The Latest: Rhode Island Senate chooses new president

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The Latest on the Rhode Island Senate choosing a new president (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

The Rhode Island Senate has chosen Dominick Ruggerio to replace outgoing Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.

The Senate voted 37-0 on Thursday to elect Ruggerio, a North Providence Democratic senator who has been the chamber’s majority leader.

Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat who was the first woman to lead the Senate, is leaving to take a hospital industry job.

Ruggerio was accompanied by his young granddaughter as he was sworn in.

He won bipartisan support from the 38-member body, which has 33 Democrats and five Republicans.

The vote on the Senate happened just minutes after a Democratic caucus meeting where Democrats endorsed Ruggerio as their pick for president.

One Democrat was absent from both the caucus and floor vote.

3:46 p.m.

Democratic members of the Rhode Island Senate have voted for Sen. Dominick Ruggerio as their pick to replace outgoing Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.

The Democratic senators held a caucus meeting Thursday and voted 31-0 for Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat who has been the Senate’s majority leader. He’s also the Senate’s longest-serving member.

The entire Senate will later vote to choose a new president, but the caucus vote is seen as decisive because Democrats hold 33 of the chamber’s 38 seats. Paiva Weed announced Wednesday she’s stepping down to take a job at a hospital industry group.

The Democrats also voted 31-0 for Warwick Sen. Michael McCaffrey to replace Ruggerio as the next majority leader. McCaffrey has been chairman of the Senate’s judiciary committee.

Two senators didn’t attend or vote in the caucus.

12:31 a.m.

The Rhode Island Senate will be selecting a successor to Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, who is stepping down to work for a hospital industry group.

Senators are expected to vote Thursday on a new president to replace Paiva Weed, a Newport Democrat and the first woman to lead the chamber. She’s leaving to be president of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.

Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, a North Providence Democrat, plans to run for Senate president. Ruggerio also is endorsing Warwick Democratic Sen. Michael McCaffrey as the next Democratic majority leader. McCaffrey is chairman of the Senate’s judiciary committee.

Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin, a Providence Democrat considered another possible contender to be Senate president, says she’s ruled it out because of her responsibilities as a Providence city employee.