Senator Anderson will not seek reelection; Endorses BLM RI PAC’s Harrison Tuttle
“Together, we have made great progress: we finally passed a $15 minimum wage and groundbreaking climate legislation. I am greatly looking forward to representing our district for the remainder of my term. I believe that the next generation has what it takes to continue our fight for justice.”
March 29, 2022, 10:05 am
By Steve Ahlquist
Senator Kendra Anderson (Democrat, District 31, Warwick, Cranston) announced that she will not be seeking reelection in 2022. Kendra Anderson is a lifelong activist. Starting at the age of 12, Anderson organized an anti-war sit-in to protest the Vietnam War. In the 1970s, she was part of the movement that forged reproductive justice in this country. More recently, she has fought relentlessly for climate justice as a founding member and former president of Climate Action RI.
Senator Anderson first decided to run for office after no meaningful climate legislation was signed into law in the 2019 legislative session. This term, after playing a key role in passing crucial climate legislation, Kendra will not seek reelection.
Kendra believes that the people most impacted by the systems of structural oppression should be empowered to create new systems that work for everybody. She will therefore endorse Harrison Tuttle, the Executive Director of Black Lives Matter RI PAC, in his bid for her current seat.
“It has been an honor to serve the people of District 31,” said Senator Anderson in a statement. “Together, we have made great progress: we finally passed a $15 minimum wage and groundbreaking climate legislation. I am greatly looking forward to representing our district for the remainder of my term. I believe that the next generation has what it takes to continue our fight for justice.”
“I’ve been inspired by Senator Anderson’s fierce dedication to fighting for racial, economic, and climate justice,” said Harrison Tuttle. “I am sad to hear that she will not be seeking reelection but am honored to have her support. Her powerful voice representing her community will be missed in the Senate. I greatly look forward to working with her as an advocate in the future.”
Senator Anderson will complete her term in January 2023. She has introduced crucial legislation this session to increase equitable access to affordable contraceptives, put money back into the pockets of working class people by lowering their utility costs, and reduce carbon emissions in our state by building green transportation infrastructure.
