Guckian is running as a moderate Republican focused on state issues like the budget and taxes. Aaron Guckian, a hard-to-miss 6'7" Rhode Island Republican stalwart with a memorable singing voice and a political resumé that dates back to the Carcieri administration, is running for governor.

Guckian was introduced by Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins, the most prominent elected Republican currently in office in Rhode Island. The GOP hasn’t won a statewide or federal race in the state since 2006, when Carcieri was narrowly reelected.

Republican Aaron Guckian is set to kickoff a run for governor on Monday, making him the first major GOP candidate throwing their hat into the ring.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is looking at steep uphill battle in his 2026 re-election bid, according to data from the University of New Hampshire.