The leader of Rhode Island’s Republican Party is stepping down, less than one year after winning a second term in a contentious and competitive internal election. GOP Chairman Joe Powers announced his resignation on Sunday — though it doesn’t take effect until Jan.

Powers, who has led the state GOP since March 2023, "is stepping down due to the increased demands of his professional workload," the party said.

Results for the 2024 Rhode Island Mayor Warwick general election. Find Rhode Island and national elections results at BostonGlobe.com.

Predicting the future isn't easy. Back in 2000, who would have thought that by 2025 the Pawtucket Red Sox would no longer exist, or Rhode Island's first female governor would be telling people to "knock it off" as a pandemic shut down the state?

With the Rhode Island General Assembly session scheduled to begin on Jan. 6, WhatsUpNewp has reached out to the area’s legislators to learn what they see as the most pressing issues facing Rhode Island in 2026,

Rhode Island GOP Chairman Joe Powers announced he will be stepping down from his position this month. Powers was elected to become the party chair in 2023. The former chairwoman, Sue Cienki, decided not to seek reelection after serving for four years.