Shekarchi: 'No intention' to run for Langevin's Congressional seat

PROVIDENCE — House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi "has no intention of seeking" U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin's Congressional seat, but more than one of his legislative colleagues is indeed interested.

Langevin was the one who threw out Shekarchi's name as a possible candidate on Tuesday, on the day he announced he would not be seeking reelection this year, creating the first Congressional opening in the state since 2010.

More: 'I love this state': Rep. Jim Langevin will not seek reelection after 22 years in Congress

But Shekarchi squelched the rumors quickly in a statement, out early Thursday morning, in which he said:

"Although I am humbled that Congressman Langevin and many others have mentioned me as a potential Congressional candidate, I love serving as Speaker and representing my Warwick constituents at the State House.

"I have no intention of seeking the Congressional seat this year. ... These are unprecedented times as we face a pandemic recovery involving the investment of billions of federal dollars, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with my colleagues in the House and Senate, and the Governor, to move our state forward."

“Fortunately,'' he added, "we have a number of strong potential candidates within the Democratic Party who will continue the excellent work established by Congressman Langevin.”

He did not name any names, but Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, the South Kingstown Democrat who chairs the House Small Business Committee, told The Journal on Wednesday that she is "seriously considering'' a run for the Second Congressional District seat that Langevin has held since 2001.

A lawyer, one-time probation officer and former South Kingstown town councilwoman, McEntee said she is looking to see who else jumps in.

"I am smack-dab in the district," she said Wednesday. "I know this district. ... I feel like this is an opportunity I can't resist."

And, "women have been overlooked way too long,'' she said of Rhode Island's track record, having sent only one woman to Congress in the past, and none to the U.S. Senate.

"I think Rhode Island needs a woman in Congress,'' McEntee said. "I'd have to loan myself money, obviously. I can do that.''

Speaking on WPRO radio on Tuesday, Langevin mentioned other potential candidates for his job, including Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea.

But Gorbea, an announced candidate for governor, quickly put a damper on that speculation. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos's name has also been mentioned, but she has done nothing yet to confirm or dispel the speculation.

On Tuesday, Sen. Joshua Miller of Cranston, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, acknowledged to The Journal that he is considering a run.

"As everybody knows, I have always been interested in a range of policy, including what's appropriate locally and nationally," he said.

Sen. Sam Bell of Providence says he is also "seriously considering" a run, but his decision "will depend on what happens" with his infant son, who is only recently home after weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit with respiratory distress syndrome."

"I won't do this if it will be bad for our family," Bell said. "But I also can't sit idly by while a right-wing machine politician goes to Congress." Asked who he had in mind, he said: "I’m not entirely sure who the machine will put forward. But there are a number of deeply concerning possibilities."

Former state Sen. James Sheehan also threw his name in the hopper as a potential candidate.

The only declared candidate is former state Rep. Robert Lancia, a Republican, who announced his second run for Langevin's seat well before Langevin announced his decision not to run again.

But Cranston's former Republican Mayor Allan Fung told The Journal he's weighing whether to give it a shot.

“It’s been a whirlwind since Congressman Langevin’s announcement... I’ve been talking to people nationally and locally about this race. I am taking a look at the entire chessboard and will take some time to thoughtfully think about this race."

But "I can tell you that many Rhode Islanders, especially those in the district, are frustrated with everything going on right now and are desperately yearning for change," he said.

With reports from Patrick Anderson.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI House speaker won't run for Langevin's seat in Congress