Rep. Jason Knight can kick back a bit and consume the politics of 2024 knowing he will return to the Rhode Island General Assembly without having to run either a primary or general election campaign this season, but that doesn't mean he isn't paying attention to or isn't offering up perspectives on the issues of the day.

Knight went unchallenged this cycle, the second time the state representative for Barrington and Warren from District 67 has gone unopposed since first being elected to the Assembly in 2016. District 67 has roughly a 60-40 split between Barrington and Warren, respectively.

The soon-to-be five-term incumbent Democrat is currently a Deputy Majority Leader. Knight is also the second vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House State Government and Elections Committee.

Knight is certainly not alone in returning directly to Smith Hill. He is one of 48 candidates for the 75 seats in the House who went sans challenge in 2024. Of the 27 contested races, 22 of those include incumbents facing an opponent.

"I'd like to think that my constituents are pleased with my performance," Knight said about running unopposed. "I know I'm satisfied with the job I've done in terms of passing legislation, but also of being a voice of reason, of being one of the grown-ups in the room in the Assembly and of promoting transparency and openness in the legislative process.

"However, I do think elections are good. I welcome other voices, hearing different points of view. But it is what is. It's just how it shook out this time around."

Although he doesn't have a race to run in 2024, Knight has still spent time canvassing his district. He said when he's been out knocking on doors, "from everything I hear it seems everybody is pretty much focused on the national stuff."

"I know Barrington has some competitive Town Council and School Committee races and there are a lot people interested in those and are out promoting their candidates, but that seems hyperlocal to Barrington. The state-wide issues have not really been a topic of conversation this season," Knight said.

"The real focus has been on the national issues," he continued. "A lot of people are saying this is the most consequential election of our lifetimes, and I can't say that I disagree with them. Depending on who wins, there could be a lot of changes.

"If it's a big 'red' (Republican victory) wave, it will certainly create issues we'll have to address at the state level. It happened back in 2016-2017 when the Republicans held all three (the presidency and both houses of Congress). They made some tax changes (specifically to State and Local Tax or 'SALT' deductions) that disadvantaged states in New England, especially, and that may happened again."

As for other issues, Knight noted residents of the East Bay, understandably, have expressed their displeasure and concerns about the Washington Bridge crisis and some who are particularly in tune with fiscal matters have wondered how the Governor's office and the Assembly will react once the federal COVID-19 pandemic relief "American Rescue Plan Act" (ARPA) funds have been fully spent.

On two items of larger import that have drawn increased interest of late in Warren, Knight said of one, "Rhode Island needs to do everything it can to prepare and respond climate change. There's no pushing back the ocean and it's definitely rising and in Warren you can certainly see it." As examples, he made specific mention of the recent need to boost the height of apparatus at both the town's water treatment facility and pump station adjacent to Route 114.

On the other, housing, Knight said there's been an "obvious" focus in the Rhode Island House the last few years "to do everything we can to get more houses built, to see more roofs in the air. Certainly that's been the Speaker's (Joseph Shekarchi) priority and the priority of the Democratic Caucus. But we've done a lot the last few years, and I'm not sure we can do much more."

Knight said he's open to taking a breath to review how the recent housing legislation package has worked in practice, adding "maybe there's a conversation to be had to revisit" certain aspects that may not be as effective as designed.

Once the Assembly reconvenes for the 2025 session on New Year's Day, Knight said he'll continue to pursue some personal legislative aims.

He's admittedly a "gun-safety guy" and with that in mind he will continue to "work on getting an assault weapons ban bill passed." A version he authored last session got out of committee in the lower chamber, but was not furthered by the State Senate.

Knight, a lawyer by profession, said he also wants to amend the current criminal statute on revenge porn to in the future include such things as Artificial Intelligence-generated images. As well, he wants to amend existing standards to make expunging some criminal records "more accessible."

On all-important fiscal matters, Knight said the Assembly will have to take an even-more strenuous look than usual at the budget next year, saying he expects it to "not be as generous" as it's been in recent seasons.

"We have to make sure we're funding the priorities of all Rhode Islanders — education, infrastructure, public safety and the public safety net — before we starting spending on anything else," Knight added. "I'm definitely going to express an 'eat your vegetables before you eat dessert' attitude to the leadership and the body as a whole when it comes to the budget next year."