Sam Bell (politician)

Samuel W. Bell (born July 7, 1989) is an American geologist and politician who serves in the Rhode Island State Senate representing the 5th district in Providence. A Democrat, he was first elected to the senate in the 2018 elections, and assumed office in 2019.[2] Bell is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[3]

Not to be confused with Samuel Bell (New Hampshire politician) or Samuel Bell (California politician).
Sam Bell
Member of the Rhode Island Senate
from the 5th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byPaul Jabour
Personal details
Born (1989-07-07) July 7, 1989
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Socialists of America[lower-alpha 1]
SpouseSamantha Weiser
Children1
Alma mater
ProfessionGeologist

Background

Bell attended Amherst College were he earned a Bachelor's degree in Astronomy and Geology. Bell also attended Brown University were he earned a master's degree in Geosciences and a PhD in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science.[4] When not in the senate, Bell works as a geologist.[5]

Political career

Bell decided to become involved in politics as a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.[5] Bell defeated incumbent senator Paul Jabour in the Democratic primary in September 2018,[6] and ran unopposed in the general election.[2] He assumed office on January 1, 2019.[7]

Bell ran for re-election in 2020, being challenged in the Democratic primary by majority leader of the Providence City Council Jo-Ann Ryan.[8] Bell defeated Ryan by 50 percentage points, and ran unopposed in the general election.[9]

In 2022, Bell proposed legislation that "would impose fines and double the taxes of those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine".[10]

Personal life

Bell is married to Samantha Weiser, a chairwoman of the Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus who also works for Hasbro.[4][11] Bell and his wife are both Jewish and identify as bisexual.[12] They live together in Mount Pleasant.[5] In October 2018, Bell publicly alleged that he and his wife were personally targeted with antisemitic and homophobic posts from users of the neo-Nazi forum website Stormfront.[12]

Bell and Weiser have one son, born in December 2021, who was diagnosed with infant respiratory distress syndrome after birth.[13]

See also

Explanatory notes
  1. Democratic Socialists of America is not a registered political party, instead, it is a political organization for those with democratic socialist ideology.[1]

References
  1. Stein, Jeff (2017-08-05). "9 questions about the Democratic Socialists of America you were too embarrassed to ask". Vox. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
  2. "Some Rhode Island Democrats upset over Murdoch donation". Star Tribune, November 2, 2018.
  3. "Testify for Medicare for All in Rhode Island!".
  4. State of Rhode Island General Assembly
  5. "Sam's Story". sambellpvd. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  6. "Sam Bell defeats longtime state Sen. Paul Jabour in Democratic primary". Providence Journal, September 12, 2018.
  7. Belmore, Ryan (January 2019). "General Assembly to convene on New Year's Day". What's Up Newp. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  8. Crowell, Daniel (September 15, 2021). "Socialist Legislators Are Taking on Rhode Island's Ultraconservative Democrats". Jacobin. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  9. "Sam Bell (Rhode Island)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  10. Fitzpatrick, Edward. "R.I. bill would impose fines and double the taxes of those who refuse COVID-19 vaccine - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  11. Eileen, Bridget (23 June 2021). "Congratulations to Samantha Weiser, Our New Chair of the RI Democratic Women's Caucus". Rhode Island Democratic Women's Caucus.
  12. "RI State Senator-Elect Alleged He is Being Targeted By NeoNazis". GoLocal Providence, October 28, 2018.
  13. Gregg, Katherine. "With a newborn in intensive care, RI Senator tries and fails to get OK to vote by proxy". The Providence Journal. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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