Aaron Guckian Wins Rhode Island GOP Governor Nomination After 1 Recount
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Aaron Guckian Wins Rhode Island GOP Governor Nomination After 1 Recount
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Summary
Aaron Guckian, 50, secured the Republican nomination for Rhode Island governor after AP called the race Tuesday night following a recount request from last week’s close primary.
Guckian defeated Elaine Pelino, a first-time candidate and self-described “proud MAGA Republican,” despite polls that had consistently shown her with a sizable lead.
The former Rhode Island Dental Association executive director had the state GOP’s endorsement and outraised Pelino, while campaigning as a “compassionate conservative” focused on electricity costs and affordability.
He now advances to face Democrat Helena Foulkes, the former CVS executive who last week unseated Gov. Dan McKee in the state’s first sitting-governor primary loss since 2018.
Rhode Island remains heavily Democratic after more than a decade of Democratic control of the governorship and legislature, though Trump improved his statewide vote share there in 2024.