Polling Average
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42%
17%
Rhode Island Republican Governor nominee?
$11.7K
SEP 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleActress
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationRhode Island
BackgroundActress
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Notable personal detailsElaine M. Pelino is a Republican candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2026 election cycle. She has described herself as a non-career politician and has run a campaign focused on government accountability, public safety, reducing costs and regulation, school choice/trade education, and Second Amendment rights. She has also been described in election coverage as a former actress and model.
SourcesShowHide
elainepelino4governor.comrhodeislandcurrent.comimdb.combostonglobe.comen.wikipedia.orgnga.orgthemidtermproject.orgelections.ri.govvote.sos.ri.govri.gopbuiltin.comri.govapnews.comrihousegop.orgbluevoterguide.orgeastgreenwichri.govethics.ri.govyahoo.comportal.momsforliberty.orgpolitics1.comrinewstoday.comeconomicprogressri.orgnationalpublicdata.comthegreenpapers.comleviathanencyclopedia.comwhales.marketfliphtml5.comimmigrantcoalitionri.orgpersonhoodflprolifepac.comwhyy.orginstagram.comballotpedia.orgprovidencejournal.comnewsfromthestates.comnewportthisweek.comwpri.compelinoforgovernor.comaol.comfacebook.comcongress.govfec.govwikidata.orgwhitehouse.senate.govappropriations.senate.govgovinfo.govclerk.house.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orglegislation.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lowering taxes to stimulate economic growth, including eliminating the state Social Security tax for seniors and implementing caps on property taxes; emphasizes auditing and reducing wasteful state spending. Advocates incentives to attract businesses and job creation.
Healthcare
Elaine Pelino’s campaign materials emphasize prioritizing citizens, veterans, and seniors for housing and healthcare and propose opening mental health facilities to treat violent or mentally disturbed patients. Her public statements and campaign site do not lay out specific positions on the Affordable Care Act, Medicare/Medicaid changes, a public option, or single-payer reform.
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger enforcement against undocumented individuals who are felony offenders and opposes illegal welfare use; pledges to work with ICE and federal officials to remove illegal felony offenders and illegal welfare abusers from the state while prioritizing services for citizens, veterans, and seniors.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports the Second Amendment and gun ownership rights and pledges to fully support state law enforcement and resources to address violent crime. Advocates working with federal authorities on removing illegal felony offenders and prioritizing public safety while also supporting mental health facilities for violent patients.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Elaine Pelino is in the news as a Republican candidate in Rhode Island’s governor race, where recent polling shows her trailing Aaron Guckian in the primary. A new super PAC, Real Rhode Island Families, has formed to back Guckian if he wins the GOP primary, adding outside money to the contest. Earlier campaign finance reporting also showed Guckian with much more cash on hand than Pelino. The race remains fluid, but the coverage suggests Pelino is currently behind in both polling and fundraising.
elainepelino4governor.com+48
Articles
TBThe Boston Globe3 months ago
In R.I.’s most competitive campaigns, who’s leading the money race?
Negative
TBThe Boston Globe19 days ago
Republican candidate for R.I. governor Guckian backed by Super PAC
Positive
TBThe Boston Globe3 months ago
McKee and Foulkes on the issues
Neutral
TBThe Boston Globe1 month ago
R.I. Governor McKee’s hometown Democratic committee endorses his opponent
Neutral
Polls
Rhode Island Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising