Samuel W. Bell
Rhode Island State Senator, District 5 since 2018. Ran in 4 elections between 2018 and 2024, winning 4. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 26
- 226 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.5%
- Chamber median 1.8%
- With party
- 95%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +72.0
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Commerce · secretary
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2026
Became law Jun 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Bell sits in the Rhode Island State Senate
Bell is closer to the center than 3% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Tiara Mack, Dawn Euer, Jonathon Acosta
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Bell’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats95%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Rhode Island State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Bell’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Bell | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | HB 7654: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE AND SALE | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 33–4 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 8005: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 35–2 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 7030: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTHCARE WORKER PLATFORM ACT | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 35–3 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 7020: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 29–9 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 8400: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 29–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Bell was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 | Won | D+72.0 | D+53.2 | +18.8 |
| 2024 | Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 | Won | D+58.1 | D+53.2 | +4.9 |
| 2022 | Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 | Won | — | D+60.6 | — |
| 2020 | Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $39.6K
- Spent
- $32.1K
- Cash
- $44.4K
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| SAMUEL W BELL State | Active |
Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections filings through Oct 26, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 7:18 PM ET
Seats Bell has held
- Rhode Island State Senate, District 5 · since 2018
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Bell has run against
- William D. Connell, Jr. (R) · 2026 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Rhode Island Board of Elections (unofficial)
How we know Bell
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8d466b6a-ea53-46bb-aa86-3131ac76533f
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET