd like to congratulate Congressman Cicilline on his new role with the Rhode Island Foundation," Khamsyvoravong said. "We've been lucky to have you down in Washington, we're excited to have you back in Rhode Island and I look forward to working with you in the future."
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong will not run for congressional seat
