Sam Bell (politician)
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Sam Bell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Rhode Island Senate from the 5th district |
|
| Assumed office January 1, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Paul Jabour |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 7, 1989 |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic Socialists of America |
| Spouse(s) | Samantha Weiser |
| Children | Jacob Tsvi Weiser Bell (son) |
| Residence | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Alma mater | Amherst College (BA) |
| Occupation | Geologist |
Samuel W. Bell (born July 7, 1989) is an American 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.[1] Bell is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[2]
Education
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 Ph.D. in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science.[3]
Career
A data scientist at Brown University prior to his election to the legislature, Bell was most noted for an investigation which revealed that the National Rifle Association was illegally funneling national money into Rhode Island state elections in an attempt to prevent the state from passing gun control legislation. His investigation resulted in the NRA being forced to shut down its Rhode Island political action committee.[4]
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.[1] 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]
When not in the senate Bell works as a geologist.[5]
Senator 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.[3][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 Weiser were personally targeted with antisemitic and homophobic posts from users of the neo-Nazi forum website Stormfront.[12]
Weiser gave birth to their son, Jacob Tsvi Weiser Bell, on December 10, 2021. Shortly after birth Jacob was diagnosed with infant respiratory distress syndrome.[13]
See also
- List of Democratic Socialists of America who have held office in the United States
- List of LGBT Jews
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Some Rhode Island Democrats upset over Murdoch donation". Star Tribune, November 2, 2018.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 State of Rhode Island General Assembly
- ↑ "Sam Bell announces bid for State Senate District 5 seat". Uprise RI, February 28, 2018.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Sam Bell defeats longtime state Sen. Paul Jabour in Democratic primary". Providence Journal, September 12, 2018.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "RI State Senator-Elect Alleged He is Being Targeted By NeoNazis". GoLocal Providence, October 28, 2018.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Articles with short description added by PearBOT 5
- Official website not in Wikidata
- 1989 births
- Living people
- Rhode Island Democrats
- Rhode Island state senators
- Members of the Democratic Socialists of America
- LGBT state legislators in Rhode Island
- Politicians from Providence, Rhode Island
- Amherst College alumni
- 21st-century American politicians
- Bisexual politicians
- Bisexual men
- 21st-century American geologists
- Brown University alumni
- Brown University faculty
- LGBT Jews
