Representative Katherine S. Kazarian

House Majority Leader

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Katherine S. Kazarian (D) was elected by her Democratic colleagues as the House Majority Leader in May 2026, making her the first female in Rhode Island history to serve in the role.

She has served the residents of East Providence and Pawtucket in District 63 since first being elected in November 2012. In January 2021, she was elected by her Democratic colleagues as the House Majority Whip, the third highest-ranking position on the House Leadership Team. 

Leader Kazarian introduced a new law during the 2025 legislative session that allows adults to modify their birth certificates with culturally sensitive language. Also in 2025, after several years of advocacy and co-sponsorships, she was proud of the enactment of legislation banning certain military-style assault weapons.

In 2024, Leader Kazarian introduced a new law that requires regular monthly updates from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation on the state of the Washington Bridge.  She also introduced another new law that allows local wineries to sell up to three five-ounce glasses and three 750-ml bottles per customer per day on site. 

During the 2023 legislative session, Leader Kazarian sponsored the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act. The new law provides insurance coverage for abortion care to individuals on Medicaid as well as state employees. She also sponsored another new law which protects domestic violence victims from abusive litigation.

In 2023, Leader Kazarian was honored by Common Cause RI with its “Excellence in Public Service Award" for her sponsorship of the “Let RI Vote Act" in 2022. The law expands voter access while ensuring the integrity of Rhode Island elections.  The Let RI Vote Act makes mail voting easier by allowing online mail ballot applications and permitting any voter to use a mail ballot or an emergency mail ballot without needing an excuse for why they can't visit their polling location on Election Day.

With eight great-grandparents who survived the Armenian Genocide of 1915, Leader Kazarian and her family have been very active in Rhode Island's Armenian community. She was the sponsor of legislation which made Holocaust and Genocide education mandatory in all of the state's middle schools and high schools.

Leader Kazarian has a strong background in the tech field, having worked at both Upserve and Virgin Pulse, and was previously a Senior Planner for the City of Pawtucket. She is a graduate of the Roger Williams University School of Law and currently works as an Associate Attorney at CMBG3 Law in Boston.

Leader Kazarian received a bachelor's degree in urban studies and economics from Columbia University's Barnard College and was inspired to run for office by President Barack Obama's commencement address to her graduating class in 2012. She graduated from St. Mary Academy Bay View in East Providence in 2008.

She was born on June 25, 1990, and is a lifelong resident of East Providence. She is married to Sam Daniel and they are the parents of twin daughters, Eleanor and Serena.