Jessica de la Cruz

Jessica de la Cruz is the Minority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate. A Republican representing District 23 ( North Smithfield , Burrillville, Glocester), she was first elected to the Senate in November 2018 and was elected Senate Minority Leader in July 2022. She previously served as Senate Minority Whip from 2020-2022. As Minority Leader, Senator de la Cruz serves as an ex-officio member of all standing Senate committees and is a member of the Senate Committee on Labor and the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics & Oversight. She previously served as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During her time in the legislature, Senator de la Cruz has been a leading voice on issues surrounding Eleanor Slater Hospital, specifically the Zambarano Unit in Burrillville, and secured over $100 million in funding to rebuild and revitalize Zambarano Hospital. She has been an advocate for the hospital's patients, who are among the state's most vulnerable residents and have nowhere else to turn. Senator de la Cruz sponsored and passed into law Senate Bill S-2219, which closed a major loophole in RI state law that allowed those in positions of authority to engage in sexual…