Former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo — a Democrat who is facing the end of her tenure as U.S. Commerce secretary due to Donald Trump’s victory last week — is considering making another run for governor, The Public’s Radio has learned from multiple sources.
Speculation on Raimondo’s future has centered on the possibility of her taking a high-level corporate job or possibly a university presidency.
But according to a source familiar with her thinking, Raimondo, 53, has examined the constitutionality of making a third run for governor and is considering it with the idea that an elective position could help propel her back into national politics. Another source confirmed that a run for governor is among Raimondo’s possible future options.
Whether Raimondo will pursue a run for governor is unclear. She did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
According to John Marion, executive director of Common Cause of Rhode Island, the state Constitution does not appear to bar a third term for governor, provided it is not consecutive with two other terms.
In 2014, Raimondo became the first woman to win election as governor of Rhode Island, and despite a sub-50% approval rating, she vanquished a Democratic primary rival in 2018 on the way to winning a second term.
In 2021, she left before finishing her second term to become Commerce secretary in the Biden administration.
Gov. Dan McKee inherited the state’s top job when Raimondo went to Washington, and after winning election in 2022, he has said he will seek another term in 2026. McKee has faced low approval ratings — 34% in September — and he serves during a time when many Rhode Islanders are frustrated by traffic and delays associated with the Washington Bridge.
On Friday, McKee campaign spokesman Mike Trainor said he didn’t have a comment on the possibility of Raimondo seeking a return to the governor’s office, although there was “no word of this before your story.”
Trainor added: “It is very likely that the governor will make an official announcement for re-election by the end of the first quarter” of 2025.
Former CVS Health executive Helena Foulkes, who came close to beating McKee in a 2022 primary, is raising money for another run, although Foulkes — sometimes dubbed “Gina 2.0” — may decide not to run if Raimondo enters the field. There was no immediate comment from Foulkes’ spokesman Jon Romano on Friday morning.
House Speaker Joe Shekarchi has said he will consider running for governor if McKee does not pursue another term. But Shekarchi managed Raimondo’s 2010 campaign for state general treasurer and it’s unlikely they would run against each other.
Raimondo made her name as treasurer with a 2011 pension overhaul that sparked national media attention and left some public employees and retirees angry about changes to their pensions.
The former RI governor attracted coverage as a rising star in the Biden administration and is often mentioned among a group of future leaders of the Democratic Party, a group that includes Govs. Gavin Newsome of California, Gretchen Witmer of Michigan, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Ray Cooper of North Carolina, and Wes Moore of Maryland.
Sometimes criticized by Rhode Island progressives as too conservative and by local Republicans as too liberal, Raimondo has crafted a profile as a pro-business Democrat.
As part of the Biden administration, she helped spearhead the rollout of the CHIPS Act, meant to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S., and Raimondo has built a profile as a pro-business Democrat.
Raimondo has been mentioned as a prospective presidential candidate, and part of the thinking, according to a source, is that being a current officeholder could be preferable to being a former Cabinet secretary.
Raimondo, a prodigious fundraiser in her time in electoral politics, maintains an active campaign account in Rhode Island. At the end of September, the balance was close to $584,000.
The former governor was back in Rhode Island Oct. 24 as a guest at a WaterFire Arts Center fundraiser in support of the Harris-Walz ticket.
This story has been updated to include reaction.
