In a sign that the 11-member Republican cohort in the House will take a more combative tone, Rep. Patricia Morgan (R-West Warwick) has won a narrow vote to succeed Brian Newberry as House minority leader.
Morgan won the vote, 6-5, during a caucus at the Statehouse on Tuesday.
Morgan voted for herself. She won support from Rep. Blake Filippi, who has switched to be a Republican after being the only independent among 113 lawmakers in Rhode Island; he will serve as whip, taking over the role formerly held by outgoing Rep. Joe Trillo (R-Warwick).
Filippi said Morgan convinced Republicans she would do a better job as minority leader. “I think it was her unmatched ability to find and develop issues and to be the best spokesperson on behalf of the taxpayers,” he said.
Filippi said he believes Morgan is the first female minority leader in the House. He said he still has some misgivings about both major parties, but decided to rejoin the GOP because “the Republican Party is the party of reform in Rhode Island, lower taxes, and individual liberties.”
Filippi said the final vote in support of Morgan and himself was unanimous from the 11-member caucus.
RIPR has learned that Morgan won an earlier 6-5 vote with the support of herself, Filippi, and Reps. Justin Price of Richmond, Anthony Giarrusso of East Greenwich, Sherry Roberts of West Greenwich, and Rep-elect Robert Quattrocchi of Scituate.
Newberry announced earlier this year he’d be stepping down as minority leader, while remaining as a rep.
Newberry identified Rep. Michael Chippendale (R-Foster) as his preferred successor, and Chippendale was confident last week he had the votes to win. Chippendale has previously said his approach would mix Newberry’s understated quality with the more bombastic approach of Newberry’s predecessor, Robert Watson.
“I don’t have any hard feelings about any of it,” Chippendale said. “We had a very respectful discussion.”
Chippendale said Morgan won over Republicans with her description of how she’d pursue the role of minority leader.
She has been among the most outspoken Republicans in the House and was a fierce critic in particular of the law calling for tolls on big trucks to pay for bridge improvements. In a statement, she said, “It is a privilege to have the overwhelming support of my colleagues in the Republican Caucus. I look forward to studying policies and crafting legislation to address our stagnant economy, reform government, find solutions to overregulation, and ultimately to protect the taxpayers. Rhode Island should expect a robust agenda during our next legislative session.”
This post has been updated.
