President-elect Joe Biden plans introduced Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as his nominee for Commerce secretary during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday afternoon, along with three other members of his economic team.
“This team will help us emerge from the most inequitable economic and jobs crisis in modern history by building an economy where every American is in on the deal,” Biden said in a statement. “They share my belief that the middle class built this country and that unions built the middle class. They know how to work with states, cities, small towns, and tribal communities, along with labor, entrepreneurs, and businesses to get things done for American workers. They will work tirelessly to ensure every American enjoys a fair return for their work and an equal chance to get ahead, and that our businesses can thrive and out-compete the rest of the world. They will be ready on day one.”
The other nominees are Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as Labor secretary, Isabel Guzman as SBA administrator, and Don Graves as deputy Commerce secretary.
Raimondo, 49, is currently serving her second term as governor. She became Rhode Island’s first woman governor when she was first elected in 2014.
According to a statement from Biden’s transition, “She will be a key player in helping position the United States as an exporter of 21st century products and leader in the clean energy economy.”
Raimondo’s office did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.
The news was first reported in a tweet by New York Times political reporter Jonathan Martin. The leaking of the story to national outlets is a familiar way of paving the way for a formal announcement.
Raimondo endorsed Michael Bloomberg last year, but that did not preclude the Biden team from picking her.
Plaudits flowed from other politicos after the news was confirmed by Biden.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, who babysat Raimondo as baby, said, “I am confident in Governor Raimondo’s ability to lead the Commerce Department and help American workers and businesses recover and prosper. She is a dedicated public servant with the management skills, expertise, and leadership to effectively advocate for America’s economic interests and jump-start job growth.”
U.S. Rep. David Cicilline credited Raimondo with doing a strong job as governor.
“Nearly six years to the day after she took the oath of office on the steps of our State House, Governor Gina Raimondo prepares to leave Rhode Island in much better shape than she found it,” he said. “Few governors have been as consequential for our state. None have matched her effectiveness, or the calm, steady hand with which she has guided us through this pandemic.”
House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, who managed Raimondo’s 2010 run for treasurer, said, “I had a great conversation tonight with Governor Raimondo and I am absolutely thrilled that she has reached the pinnacle of her personal and professional career in President-elect Biden’s Cabinet. However, it is a bittersweet day because one of the reasons I was most excited about being elected Speaker was to have the opportunity to work closely with her again. From the day I accepted the job to manage her first political campaign when she ran for General Treasurer in 2010, I knew she was destined for greatness.”
Raimondo’s tenure has also included a share of challenges, including problems with the state’s IT system for administering human service programs, a botched rollout of a tourism campaign, and the economic fallout of the pandemic, and the loss of the PawSox.
Raimondo term does not expire until January 2023, meaning that if she is confirmed, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee would become governor and gain a higher profile and improved fundraising capability ahead of the 2022 race for governor.
Raimondo grew up in Smithfield and went to Harvard, Yale Law School and was a Rhodes Scholar become becoming a successful venture capitalist.
She emerged on Rhode Island’s political scene ahead of winning the race for general treasurer in 2010.
She spearheaded the passage in 2011 of an overhaul of the state pension system, a move that elevated her national profile and sparked bitter criticism from some of those affected by the changes.
Raimondo made history by winning election as Rhode Island’s first woman governor during a three-way race in 2014, defeating Republican Allan Fung, the mayor of Cranston at the time.
During a rematch in 2018, Raimondo scored an even bigger victory over Fung.
Raimondo received less than stellar approval ratings for much of her time in office, even as the economy improved and the unemployment rate fell, until she got a significant bump upward due to her response to the pandemic in Rhode Island.
In 2014 and 2018, Raimondo campaigned on the theme of improving the state’s economy for the long haul, in part through expanded job training and enhanced public education. As with other states, Rhode Island and its economy are still reeling from the effects of COVID-19.
While some observers thought the governor would be loath to leave the state amid the crisis and to pass the leadership to McKee, others think she’s been exhausted by the incessant demands of responding to the crisis and, as an ambitious person with a favorable view among national Democrats. would welcome the opportunity to join the administration for a role such as Commerce secretary.
The U.S. Commerce Department has more than 46,000 employees and it operates the Census, the National Weather Service, NOAA Fisheries, and the Foreign Commercial Service. According to the agency’s website, “Among many other functions, the Department oversees ocean and coastal navigation, helps negotiate bilateral trade agreements, and enforces laws that ensure a level playing field for American businesses and workers.”
Raimondo has been the subject of speculation about various positions in the Biden administration. She downplayed such talk, saying that she was focused at the moment on Rhode Island.
According to a CNN report, “Biden is expected to lean on his commerce secretary to rebuild relationships with a business community that has had a sometimes fractured relationship with the Trump White House. While the Republican President has often touted support from different businesses, pro-business groups like the Chamber of Commerce have often been critical of Trump.”
James Diossa, the former mayor of Central Falls, and state Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown) have indicated to The Public’s Radio that they would like to serve as lieutenant governor if asked by McKee.
Raimondo and McKee have had strained relations. It’s unclear how she would approach a transition if she’s headed to Washington, although Raimondo is slated to make her latest budget proposal by early March.
State Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence) has filed legislation, most recently in the new session, that would give the General Assembly the power to fill a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office.
A large field of Democrats is expected to run for governor in 2022, including McKee, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza.
Ian Donnis covers politics for The Public’s Radio. He can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org. Sign up here for his weekly RI politics newsletter.
