Aaron Guckian touted himself Monday as a moderate Republican who will strive to make Rhode Island more affordable and economically competitive if voters elect him the state’s first GOP governor in almost 20 years.
Guckian, 49, announced his entry into the race at an event attended by supporters and Republican officials at the Brewed Awakenings coffee shop in Warwick. He introduced himself as the son of a union plumber and a respiratory therapist, and as a lifelong East Greenwich resident who learned the value of hard work from his parents.
“What’s the story I’m trying to tell you?” Guckian asked the crowd. “I’m trying to tell you that you’ve got to get up and grind, hard work matters and if we don’t start making a change in this state, (Rhode Island will continue to be) the state of ‘toos’ – too many taxes, too many fees, too many gantries … and we don’t have enough opportunity.”
The GOP candidate said he would try to lower electricity rates by encouraging more competition, modernizing the grid, and supporting what he called “practical clean energy.”
On housing, Guckian called for streamlining permits and cutting red tape – the focal point for some legislative efforts in recent years – and allowing people to qualify for a first-time homebuyers program through sweat equity.
On health care, he backed “expanding training pipelines, offering incentives to attract and retain providers, cutting red tape, and ensuring Rhode Islanders can access quality care without long waits or high costs.”
Guckian anticipated reporters’ questions about President Donald Trump, initially describing Trump as relatively unimportant for what happens in Rhode Island, particularly since state law governs same-sex marriage and abortion rights.
“I don’t want to talk about Washington,” he said, adding, “Bottom line is, we’ve got to worry about our house.”
When a reporter noted how Trump affects the flow of federal dollars into Rhode Island, Guckian said it would benefit the state to have a GOP presence in its top political ranks.
Guckian said he disagreed with how the Trump administration moved to halt work on Revolution Wind, since it was 80% complete at the time. In another difference from Trump, Guckian said he respects that it’s the job of reporters to ask tough questions.
Rhode Island voters haven’t elected a GOP governor since 2006, when Don Carcieri – for whom Guckian worked as a special assistant – won the second of his two terms.
Guckian got 43% of the vote when he made his first run for political office in 2022, unsuccessfully challenging Democratic Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos.
He is now the best-known GOP candidate in the 2026 race for governor. Elaine Pelino of Smithfield and businessman Robert Raimondo, who recently moved back to the state after many years in California, are also running.
It’s unclear if any other well-known Republicans will enter the race for governor.
Rhode Island Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz (R-North Smithfield), who previously ruled out a run, didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.
Ashley Kalus of Providence, who got 38.9% of the vote against Democratic Gov. Dan McKee in 2022, is not a fan of Guckian, telling Ocean State Media that she’s “not decided” on her plans for 2026. She added, “Aaron is irrelevant generally and also to my decision-making process.”
A September 2026 primary will determine the candidates for the November general election.
Guckian’s resume includes working at Bank Newport and the Washington Trust Co., serving as a development officer at the Rhode Island Foundation, chairing the Warwick Sewer Authority, and, until recently, working as executive director of the Rhode Island Dental Association. Guckian and his wife, Debbie, have three daughters, Lauren, Emma and Nuala.
The candidate salted his announcement on Monday with local references, lamenting the loss of the Old Canteen and other iconic businesses and citing how he went to prom with Danielle Flanders, a daughter of future state Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders. Flanders, now in private practice, was among those on hand for the event.
Guckian was introduced by former state Sen. Kevin Breene and current Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins.
The Cranston mayor said Guckian embodies the spirit of Rhode Island and has the right stuff to make progress against persistent problems, including under-performing schools and ongoing growth of the state budget.
Brewed Awakenings is owned by David Levesque, one of the organizers of a new conservative-leaning group, the League of Rhode Island Businesses, which is focused on supporting its candidates for the General Assembly. Levesque said Guckian is a good friend, although he said he did not yet know if LORIB will support his campaign for governor.
