Moira Walsh

Moira Walsh (born August 23, 1990) is an American activist and politician who currently represents the 3rd district in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Walsh is a member of the Democratic Party.

Moira Walsh
Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from the 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2017 (2017-January-03)
Preceded byThomas Palangio
Personal details
Born (1990-08-23) August 23, 1990
Providence, Rhode Island
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenOne son
ResidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
OccupationWaitress
Labor organizer

Early life

Walsh was born August 23, 1990. She was raised in Smith Hill and attended Classical High School, a public magnet school in Providence.[1][2] After high school, she became a waitress. In 2014, she became involved with the Restaurant Opportunities Center after a coworker brought her to an organizing meeting and became involved in the movement to increase the tipped worker minimum wage from $2.89 per hour to $3.89 per hour.[3] During this period, she also attended Rhode Island College and Community College of Rhode Island.[2]

Rhode Island House of Representatives

Election
2016

Walsh chose to run against incumbent Democrat Thomas Palangio after speaking with the Rhode Island state chapter of Jobs with Justice.[1] During the election, she was endorsed by the Working Families Party.[4] She defeated Palangio, 51.80% to 48.20%,[5] in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.[3]

2018

Walsh drew national attention when she and three other incumbent legislators did not receive the endorsement of the Rhode Island Democratic Party.[6][7] The Party initially endorsed her primary challenger, Michael Earnheart, who was revealed to have supported Republican Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. They later withdrew the endorsement of Earnheart and decided to not endorse either candidate.[8] Walsh received the endorsement of Congressman David Cicilline, who represents Rhode Island's 1st congressional district.[9] Walsh went on to win the 2018 Democratic Primary against Earnheart. Walsh received 55% of the vote while Earnheart got 45%.[10] Walsh ran unopposed in the 2018 general election.[11]

Tenure

Walsh was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. She was assigned to the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and Committee on Veterans' Affairs.[2] She has made improving working conditions for tipped workers as key part of her legislative agenda. She has also advocated for the liberalization of drug laws.[1] In March 2017, her criticism of legislators consuming alcohol on the House floor during session made national headlines.[12][13]

Committee Assignments

For the 2017 legislative session Walsh served on the following committees:

  • Health, Education, and Welfare
  • Veterans' Affairs

References
  1. Pina, Alisha A. (December 11, 2016). "New faces in the General Assembly: Moira Walsh, Smith Hill". The Providence Journal. Providence, Rhode Island. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  2. "Biography: Representative Moira J. Walsh".
  3. Green, Adrienne (November 15, 2016). "From Waitress to State Representative". The Atlantic. Boston, Massachusetts. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  4. Anderson, Theo (September 16, 2016). "A Progressive Wave Rolls Through Rhode Island With 4 Working Families Party Wins". In These Times. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  5. "Moira Walsh". Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  6. Nwanevu, Osita. "Why Did the Rhode Island Democratic Party Endorse an Alt-Right Supporter Over a Progressive Incumbent?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  7. Seitz-Wald, Alex. "Rhode Island Dems in uproar as party seeks to oust three progressive women". NBC News. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  8. "Rhode Island Democrats rescind backing for Trump supporter". NewsOK.com. Associated Press. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  9. Cicilline, David. "David Cicilline". Twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  10. "Rhode Island Primary Election 2018". WPRI 12. WPRI. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  11. Anderson, Patrick. "Walsh fends off challenge from Earnheart in Democratic House primary". providencejournal.com. The Providence Journal. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  12. Conley, Morgan (March 9, 2017). "Shots Fired: Rhode Island Statehouse is Full of Drunk Legislators Doing Shots says a Newly Elected Lawmaker". Vice News. New York, New York. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  13. Binckes, Jeremy (March 8, 2017). "Animal House: Rhode Island". Salon. San Francisco, California. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
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