House speaker election postponed to Thursday

PROVIDENCE—The planned hand-off of power in the state House of Representatives has been postponed to Thursday.

The House has canceled Wednesday’s session because of an expected snowstorm.

NBC 10 reported that Speaker of the House William Murphy plans to step down from the speaker’s position and that Gordon Fox will be nominated as the next speaker.

Lawmakers say Fox will meet with his supporters Tuesday night at a Providence restaurant to map out a strategy. Murphy has already endorsed Fox.

If he has enough support, Fox can call a caucus of Democratic lawmakers on Thursday before the session to elect a majority leader and whip and nominate a new House speaker. The speaker must be approved by a vote of all House lawmakers.

NBC 10 reported that Murphy plans to stay as a representative of District 26, which includes West Warwick, Coventry and Warwick.

Fox was first elected to serve District 4 in 1992. He’s serving his third term as majority leader.

Democrats are also set to tap Rep. Nicholas Mattiello, of Cranston, as the next majority leader.

Rep. J. Patrick O’Neill, of Pawtucket, will become the House majority whip. He will replace Rep. Peter Kilmartin, of Pawtucket.