Leonela “Leo” Felix is a Democratic state representative for House District 61 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, elected in November 2020 after defeating incumbent Raymond Johnston in the primary and Republican Robert Wheeler in the general election. A progressive lawyer and former felon, she was born in Boston, raised in the Dominican Republic, and has lived in Pawtucket since her teenage years. She currently serves as Assistant City Solicitor in Providence's legal department, handling civil litigation on building and housing codes, and is ethics education coordinator there. Felix is married with three dogs and is involved in community organizations like OpenDoors, which supports formerly incarcerated individuals.

Notable achievements include sponsoring laws for gun safety , protecting homeowners from foreclosure, ensuring bail refunds, prohibiting pharmacy contract clauses blocking cheaper options, redirecting embezzled campaign funds to crime victim compensation, and automatic sealing of diversion program records. She secured funding boosts for Pawtucket schools, especially multilingual and special education, led automatic expungement in cannabis legislation , and sponsored transit-oriented development for housing. Felix co-chaired the Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian-American and Pacific Islander Caucus in 2023-2024 and serves on the House Judiciary, Small Business, and Veterans' Affairs Committees.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Charles E. Shea High School; attended Community College of Rhode Island; earned dual B.A. in justice studies and sociology from Rhode Island College; J.D. from New England Law | Boston.
• Political Experience: Elected to Rhode Island House in 2020 with Working Families Party support; reelected since; prior advocacy with Progreso Latino, Rhode Island Immigration Coalition, Interfaith Coalition Against Poverty, and Commission on Health Advocacy and Equity; board member of OpenDoors.