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]
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 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America[a] |
| Spouse | Samantha Weiser |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Geologist |
Background
editBell 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
editBell 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
editBell 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, Jacob Weiser Bell, born in December 2021, who was diagnosed with infant respiratory distress syndrome after birth.[13]