ABOUT Jason
Jason Knight is running to be Rhode Island’s next Attorney General. Jason was born in Providence, and he and his wife Nicole live in Barrington where they raised their two kids.
A commitment to public service is in Jason’s blood. He has the grit, integrity and experience to fight for all of us. His grandfather was a World War II and Korean War veteran. His dad was stationed at Newport in the Navy before he became a police officer, and Jason joined the Navy when he was 18 as a nuclear power operator on a submarine. He served for almost eight years, and later went on to get his law degree.
Jason was a prosecutor and special assistant attorney general in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, and now runs his own criminal defense practice. Jason has 20 years of experience in Rhode Island’s courtrooms and a deep understanding of the criminal justice system. He knows what it takes to get justice.
For the past nine years, Jason has been a Rhode Island State Representative, where he has built an outstanding track record of legislative success and delivering results. Jason led the fight to ban assault weapons, protected reproductive rights and passed laws to make our communities safer and to reform our criminal justice system.
As our next Attorney General, Jason will fight every day to keep Rhode Islanders safe and to protect all our rights.
Jason Knight Bio
Jason Knight was born in Providence in 1969 to the granddaughter of Italian immigrants and a Navy sailor from Idaho who was stationed in Newport. Jason’s parents moved from Rhode Island to Idaho, where he was raised with his two siblings, and where his mother was a medical administrative assistant, and his father was a police officer. At age 18, Jason followed in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, a veteran of World War 2 and the Korean War, and joined the Navy’s Submarine force as a nuclear power operator. During his almost eight years in the Navy, he developed the grit and determination to tackle difficult challenges, while also learning to listen to and collaborate with people from diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
After leaving the Navy, Jason followed his passion and got a BFA in theater production management, working in the local Boston theater scene, including a stint as the Production and House Manager at Harvard University’s Sanders Theater. He went on to attend Suffolk University Law School, pursuing a legal career to serve and advocate for his community. In 2005, Jason and his wife Nicole moved to Barrington, returning to Rhode Island, where they have raised their family.
Jason started his legal career as a prosecutor and special assistant attorney general in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office under AG Patrick Lynch. There he prosecuted criminal cases and sought justice for victims, while gaining firsthand experience in how the Attorney General’s Office operates. Jason went on to open his own law practice, where he specialized in criminal defense law. He also serves as the Barrington town solicitor. Jason has 20 years of experience in Rhode Island’s courtrooms and a deep understanding of the criminal justice system.
Jason continued his commitment to public service when he stepped up to run for the State Legislature. Jason has represented District 67 (Barrington and Warren) since being elected in November 2016. He was named a Deputy Majority Leader in January 2021. Jason is 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.
As a State Representative Jason has a track record of delivering results for his district and the people of Rhode Island. Jason led the multi-year fight to ban assault weapons, fought to protect reproductive rights, passed laws to improve public safety and to reform the criminal justice system, and he has stood up to protect seniors.
Jason sponsored and co-sponsored major gun safety measures in Rhode Island, including the 2025 assault weapons ban, the 2021 ban on straw purchases, restrictions on high-capacity magazines, safe storage requirements, a ban on bump stocks, and stronger local police review of gun sales.
Jason has also been a prominent advocate for criminal justice reform, sponsoring and supporting a range of legislation aimed at enhancing fairness, reducing barriers, and improving public safety.
Jason proudly co-sponsored and fought for the codification of Roe v. Wade into RI State Law in 2019, and numerous other reproductive freedom laws.
In 2025, the General Assembly enacted his legislation updating the state's “revenge porn" law to include “deepfakes” — AI-generated content that imposes a person's likeness onto explicit material. He enacted legislation allowing churches and religious organizations to allow for national criminal background checks for employees and volunteers working with children, closing a loophole to protect children. He has cosponsored many other bills for fair elections laws, stronger environmental protections and economic justice.
In 2021, Jason sponsored legislation allowing the Bristol County Water Authority to demolish dams on the Kickamuit River, aiming to restore the river to its natural state and improve local ecosystems.
Jason received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emerson College and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk Law School; he is admitted to the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bars. Jason is a former member of the Board of Trustees at Temple Habonim in Barrington and previously served on the board of directors of Arts Alive! He lives in Barrington with his wife Nicole, where they raised their two children.