Former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg, who narrowly lost a 2018 primary for lieutenant governor, announced Monday he’s joining the crowded Democratic field in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.
“For fifteen years, I’ve been fighting to make a difference for everyday Rhode Islanders,” Regunberg said in a statement. “As a state legislator, I built coalitions that passed laws to give working people paid sick days, higher wages, and access to renewable energy. As a community organizer in Providence, I stood up with folks who’ve been ignored for too long. And as a new lawyer, I’ve supported court cases to hold Big Oil companies accountable for their environmental crimes.”
Regunberg, 33, a progressive with an activist background and a demonstrated ability to raise money, recently left a clerkship in U.S. District Court in Providence to explore a run in CD1.
“I am also a dad,” he said. “My son turned two in March, the same month the United Nations released its final warning that if we don’t start taking urgent action on the climate crisis, all of our children will be permanently locked-in to a dangerous future.”
In the 2018 primary for lieutenant governor, Dan McKee — now Rhode Island’s governor — edged Regunberg by about two percentage points, a difference of 2,466 votes.
In making his announcement, Regunberg unveiled support for his campaign from state Rep. Cherie Cruz (D-Pawtucket), Ward 3 Providence City Councilor Sue Anderbois, Ward 2 Providence City Councilor Helen Anthony, labor lawyer Marc Gursky and Hillary Salmons, former executive director of the Providence After School Alliance.
A dozen Democrats have announced or described tentative plans to announce a campaign in CD1: former Raimondo administration staffer Nick Autiello, newcomer Mickeda Barnes, former Secretary of State candidate Stephanie Beaute, state Rep. Nathan Biah of Providence, Jamestown businessman Don Carlson, state Sen. Sandra Cano of Pawtucket, state Rep. Stephen Casey of Woonsocket, Ward 1 Providence City Councilor John Goncalves, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, state Sen. Ana Quezada of Providence and former Republican Allen Waters.
The flood of candidates is due in part to how incumbents can run without risk of losing their current offices, due to how this is an off-year election.
The primary election in the race to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who is stepping down at the end of May to become CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, is slated for Sept. 5.
House Finance Chairman Marvin Abney of Newport is expected to announce a campaign this week. Another prospective candidate is Pawtucket native Gabe Amo, who works in the Biden White House.
Regunberg lives in Providence with his wife, Katie, a public defender.
He grew up in Chicago and was raised by his mother after his father was killed in a plane crash in 1989. He came to Rhode Island to attend Brown University and founded the Providence Student Union, an advocacy group, and later was closely involved with Resist Hate RI, a group formed after Donald Trump’s election in 2016.
Regunberg served two terms in the Rhode Island House after first winning election in 2014, supporting such issues as raising the tipped minimum wage and reducing the state’s use of solitary confinement. He worked as a senior policy adviser for the City of Providence while attending Harvard Law School.
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.
