Blake Filippi Explained

Blake Filippi
Office:Minority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Term Start:November 7, 2018
Term End:June 23, 2022
Predecessor:Patricia Morgan
Successor:Michael Chippendale
Office1:Minority Whip of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Term Start1:2016
Term End1:November 7, 2018
Successor1:Michael Chippendale
State House2:Rhode Island
District2:36th
Term Start2:January 3, 2015
Term End2:January 3, 2023
Predecessor2:Donna M. Walsh
Successor2:Tina Spears
Birth Name:Blake Anthony Filippi
Birth Date:10 September 1980
Birth Place:Lincoln, Rhode Island, U.S.
Party:Republican (Before 2012, 2016–present)
Independent (2012–2016)
Education:University of Arizona (BA)
Rutgers University, Camden (JD)

Blake Anthony Filippi (born September 10, 1980) is an American politician who served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and as the House Minority Leader. Filippi represented the 36th district, which included 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]

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

In January 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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blake A. Filippi. Rhode Island House of Representatives. 2016-06-07.
  2. Web site: Representative Blake A. Filippi. www.rilin.state.ri.us. en-us. 2017-02-11.
  3. Web site: Filippi upsets Walsh in House District 36 race. Turaj, Stephanie. 2014-11-06. 2016-06-07.
  4. News: Almonte. Reynaldo. Representative Patricia Morgan Elected House Minority Leader Representative Blake A. Filippi Elected House Minority Whip. 26 July 2017. LPR News. November 16, 2016.
  5. Web site: R.I. House Republican leader steps into the spotlight - The Boston Globe. BostonGlobe.com. en-US. 2020-03-06.
  6. Web site: Fitzpatrick. Edward. January 10, 2021. R.I. state representative Justin Price faces calls for resignation after comments on US Capitol riot. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131175025/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/10/metro/ri-state-representative-justin-price-faces-calls-resignation-after-comments-us-capitol-riot/. Jan 31, 2021. Apr 14, 2021. The Boston Globe. en-US.
  7. Web site: 2022-06-24 . Top House Republican Blake Filippi won't seek re-election . 2022-07-02 . WPRI.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: Independent . Bill Seymour Special to the . Filippi says focus on JCLS suit forced him not to seek re-election . 2022-07-02 . The Independent . en.