Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner formally announced his 2022 run for governor Tuesday, vowing to focus if elected on expanding economic opportunities for Rhode Islanders.
“Julia and I want our child to grow up in a state where the American Dream is possible for every child,” Magaziner said, referring to his wife, who is scheduled to deliver their first child in November. “That’s what this is all about. And we can make the American dream a reality in Rhode Island for everyone if we work together.”
Without spelling out costs or how he will pay for them, Magaziner vowed to expand access to the American dream by focusing on three things — education, innovation and infrastructure.
“Education,” he said, “because I know that the bedrock of a strong economic future is strong public education. So as governor, I will expand child care, I will bring universal pre-K to Rhode Island, we will put more funding for English language learners and career tech programs in the high schools. We will recruit and support a more diverse teachers’ crop. We will make college dramatically more affordable and we will expand job training programs so that those who don’t go to college have stable careers as well.”
As treasurer, Magaziner claimed credit for helping to create 2,000 jobs through clean energy programs at the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank; for enabling hundreds of small businesses to get loans; and for securing funding for victims of violent crime.
The treasurer’s main responsibility is directing the state pension fund. Magaziner has had the fortune of serving during an excellent bull market, with the pension fund hitting an all-time high of $10.3 billion.
Other assets: a campaign account flush with $1.5 million, a measure of union support, and a savvy campaign team that includes nationally known communications consultant Tad Devine, a Providence native.
Magaziner, 38, becomes the third announced Democrat, following physician Luis Daniel Munoz and Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, competing in the September 2022 primary. A campaign adviser to Gov. Dan McKee said McKee will unveil his re-election effort in January.
Among those also expected in the Democratic race: Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and possible former CVS Health executive Helena Foulkes, who, thanks to her ability to self-fund, could make a strong impact even with a late entry to the campaign.
Magaziner grew up in Bristol, attended Brown University and taught in Louisiana and worked at the venture capital firm, Point Judith Capital, started by Gina Raimondo, before entering politics by first running for general treasurer in 2014. His mother, Suzanne, attended the campaign launch, although his father, Ira Magaziner, a former aide to Bill Clinton and the author of a 1984 plan (rejected by voters) that was meant to bolster Rhode Island’s economy with high-tech jobs, did not attend.
Katie Nee, a daughter of RI AFL-CIO President George Nee, is managing Magaziner’s campaign.
Magaziner left his announcement without taking questions from reporters, in a car with a Florida license plate. Magaziner’s campaign said the car is owned by a campaign staff member who recently moved to Rhode Island and is in the process of changing it. He spoke with reporters at a different campaign event later in the day.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org. Follow him on Twitter @IanDon. Sign up here for his weekly RI politics and media newsletter.
