Guckian confirmed as GOP gubernatorial nominee; primary turnout cracks 20%

A review of three close primaries by the Rhode Island Board of Elections morning did not change the winner in any of them, Miguel Nunez, elections board director, told the panel Tuesday.

A rereading of flash drives holding vote totals from ballot counting machines concluded with identical margins of victory for Republican gubernatorial nominee Aaron Guckian and Democratic Providence City Councilor Justin Roias, Hunter said. A third review that involved recounting every ballot cast in a separate Providence City Council primary cemented Councilor Juan Pichardo’s victory, though the vote total changed slightly, Hunter said.

RI elections board rejects Pelino’s recount request in Republican gubernatorial primary

The elections board certified results for all of the Sept. 9 races, including those subject to recounts, at its Tuesday afternoon meeting. The 158,973 total ballots cast represents just over 20% of registered voters, the highest percentage of participation on record in a state primary in the last decade, according to historical data from the Department of State.

In 2022, the last primary election cycle that included state general officeholders, 137,686 voters cast ballots, equal to 17% of registered voters.

More than two-thirds of 2026 primary voters cast ballots on the day of the primary, followed by 18% who submitted mail ballots. The remainder voted during the 20-day early, in-person voting hours offered at designated sites in every municipality.

Two hours before the final certification, Guckian declared himself the victor of the GOP gubernatorial contest, thanking voters, election administrators and his campaign team while setting the stage for his general election race. 

“One party rule has not served Rhode Islanders well and we need to restore balance to state government. Families are being crushed by the cost of living, taxes, fees, energy bills, and a state government that now spends more than $15 billion a year,” Guckian, 50, of East Greenwich, said in a statement. “Rhode Islanders deserve better.”

The eight-paragraph press release did not mention his opponent, Elaine Pelino. Pelino, 72, of North Smithfield, lost the Republican nomination by 259 votes, but continues to protest what she claims is a lack of public notice and transparency in counting ballots.

“Conservatives have spent years saying election integrity matters,” Pelino said in a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon. “This is a chance to show we mean it in the unglamorous cases too: checking the math in a close race, even when the outcome isn’t a question of Democrat vs. Republican.”

The MAGA Republican candidate agreed with election administrators and good government advocates on one problem with the process: the late date of the state primary — second to last nationwide this election cycle — leaves little time to consider recount requests or other problems before certifying results and mailing general election ballots out to military and overseas voters. Ballots must be mailed by 8 a.m. Saturday to reach voters in time for the Nov. 3 election, Nunez said.

“The fix is structural: move the primary earlier so the count, the review, and any recount can happen without a stopwatch running,” Pelino wrote. “Rhode Island shouldn’t rush the process that decides who’s on the ballot.” 

Guckian did not respond to requests for comment on his opponent’s protests of the process.

A self-described compassionate conservative, Guckian now faces Democratic nominee Helena Buonanno Foulkes, and independents Ken Block, Jay Gotra and C.D. Reynolds in the general election. Much of Guckian’s messaging around fiscal responsibility and government efficiency echoes that of Block, a former Republican candidate, and Foulkes, who blasted Gov. Dan McKee for poor management of major projects like the Washington Bridge demolition and rebuild.

Preliminary public polling in the governor’s race shows Foulkes with a 20-point lead over Block, with the Republican nominee close behind. But,  one in five likely voters were still undecided as of the most recent survey, published on Aug. 27 by the University of New Hampshire.

In Providence, incumbents prevailed following reexamination of results in two tight Providence City Council Democratic primaries. 

A recount confirmed Councilor Juan Pichardo as the winner of the primary for the Ward 9 seat spanning Elmwood, South Elmwood and Roger Williams Park, defeating challenger Carmen Castillo. Pichardo initially led Castillo by nine votes, widening to an 11-vote margin following the recount, Nunez said. 

“Today is a victory for voters and working families for children,” Pichardo said in an interview. “Every vote counts. It’s not just a saying.”

Pichardo will face independent candidate Diego Tomas Morley in the Nov. 3 general election.

Castillo did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

A rereading of memory sticks also did not change the outcome for the Providence City Council Ward 4 primary, cementing Councilor Justin Roias’ 55-vote win over challenger Joseph Casoli for the seat representing the Wanskuck and Charles neighborhoods.

Casoli said in an interview Tuesday that he is still contemplating a write-in challenge against Roias in the general election.

Roias did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Elections board members Marcela Betancur and Randy Jackvony did not attend the meeting.