Moira Jayne Walsh (born August 23, 1990) is an American activist and politician who represented the 3rd district in the
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the upper house being the Rhode Island Senate. It is composed of 75 members, elected ...
from 2017 to 2021. Walsh is a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
.
Early life
Walsh was born August 23, 1990. She was raised in the
Providence neighborhood of
Smith Hill and attended
Classical High School
Classical High School, founded in 1843, is a public magnet school in the Providence School District, in Providence, Rhode Island. It was originally an all-male school but has since become co-ed. Classical's motto is ''Certare, Petere, Reperire, ...
, a public magnet school in Providence.
After high school, she became a waitress. In 2014, she became involved with the
Restaurant Opportunities Center
The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC) is a not-for-profit organization and worker center with affiliates in a number of cities across the United States. Its mission is to improve wages and working conditions for the nation's low wage ...
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.
During this period, she also attended
Rhode Island College and
Community College of Rhode Island
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is a public community college in Rhode Island. It is the only community college in the state and the largest community college in New England. The college's primary facility is located in Warwick, with ...
.
Rhode Island House of Representatives
Elections
2016
Walsh ran against incumbent Democrat
Thomas Palangio after speaking with the Rhode Island state chapter of
Jobs with Justice
Jobs With Justice (JWJ) is a labor rights organization in the United States, focused on the vision that all workers should be able to collectively bargain. It was founded in 1987 and is made up of individuals and affiliated organizations. As of 2 ...
.
During the election, she was endorsed by the
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party (WFP) is a minor political party in the United States, founded in New York in 1998. There are active chapters in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Ne ...
. She defeated Palangio in the Democratic primary, 51.80% to 48.20%,
and was unopposed in the general election.
2018
Walsh drew national attention when she and three other incumbent legislators did not receive the endorsement of the
Rhode Island Democratic Party
The Rhode Island Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Joseph McNamara is the chair of the party. The party has dominated politics in Rhode Island for the past five decades.
Democratic Pa ...
. The Party initially endorsed her primary challenger, Michael Earnheart, who was revealed to have supported
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...
in the 2016 presidential election and to have been registered to vote as a Republican in at least three previous elections.
They later withdrew the endorsement of Earnheart and decided to not endorse either candidate. Walsh received the endorsement of
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline
David Nicola Cicilline (; born July 15, 1961) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 36th mayor of Providence from 2003 to 2011, the first openly ...
, who represents
Rhode Island's 1st congressional district
Rhode Island's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It includes all of Bristol and Newport counties, along with parts of Providence County, including most of the city of Providence.
The di ...
. Walsh went on to win the 2018 Democratic Primary against Earnheart, receiving 55% of the vote to Earnheart's 45%. Following her primary win, Walsh was again unopposed in the 2018 general election.
2020
In 2020, Walsh lost the Democratic primary to challenger
Nathan Biah by a 65-35 margin.
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.
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.
In March 2017, her criticism of legislators consuming alcohol on the House floor during session made national headlines.
While at the time she walked back some of the comments, "saying she had only been referring to cocktail parties and fundraisers",
she later said the fallout was "one of
erproudest accomplishments, ...that they had to be secret" about drinking in the chamber.
Committee assignments
For the 2017–2018 legislative session Walsh served on the Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare and the Veterans' Affairs committee.
In the 2019–2020 session, Walsh served on the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources,
and was also a founding member of the Rhode Island House's Reform Caucus.
References
External links
*
Official Pageat
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, the upper house being the Rhode Island Senate. It is composed of 75 members, elected ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Moira
Living people
1990 births
21st-century American legislators
Community College of Rhode Island alumni
Democratic Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Classical High School alumni
Women state legislators in Rhode Island
21st-century American women politicians