{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use American English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Joe Shekarchi | image = Joseph Shekarchi Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives.jpg | office1 = 224th Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives | term_start1 = January 5, 2021 | term_end1 = May 7, 2026 | predecessor1 = Nicholas Mattiello | successor1 = Christopher Blazejewski | office3 = Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives | term_start3 = January 3, 2017 | term_end3 = January 5, 2021 | predecessor3 = John DeSimone | successor3 = Christopher Blazejewski | state_house4 = Rhode Island | district4 = 23rd | term_start4 = January 1, 2013 | term_end4 = | predecessor4 = Robert Flaherty | successor4 = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|5|17}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | education = Suffolk University (BA, JD) | website = {{URL|joeshekarchi.com|Official website}} }} '''K. Joseph Shekarchi'''<ref name="PVS">{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/142089 |title= Joseph Shekarchi's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |access-date= February 24, 2014}}</ref> (born May 17, 1962) is an American politician who serves as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. A Democrat, he has represented District 23 in Warwick since January 1, 2013. He was chairman of the House Labor Committee until his election as the House Majority Leader in November 2016. After four years as majority leader, Shekarchi was elected speaker in November 2020 following the defeat of longtime speaker Nicholas Mattiello. He announced his resignation from the speakership on May 7, 2026, to pursue a seat on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.<ref name=":0" /> Shekarchi considers himself a moderate Democrat.
==Early life and education== Shekarchi was born to a father of Iranian-American descent and a mother of Italian-American heritage. He grew up in the Conimicut neighborhood of Warwick.<ref name="The Public's Radio 2020">{{cite news |last1=MacKay |first1=Scott |title=Commentary: Meet Joe Shekarchi, Speaker-elect |url=https://thepublicsradio.org/episode/commentary-meet-joe-shekarchi/ |access-date=December 15, 2024 |publisher=The Public's Radio |date=November 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Political Scene: The little-known story of House Speaker Shekarchi's Iranian roots |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/02/house-speaker-k-joseph-shekarchi-opens-up-about-iranian-roots/69739881007/ |work=The Providence Journal |date=January 2, 2023}}</ref> He earned his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University and his Juris Doctor from the Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, prior to attending Suffolk.<ref name="The Public's Radio 2020" />
==Career== Shekarchi was the manager of Paul Tsongas's Rhode Island campaign for the 1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries and then served as a legislative aide in the administration of governor Bruce Sundlun. In 2010, he led future governor Gina Raimondo's successful campaign for general treasurer.<ref name="The Public's Radio 2020" />
When Robert Flaherty, the incumbent Democratic representative for District 23 in Warwick, failed to qualify for the ballot, Shekarchi was unopposed for the September 11, 2012, Democratic Primary, winning with 536 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/statewide_primary/races/160.html |title= 2012 Statewide Primary, Representative in General Assembly District 23 |publisher= Secretary of State of Rhode Island |location= Providence, Rhode Island |access-date= February 24, 2014}}</ref> He won the November 6, 2012, General election with 4,302 votes (67.9%) against Republican nominee John Falkowski,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/general_election/races/165.html |title= 2012 General Election, Representative in General Assembly District 23 |publisher= Secretary of State of Rhode Island |location= Providence, Rhode Island |access-date= February 24, 2014}}</ref> and has served in the position since January 1, 2013.<ref name="RIL">{{cite web |url=http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi |title=Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi |publisher=Rhode Island General Assembly |location=Providence, Rhode Island |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref>
Shekarchi was chairman of the House Labor Committee until his Democratic colleagues elected him as the House majority leader in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi/Pages/Biography.aspx|title=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|website=State of Rhode Island General Assembly|language=en-us|access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref> After four years as majority leader, his colleagues elected him speaker in November 2020 following the defeat of longtime speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Shekarchi considers himself a moderate Democrat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/05/shekarchi-secures-votes-become-speaker/6182277002/|title=Shekarchi secures the votes to become House speaker, replacing Mattiello|work=The Providence Journal|date=November 5, 2020|first=Patrick|last=Anderson}}</ref>
Shekarchi resigned the speakership on May 7, 2026, the due date for applications for a vacancy on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Patrick |title=Shekarchi steps down as speaker to pursue seat on state Supreme Court |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/state/2026/05/07/shekarchi-resigns-as-house-speaker-wants-seat-on-ri-supreme-court/89964606007/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=The Providence Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> He was succeeded by Christopher Blazejewski.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Patrick |title=Rep. Chris Blazejewski ascends as new RI House speaker |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/state/2026/05/07/rep-chris-blazejewski-elected-new-ri-house-speaker/89977397007/ |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=The Providence Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Personal life== Shekarchi is openly gay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/05/metro/joe-shekarchis-moment-has-arrived/|title=Joe Shekarchi's moment has arrived|work=The Boston Globe|date=November 5, 2020|first=Edward|last=Fitzpatrick}}</ref> He is the second openly gay speaker of the Rhode Island House, after Gordon Fox.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/representatives/Shekarchi Official page] at the Rhode Island General Assembly *[http://joeshekarchi.com/ Campaign site] *{{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 142089 | fec = | congress = }} *[http://ballotpedia.org/K._Joseph_Shekarchi K. Joseph Shekarchi] at Ballotpedia
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ri-hs}} {{s-bef|before=John DeSimone}} {{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives|years=2017–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Christopher Blazejewski}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Nicholas Mattiello}} {{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives|years=2021–2026}} {{s-aft|after=Christopher Blazejewski}} {{s-end}}
{{Rhode Island House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shekarchi, Joseph}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century members of the Rhode Island General Assembly Category:American gay politicians Category:Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Rhode Island Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Politicians from Warwick, Rhode Island Category:Rhode Island lawyers Category:Speakers of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Category:Suffolk University Law School alumni