Michael Chippendale: Realistic, Not Idealistic Government

Michael Chippendale is a seasoned Republican legislator and the current Minority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. Representing District 40—which includes Coventry, Foster, and Glocester—Chippendale has served in the General Assembly since 2010, steadily rising through the ranks of GOP leadership.

Chippendale was unanimously elected House Minority Leader in June 2022 and re-elected in December 2024. Prior to this, he served as Minority Whip from 2018 to 2022. His leadership style is marked by a focus on government efficiency, tax reform, and regulatory relief for small businesses.

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I spoke with Rep. Chippendale while on assignment in Providence, producing the first episode of The 50, a four-year multimedia project in which the Fulcrum visits different communities across all 50 states to learn what motivated them to vote in the 2024 presidential election and see how the Donald Trump administration is meeting those concerns and hopes.

Chippendale acknowledged the concerns many people are having about President Donald Trump’s heavy-handed approach and the speed with which changes are being implemented. He also said that the American public has started to become disenchanted with politicians who promise things that they never do.

"He had to act quickly. He had to fulfill those promises," Chippendale said. "So, when he made such bold promises on the campaign trail and then immediately enacted so many of them, I think that weathered the people who are going to feel the pain from the economic policies enough to say, 'I'm going to be ok. I trust that he's going to do what he says he's going to do."

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Rep. Chippendale shared how a family trip to Philadelphia inspired him to run for public office. "So, we went to the Pennsylvania State House. I saw the desk at which the two delegates from Rhode Island sat when the Declaration of Independence was signed, when the Constitution was being argued. And this patriotic, romantic American spirit took over." When the family left Philadelphia, the next day, Chippendale said he told his wife he was going to run for office.

The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature. Rep. Chippendale also spoke to the Fulcrum about being strategic as a political superminority. "When you set your goals to a level that is realistic and not idealistic, you have a better chance of realizing those goals. And I'm going to run with that if I think it will improve the lives of the people I represent. If it's a good enough idea, I've found, and if you approach it the right way, you can even win the support of the supermajority if you can make a persuasive argument."

Mr. Chippendale collaborates with fellow elected officials to improve people's participation in the electoral process, starting with investing time in students.

Secretary Amore hosts the Rhode Island Civic Leadership Program, in which State Representative Chippendale has participated. The immersive, year-long nonpartisan initiative is designed to connect high school students to their government and build skills and habits that foster lifelong civic engagement.

SUGGESTIONS:

Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz: Connecting With Community

David Guo: Combining Art and Civic Engagement

Rich Harwood: A Philosophy of Civic Faith

Hugo Balta is the executive editor of the Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network.