Pelino seeks recount in close GOP gubernatorial primary
Sep 10, 2026 | 2:24 pm ET
Description
Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial candidate Elaine Pelino gives an on-camera interview to WPRI's Joe Cortese while campaigning at Hope Highlands Middle School in Cranston on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. She has asked for a recount after results showed less than 300 votes separated her from her primary opponent Aaron Guckian. (Photo by Elaine Pelino for Governor campaign volunteer)
Trailing by 279 votes in preliminary, unofficial primary results, Republican gubernatorial candidate Elaine Pelino asked for a recount in her matchup against Aaron Guckian, the Board of Elections confirmed.
In a Facebook post just after noon Thursday, Pelino said her decision to file the request was about “election integrity and respect for our voters.”
“In a race so close, we must make sure that every Republican who casted a ballot in this race has their vote counted and heard,” she said.
Pelino did not immediately respond to follow-up inquiries for comment.
“It’s her right by statute,” Guckian said.
Pelino, 72, is a first-time candidate and self-proclaimed MAGA Republican. Guckian, 50, offered a more moderate take on conservative views, emphasizing collaboration and his experience as an aide under former Gov. Don Carcieri. Guckian also ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2022.
While the margin between the GOP rivals is close, it might be too large to allow for a manual re-feeding of ballots into machines under state law. In races with 20,001 to 100,000 votes, which include the GOP gubernatorial primary, the gap must be less than 1% or 500 votes, whichever is fewer. Preliminary results, which do not include all mail ballots, show Guckian leads Pelino by just over 1%.
“We’ll see where we’re at tonight and what the number is,” Guckian said. “I like my position.”
State law still allows for a comparison of memory devices from tabulator machines against posted result totals when the losing candidate trails by less than 5% of votes.
Candidates have until 4 p.m. Thursday to submit recount requests to the elections panel.
A second recount request has also been submitted as of Thursday afternoon. Democratic Providence City Council challenger Carmen Castillo has asked for a recount in her primary against Councilor Juan Pichardo. Castillo, who held the seat until 2023, forced out due to term limits, trails Pichardo by two votes in the race for the Ward 9 seat representing Elmwood, South Elmwood, and the Roger Williams Park area.
Castillo and Pichardo did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
The elections board is scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14, to review all primary recount requests.
This story will be updated.
Providence, RI
