Blake Filippi

Blake Anthony Filippi (born September 10, 1980) is an American politician serving as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and the House Minority Leader. Filippi is from the 36th district, which includes all of Block Island and Charlestown and portions of Westerly and South Kingstown.[1] Blake Filippi received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, and is currently a member of the Republican Party.[2] He has served since he was first elected in 2014, defeating incumbent Democratic Representative Donna M. Walsh.[3] He was unanimously elected as Minority Leader of Rhode Island House of Representatives by the Republican Caucus in 2018, and previously, as Whip in 2016.[4]

Blake Filippi
Filippi in 2019
Minority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
In office
November 7, 2018 – June 23, 2022
Preceded byPatricia Morgan
Succeeded byMichael Chippendale
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from the 36th district
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byDonna M. Walsh
Succeeded byTina Spears
Personal details
Born
Blake Anthony Filippi

(1980-09-10) September 10, 1980
Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (Before 2012, 2016–present)
Independent (2012–2016)
EducationUniversity of Arizona (BA)
Rutgers University, Camden (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

In February 2020, he spoke in favor of the presidential campaign of Tulsi Gabbard.[5]

In January of 2021, when questioned about fellow Rhode Island Representative Justin Price attending the pro-Trump Capital Riots in Washington DC, Filippi was quoted as saying “House members are expelled for bad acts, not bad thoughts. There are no allegations that Rep. Price did anything other than attend what he believed to be a lawful protest, and to express his opinion about what happened that sad day — and this is where a House inquiry ends."[6]

On June 23, 2022, Filippi announced he would not seek reelection for House Minority Leader in 2023 and stepped down, being replaced with Minority Whip Michael Chippendale.[7] Filippi stated that he would not seek reelection due to wanting to focus on an ongoing lawsuit against member of the state's Democratic Party leadership.[8]

References
  1. "Blake A. Filippi". Rhode Island House of Representatives. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  2. "Representative Blake A. Filippi". www.rilin.state.ri.us. Retrieved 2017-02-11.
  3. Turaj, Stephanie (2014-11-06). "Filippi upsets Walsh in House District 36 race". Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  4. Almonte, Reynaldo (November 16, 2016). "Representative Patricia Morgan Elected House Minority Leader Representative Blake A. Filippi Elected House Minority Whip". LPR News. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  5. "R.I. House Republican leader steps into the spotlight - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  6. Fitzpatrick, Edward (January 10, 2021). "R.I. state representative Justin Price faces calls for resignation after comments on US Capitol riot". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on Jan 31, 2021. Retrieved Apr 14, 2021.
  7. "Top House Republican Blake Filippi won't seek re-election". WPRI.com. 2022-06-24. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  8. Independent, Bill Seymour Special to the. "Filippi says focus on JCLS suit forced him not to seek re-election". The Independent. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
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