Gina Raimondo
Gina Raimondo was the secretary of commerce in theBiden administration from 2021 to 2025. PresidentJoe Biden (D) announced Raimondo was his nominee for secretary on January 7, 2021.[1] The Senate confirmed Raimondo on March 2, 2021, by a vote of 84-15.[2][3]Click here for more information about her confirmation.
Raimondo was born in 1971 in Smithfield, Rhode Island. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard and a doctorate from Oxford University through a Rhodes scholarship. She also earned a law degree from Yale Law School and clerked for US District JudgeKimba Wood.[4] Before running for public office, Raimondo joined a venture capital firm called Village Ventures and co-founded Point Judith Capital in Rhode Island, which grew to manage about $100 million in investment funds.[5]
In 2010, Raimondo was electedRhode Island General Treasurer, a position she held until 2015.The New York Times' Katharine Q. Seelye wrote that as treasurer, Raimondo changed the state's pension system and "marshaled the state’s Democratic political establishment to increase the retirement age, cut benefits and suspend annual cost-of-living adjustments for state employees until the finances of the underfunded system improved."[6] In an interview withRoll Call, Raimondo said, “Fixing the pension system was one of the biggest problems Rhode Island faced...the pension liability was gobbling up an increasingly large percent of the budget."[7]
Raimondo was elected as Rhode Island's first femalegovernor in2014, defeatingAllan Fung (R) andModerate Party candidateRobert Healey 40.7% to 36.2% to 21.4%.[8] In2018, Raimondo won re-election, defeating Fung in a rematch 52.6% to 37.2%. On Raimondo's time as governor,The New York Time's Jonathan Martin and Ana Swanson wrote that Raimondo "introduced training programs, cut taxes and eliminated regulations to support businesses. She clashed with unions but ultimately found compromise as she overhauled the state pension plan."[9] In 2019, Raimondo became chair of theDemocratic Governors Association after serving as vice-chair for the 2018 election cycle.[10]
Raimondo described her views saying, “I come from a place in my politics that, fundamentally, Americans are pro-job, pro-business, pro-wealth...Americans want to make money and feel like they can make money.”[11]
As secretary, Raimondo oversaw theU.S. Department of Commerce. Microsoft president Brad Smith said Raimondo "has transformed the Commerce Department from a department that really did not focus on technology issues under President Trump to, in many ways, the very center of the federal government for a focus on next-generation technology."[12] In an interview with60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl, Raimondo said, "If you think about national security today, in 2024, it's not just tanks and missiles. It's technology, it's semiconductors, it's AI, its drones, and the commerce department is at the red-hot center of technology."[13]
The CHIPS Act of 2022 and theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 were passed by117th United States Congress and signed byBiden during Raimondo's tenure as secretary. The acts included funding to expand American semiconductor research, development and manufacturing, and broadband access.[11] In an interview withForeignpolicy.com's Rishi Iyengar Raimondo said, "When I started this job, the Commerce Department budget was $9 billion, and because of our work with Congress and the president’s leadership, it’s now like $150 billion.”[14]
Biography
Raimondo was born in 1971 in Smithfield, Rhode Island. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard and a doctorate from Oxford University through a Rhodes scholarship. She also earned a law degree from Yale Law School and clerked for US District JudgeKimba Wood.[15] Prior to assuming her position asRhode Island's general treasurer, Raimondo co-founded and served as the general partner of Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm headquartered in Rhode Island. She was also the senior vice president of fund development at Village Ventures, a venture capital firm that was active with healthcare start-ups.
She is the vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, an organization that serves the homeless population in the state, and is a trustee of the Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island.[16]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Raimondo's academic, professional, and political career:[17]
- 2021-2025:U.S. secretary of commerce
- 2015-2021: Governor of Rhode Island
- 2018-2019: Chair of the Democratic Governors Association
- 2011-2015: General treasurer of Rhode Island
- 1998: Received a J.D. from Yale Law School
- 1995: Received a DPhil from the University of Oxford
- 1993: Graduated from Harvard University
Nomination for secretary of commerce
- See also:Joe Biden presidential transition andConfirmation process for Gina Raimondo for secretary of commerce
| Joe Biden's Cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate:Gina Raimondo | ||
| Position:Secretary of Commerce | ||
 a | Announced: | January 7, 2021 |
| a | Hearing: | January 26, 2021 |
| a | Committee: | Commerce, Science, and Transportation |
| a | Reported: | Favorable (21-3) |
| a | Confirmed: | March 2, 2021 |
| a | Vote: | 84-15 |
Biden announced on January 7, 2021, that Raimondo would be his nominee for secretary of commerce.[1]The New York Times reported that Raimondo "is seen as a relatively traditional choice for commerce secretary, a post that oversees relations with the business community but also technology regulation, weather monitoring and the gathering of economic data, among other duties."[18]
When the Biden Transition announced her selection, it said in a press release, "A champion of creative, forward-thinking economic initiatives, Governor Raimondo launched successful workforce training programs to prepare Americans for the 21st century economy. ... During the COVID-19 pandemic, she has worked to quickly bring the state economy back from the depths of the nationwide crisis. Governor Raimondo has expanded clean energy jobs and put Rhode Island on a path to achieving 100% renewable energy. She will be a key player in helping position the United States as an exporter of 21st century products and leader in the clean energy economy."[19]
TheSenate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held Raimondo's confirmation hearing on January 26, 2021. The Senate confirmed Raimondo on March 2, 2021, by a vote of 84-15.[20]
| Summary of Senate vote on Gina Raimondo's nomination for secretary of commerce (March 2, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for | Votes against | Not voting |
 Democrats | 48 | 0 | 0 |
 Republicans | 34 | 15 | 1 |
 Independents | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 84 | 15 | 1 |
Click on the following table to view the full roll call.
| Senate vote on Gina Raimondo's nomination for secretary of commerce (March 2, 2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Richard Shelby | Republican | No |
| Alabama | Tommy Tuberville | Republican | No |
| Alaska | Lisa Murkowski | Republican | Yes |
| Alaska | Dan Sullivan | Republican | Yes |
| Arizona | Kyrsten Sinema | Democrat | Yes |
| Arizona | Mark Kelly | Democrat | Yes |
| Arkansas | John Boozman | Republican | Yes |
| Arkansas | Tom Cotton | Republican | No |
| California | Dianne Feinstein | Democrat | Yes |
| California | Alex Padilla | Democrat | Yes |
| Colorado | Michael F. Bennet | Democrat | Yes |
| Colorado | John Hickenlooper | Democrat | Yes |
| Connecticut | Richard Blumenthal | Democrat | Yes |
| Connecticut | Chris Murphy | Democrat | Yes |
| Delaware | Tom Carper | Democrat | Yes |
| Delaware | Chris Coons | Democrat | Yes |
| Florida | Rick Scott | Republican | No |
| Florida | Marco Rubio | Republican | No |
| Georgia | Jon Ossoff | Democrat | Yes |
| Georgia | Raphael Warnock | Democrat | Yes |
| Hawaii | Mazie Hirono | Democrat | Yes |
| Hawaii | Brian Schatz | Democrat | Yes |
| Idaho | Mike Crapo | Republican | Yes |
| Idaho | James E. Risch | Republican | Yes |
| Illinois | Dick Durbin | Democrat | Yes |
| Illinois | Tammy Duckworth | Democrat | Yes |
| Indiana | Mike Braun | Republican | Yes |
| Indiana | Todd Young | Republican | Yes |
| Iowa | Chuck Grassley | Republican | Yes |
| Iowa | Joni Ernst | Republican | Yes |
| Kansas | Roger Marshall | Republican | Yes |
| Kansas | Jerry Moran | Republican | Yes |
| Kentucky | Mitch McConnell | Republican | Yes |
| Kentucky | Rand Paul | Republican | Yes |
| Louisiana | Bill Cassidy | Republican | Yes |
| Louisiana | John Kennedy | Republican | No |
| Maine | Susan Collins | Republican | Yes |
| Maine | Angus King | Independent | Yes |
| Maryland | Benjamin L. Cardin | Democrat | Yes |
| Maryland | Chris Van Hollen | Democrat | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Elizabeth Warren | Democrat | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Ed Markey | Democrat | Yes |
| Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | Democrat | Yes |
| Michigan | Gary Peters | Democrat | Yes |
| Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | Yes |
| Minnesota | Tina Smith | Democrat | Yes |
| Mississippi | Roger Wicker | Republican | Yes |
| Mississippi | Cindy Hyde-Smith | Republican | Yes |
| Missouri | Josh Hawley | Republican | No |
| Missouri | Roy Blunt | Republican | Yes |
| Montana | Steve Daines | Republican | Yes |
| Montana | Jon Tester | Democrat | Yes |
| Nebraska | Deb Fischer | Republican | Yes |
| Nebraska | Ben Sasse | Republican | No |
| Nevada | Jacky Rosen | Democrat | Yes |
| Nevada | Catherine Cortez Masto | Democrat | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | Democrat | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Maggie Hassan | Democrat | Yes |
| New Jersey | Robert Menendez | Democrat | Yes |
| New Jersey | Cory Booker | Democrat | Yes |
| New Mexico | Ben Ray Luján | Democrat | Yes |
| New Mexico | Martin Heinrich | Democrat | Yes |
| New York | Charles E. Schumer | Democrat | Yes |
| New York | Kirsten Gillibrand | Democrat | Yes |
| North Carolina | Richard Burr | Republican | Yes |
| North Carolina | Thom Tillis | Republican | Yes |
| North Dakota | John Hoeven | Republican | No |
| North Dakota | Kevin Cramer | Republican | No |
| Ohio | Rob Portman | Republican | Yes |
| Ohio | Sherrod Brown | Democrat | Yes |
| Oklahoma | James M. Inhofe | Republican | Yes |
| Oklahoma | James Lankford | Republican | Yes |
| Oregon | Ron Wyden | Democrat | Yes |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley | Democrat | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Pat Toomey | Republican | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Robert P. Casey | Democrat | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Jack Reed | Democrat | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Sheldon Whitehouse | Democrat | Yes |
| South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | Republican | Yes |
| South Carolina | Tim Scott | Republican | No |
| South Dakota | John Thune | Republican | Yes |
| South Dakota | Mike Rounds | Republican | Yes |
| Tennessee | Bill Hagerty | Republican | No |
| Tennessee | Marsha Blackburn | Republican | Not voting |
| Texas | John Cornyn | Republican | Yes |
| Texas | Ted Cruz | Republican | No |
| Utah | Mitt Romney | Republican | Yes |
| Utah | Mike Lee | Republican | Yes |
| Vermont | Patrick Leahy | Democrat | Yes |
| Vermont | Bernie Sanders | Independent | Yes |
| Virginia | Mark R. Warner | Democrat | Yes |
| Virginia | Tim Kaine | Democrat | Yes |
| Washington | Maria Cantwell | Democrat | Yes |
| Washington | Patty Murray | Democrat | Yes |
| West Virginia | Shelley Moore Capito | Republican | Yes |
| West Virginia | Joe Manchin | Democrat | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Ron Johnson | Republican | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Tammy Baldwin | Democrat | Yes |
| Wyoming | John Barrasso | Republican | No |
| Wyoming | Cynthia Lummis | Republican | No |
Elections
2022
Gina Raimondo was not able to run for re-election due toterm limits.
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Rhode Island
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Rhode Island on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Gina Raimondo (D)  | 52.6 | 198,122 |
 | Allan Fung (R) | 37.2 | 139,932 | |
 | Joseph Trillo (Independent) | 4.4 | 16,532 | |
 | Bill Gilbert (Moderate Party of Rhode Island Party) | 2.7 | 10,155 | |
 | Luis Daniel Muñoz (Independent) | 1.7 | 6,223 | |
 | Anne Armstrong (Compassion Party) | 1.1 | 4,191 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 1,246 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 376,401 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Rebecca McLaughlin (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Rhode Island
IncumbentGina Raimondo defeatedMatt Brown andSpencer Dickinson in the Democratic primary for Governor of Rhode Island on September 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Gina Raimondo | 57.2 | 67,370 |
 | Matt Brown | 33.5 | 39,518 | |
 | Spencer Dickinson | 9.3 | 10,987 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 117,875 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Rhode Island
Allan Fung defeatedPatricia Morgan andGiovanni Feroce in the Republican primary for Governor of Rhode Island on September 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Allan Fung | 56.4 | 18,661 |
 | Patricia Morgan | 40.1 | 13,267 | |
 | Giovanni Feroce | 3.5 | 1,159 | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 33,087 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2014
Raimondo ran forelection to the office ofRhode Island Governor. Raimondo won theDemocratic nomination in the primary. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.[21][22][23]
Results
General election
| Governor of Rhode Island, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Gina Raimondo | 40.7% | 131,899 | |
| Republican | Allan Fung | 36.2% | 117,428 | |
| Moderate | Robert Healey | 21.4% | 69,278 | |
| Independent | Kate Fletcher | 1.1% | 3,483 | |
| Independent | Leon Kayarian | 0.4% | 1,228 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.2% | 739 | |
| Total Votes | 324,055 | |||
| Election results viaState of Rhode Island | ||||
Primary election
| Governor of Rhode Island, Democratic Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
| Gina Raimondo | 42.1% | 53,990 | ||
| Angel Taveras | 29.1% | 37,326 | ||
| Clay Pell | 26.9% | 34,515 | ||
| Todd Giroux | 1.8% | 2,264 | ||
| Total Votes | 128,095 | |||
| Election results viaRhode Island Board of Elections. | ||||
2010
Raimondo won the 2010 race for state general treasurer.[9]
| Rhode Island General Treasurer, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Gina Raimondo | 62.1% | 201,625 | |
| Republican | Kernan F. King | 37.9% | 122,860 | |
| Total Votes | 324,485 | |||
| Election results viaRhode Island Board of Elections | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also:Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Gina Raimondo completedBallotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Raimondo's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Governor Raimondo is running so that every Rhode Islander can get the job training and education they need to get a good job. She believes every Rhode Islander deserves a shot to compete in today's economy.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
As Rhode Island's first female governor, Gina has made unmistakable progress to rebuild the middle class and create opportunity for everyone. Since she became governor, Rhode Island cut the state deficit while making significant investments in economic development, job training, infrastructure and education.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Candidate website
The following themes were found on Raimondo's campaign website.
| “ | Jobs and the Economy Small businesses are the engine of our economy. Gina is committed to supporting Rhode Island businesses — that’s why we’ve made significant investments to help small businesses and local manufacturers. For the first time in a long time, companies are moving here and expanding here because they want to hire Rhode Islanders. A combination of job training and business incentives has ignited our comeback. In the last two years, we have recruited or expanded 24 companies that would have gone somewhere else, but today are on track to hire more than 2,000 Rhode Islanders at an average salary of more than $70,000. New companies means new construction and cranes in the sky. Under Gina’s leadership, Rhode Island has among the fastest annual construction job growth of any state in America. Early Childhood Education All families deserve access to excellent childcare, so Gina has taken direct action to ease the financial burden and give peace of mind to low-income working families. Under her leadership we’ve seen the largest increase in Child Care Assistance funding in a decade, and Gina’s latest budget calls for additional investments in improving childcare quality. K-12 Education As governor, Gina guaranteed all-day kindergarten for every child in Rhode Island. She committed to more than doubling the number of kids who read on grade level in third grade by 2025 — a key indicator for improving high school graduation rates. And since today’s kids need some understanding of coding and digital literacy to compete in the 21st century, Gina made Rhode Island the first state in America to teach computer science in every public school. Gina is investing in every Rhode Island student so they can graduate high school and have the opportunity to go to college. Thanks to Gina, the PSAT and SAT are free in Rhode Island — and now 20 percent more high school students are taking college admission tests. But college isn’t for everyone, and everyone deserves a good job. High school students who don’t plan to go to college should graduate with the advanced skills they need to be successful and ready to compete for today’s in-demand jobs in healthcare, construction, computer science and more. Rhode Island, under Gina’s leadership, is leading the nation in expanding career and technical education opportunities. High schoolers are graduating with additional degrees, certifications and licensures, prepared to join the workforce immediately. Gina ended the state funding freeze on school repairs and construction. Now, she is leading the way to pass a once in a generation school funding package to fix, upgrade and build public schools throughout Rhode Island. There are priority needs in every district — students and teachers deserve schools that are warm, safe and dry. Higher Education and Job Training The top reason cited for not going to college is the the cost, so Gina led the effort to make Rhode Island one of just five states that offers tuition-free access to community college. Thanks to Gina, more than 1,500 additional Rhode Islanders enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) this year — a 43 percent increase. College isn’t for everyone, but everyone deserves a good job. So Gina created new career and technical training programs in and beyond high school. Rhode Islanders at every stage of their career can get the skills, degrees, certifications and licensures they need for today’s in-demand jobs in healthcare, construction, computer science and more. Rhode Islanders who complete training programs are matched with local employers in need of talent. Gina’s leadership is a win-win for Rhode Island employers and employees. Healthcare Under Gina’s leadership, 96 percent of Rhode Islanders have health insurance and our premiums on the state health exchange are the lowest in the country. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is working in Rhode Island. We have one of the highest insured rates in the U.S. When Washington tried to tear Obamacare apart, putting the lives of Rhode Islanders at risk, Gina spoke out and stopped them. Gina will not let Washington take away our health care. Gina is committed to combating the overdose crisis in Rhode Island — it remains our most urgent health crisis. Gina was one of the first Governors to appoint a dedicated senior adviser to focus full-time on the overdose crisis and our Overdose and Prevention Action Plan has been hailed as a national model. Under Gina’s leadership there has been a decline in overdose deaths in Rhode Island — but even one death is too many, we must keep going. Roads and Infrastructure Under Gina’s leadership, we have already fixed more than 75 bridges and roads, in every community in Rhode Island, as part of a 10-year, $4.7 billion investment in the state’s infrastructure. The construction industry is back at work repairing and rebuilding Rhode Island. Energy and the Environment Governor Gina Raimondo is making sure that every Rhode Island family can enjoy our bay, beaches, forests and wetlands for generations to come. In her first term, the Governor set an ambitious goal: Make Rhode Island’s energy system ten times cleaner by 2020. With less than two years to go, we’re well on our way to meeting our goal. Rhode Island is the only state in America with an offshore wind farm and this year Gina announced a new offshore wind project to provide enough energy to power over 200,000 Rhode Island homes and create more than 800 good jobs at every level. Green energy jobs have already increased by 66 percent under Gina’s leadership. Our state is ranked third in the nation for energy-efficiency programs and policies under Gina. Since 2014, the number of solar companies in Rhode Island has increased from six to 48 and homeowners and businesses across our state are benefiting from incentives to install solar. Gina has been an environmental leader in our country and region. She endorsed a more aggressive reduction in emissions through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a strong, regional approach to combat the climate crisis. When President Trump withdrew our nation from the Paris Climate Agreement, Gina entered Rhode Island into the United States Climate Alliance and committed to uphold greenhouse gas reduction goals despite D.C.’s action. And when the Trump administration threatened to open up Rhode Island’s coastline to offshore oil exploration and drilling, Gina went directly to Washington to protect the Ocean State. Gun Violence Prevention In 2017, Gina was proud to champion and sign The Protect Rhode Island Families Act, which prohibits gun possession by individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, and requires that all guns in their possession be turned in upon conviction. Gina was the first Governor in the country to sign a Red Flag Executive Order after the school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida — ordering police to take all available legal steps to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. She is with Rhode Islanders demanding a ban on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines like those used in Parkland, Las Vegas and Sandy Hook and she is championing legislation to make schools more secure, healthier and safer. Gina has never taken a dollar from the NRA and she never will.[24] | ” |
| —Gina Raimondo's 2018 campaign website[25] | ||
Campaign advertisements
The following is an example of an ad from Raimondo's 2018 election campaign.
Education
- LaSalle Academy (High School)
- B.A., in economics, Harvard University
- J.D., Yale Law School
- Ph.D., Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar)[16]
Political career
Rhode Island Governor (2015-2021)
Raimondo was first elected to the governor's office onNovember 4, 2014. She was sworn into office on January 6, 2015, replacingLincoln Chafee (D).[26]
Rhode Island Treasurer (2011-2015)
Raimondo won the state treasurer election onNovember 2, 2010 and assumed the office in 2011.
Presidential preference
2016 presidential endorsement
✓ Raimondo endorsedHillary Clinton for the Democratic primary in the 2016 U.S.presidential election.[27]
- See also:Endorsements for Hillary Clinton
Noteworthy events
Reported as possible 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee
- See also:Vice presidential candidates, 2024
Media reports discussed Raimondo as a possible 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate.[28] Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) selected Minnesota GovernorTim Walz (D) as her running mate on August 6, 2024.[29]
In2020, PresidentJoe Biden (D) announced Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) as his running mate six days before the start of theDemocratic National Convention (DNC). In 2016, bothHillary Clinton (D) and Trump announced their running mates three days before the DNC and RNC, respectively.
Stance on Syrian refugee resettlement
After the attacks in Paris, France, on November 13, 2015, many U.S. governors declared their support or opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement in their states. Raimondo expresseduncertainty on the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state ofRhode Island. She said:
| “ | We haven't received any requests to assist the settlement of refugees from Syria, so there's nothing to decide at the moment. If a request is made, we will coordinate closely with the White House and with the State Police. Anything Rhode Island may do in the future to support our nation's efforts to respond to this humanitarian crisis and help those in need must include robust background checks and security procedures to keep Rhode Islanders safe.[24] | ” |
| —Gov. Gina Raimondo[30] | ||
Pension system changes
In 2010, 49 percent of Rhode Island's pension system for state employees was funded, according toRoll Call. Raimondo said that less money was being spent on such things as school buses and libraries because an increasing amount of tax revenue was going toward the pension system. As state treasurer, she proposed a plan to remove annual cost-of-living increases from pensions and to incorporate 401(k)s into plans for current employees, arguing that the changes were necessary to prevent the pension system from running out of money in 25 years. The legislature passed Raimondo's proposed changes in 2011. A group of retired state employees sued the state over the changes, and the state and retirees reached a settlement in 2015.[31][32]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.
| Year | Office | Status | Contributions | Expenditures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Rhode Island Governor | Won | $2,113,090 | N/A** |
| 2010 | Rhode Island Treasurer | Won | $916,275 | N/A** |
| Grand total | $3,029,365 | N/A** | ||
| Sources:OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). | ||||
| ** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle | ||||
| Note: Totals above reflect only available data. | ||||
2016 Democratic National Convention
- Delegate to the 2016 DNC (click to expand)
- See also:Democratic National Convention, 2016
Gina Raimondo Democratic National Convention, 2016 Status: Superdelegate State: Rhode Island Supporting: Hillary Clinton Delegates to the DNC 2016 Calendar and delegate rules overview •Types of delegates •State election law and delegates •Superdelegates by state Raimondo wasa superdelegate to the2016 Democratic National Convention fromRhode Island.[33] Raimondo was one of nine superdelegates from Rhode Island. Superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention were not bound by the results of their state’s primary or caucus results to support a specific presidential candidate. Raimondo supportedHillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.[34]Clinton formally won the Democratic nomination for president onJuly 26, 2016.[35]
What is a superdelegate?
Superdelegates in 2016 were automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention, meaning that, unlike regular delegates, they were not elected to this position. Also unlike regular delegates, they were not required to pledge their support to any presidential candidate, and they were not bound by the results of their state's presidential primary election or caucus. In 2016, superdelegates included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic members of Congress, Democratic governors, and distinguished party leaders, including former presidents and vice presidents. All superdelegates were free to support any presidential candidate of their choosing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.[36]
Rhode Island primary results
Bernie Sanders won the Rhode Island Democratic primary. He beatHillary Clinton by roughly 12 points.Rhode Island Democratic Primary, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Delegates Bernie Sanders54.7% 66,993 13 Hillary Clinton 43.1% 52,749 11 Mark Steward 0.2% 236 0 Roque De La Fuente 0.1% 145 0 Other 1.9% 2,335 0 Totals 122,458 24 Source:The New York Times andRhode Island Board of Elections Delegate allocation
Rhode Island had 33 delegates at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Of this total, 24 werepledged delegates. National party rules stipulated how Democratic delegates in all states were allocated. Pledged delegates were allocated to a candidate in proportion to the votes he or she received in a state's primary or caucus. A candidate was eligible to receive a share of the state'spledged delegates if he or she won at least 15 percent of the votes cast in the primary or caucus. There were three types of pledged Democratic delegates: congressional district delegates, at-large delegates, and party leaders and elected officials (PLEOs). Congressional district delegates were allocated proportionally based on the primary or caucus results in a given district. At-large and PLEO delegates were allocated proportionally based on statewide primary results.[37][38]
Nine party leaders and elected officials served asunpledged delegates. These delegates were not required to adhere to the results of a state's primary or caucus.[37][39]
Personal
Note: Pleasecontact us if the personal information below requires an update.
While serving as governor, Raimondo lived in Providence with her husband and two children. Her father worked at the Bulova watch factory in Providence. This business closed when Raimondo was in sixth grade; when the plant closed, Raimondo's father retired early on a reduced pension and worked part-time jobs to support the family.[40]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Gina + Raimondo + Rhode + Island + Governor"
See also
- Governor of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2014
- Treasurer
- Rhode Island General Treasurer
External links
- Governor of Rhode Island official website
- Official campaign website
- Gov. Raimondo's Biography
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions 2010-2014
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1Biden-Harris Transition, "President-elect Biden Announces Additional Key Members of His Economic and Jobs Team," January 7, 2021
- ↑The New York Times, "Gina Raimondo, the governor of Rhode Island, is confirmed as commerce secretary," March 2, 2021
- ↑WPRI.com, "Raimondo wins US Senate confirmation, resigns as governor," March 2, 2021
- ↑Archives of Women's Political Communication, "Gina Raimondo," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑Forbes, "Here’s How Much Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Is Worth," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑The New York Times, "Pension Fund Draws Deep Divisions in R.I. Governor’s Race," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑Roll Call,"Gina Raimondo’s Pension Reform Draws Cheers and Jeers," April 25, 2016
- ↑Reuters, "Democrat Gina Raimondo becomes Rhode Island's first female governor," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑9.09.1The New York Times, "Biden Picks Rhode Island Governor for Commerce Secretary," January 7, 2021
- ↑Democratic Governors Association, "About," accessed February 6, 2019
- ↑11.011.1New York Times,"A Rising Star in the Biden Administration Faces a $100 Billion Test," November 26, 2022
- ↑Time, "How Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Became America’s Point Woman on AI," June 6, 2024
- ↑60 Minutes,"Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo: The 60 Minutes Interview," April 23, 2024
- ↑Foreignpolicy.com,"The Technocrat," August 16, 2024
- ↑Archives of Women's Political Communication, "Gina Raimondo," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑16.016.1Office of the Governor, "About the Governor," accessed February 6, 2019
- ↑Crunchbase, "Gina Raimondo," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑The New York Times, "Biden Picks Rhode Island Governor for Commerce Secretary," January 7, 2021
- ↑4President, "President-elect Joe Biden Announces Additional Key Members of His Economic and Jobs Team," January 7, 2021
- ↑The New York Times, "Gina Raimondo, the governor of Rhode Island, is confirmed as commerce secretary," March 2, 2021
- ↑The Associated Press, "RI Gov. Chafee open to running for 2nd term as Dem," December 14, 2012
- ↑Public Policy Polling, "Chafee unpopular; Rhode Island voters support gay marriage," January 31, 2013
- ↑Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgovrun - ↑24.024.1Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑Gina Raimondo's 2018 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed September 26, 2018
- ↑Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsworn - ↑Providence Journal, "Raimondo supporting Clinton for president in 2016," April 16, 2015
- ↑CBS News, "Kamala Harris vetting about a dozen possible VP candidates," July 24, 2024
- ↑X, "Harris on August 6, 2024," accessed August 6, 2024
- ↑Providence Journal, "Refugee Crisis: Two lawmakers ask R.I. Gov. Raimondo to block Syrian refugees," November 16, 2015
- ↑Roll Call, "Gina Raimondo's Pension Reform Draws Cheers and Jeers," April 25, 2016
- ↑Governing, "Gina's Way: Rhode Island's governor isn't a conventional Democrat. That could help—or hurt—her in November," July 2018
- ↑Ballotpedia's list of superdelegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention is based on our own research and lists provided by the Democratic National Committee to Vox.com inFebruary 2016 andMay 2016. If you think we made an error in identifying superdelegates, please send an email toeditor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑Five Thirty Eight, “The Endorsement Primary,” June 7, 2016
- ↑To find out which candidate a superdelegate supported, Ballotpedia sought out public statements from the superdelegate in other media outlets and on social media. If we were unable to find a public statement that clearly articulated which candidate the superdelegate supported at the national convention, we listed that superdelegate as "unknown." If you believe we made an error in identifying which candidate a superdelegate supported, please email us ateditor@ballotpedia.org.
- ↑Congressional Research Service, "The Presidential Nominating Process and the National Party Conventions, 2016: Frequently Asked Questions," December 30, 2015
- ↑37.037.1Democratic National Committee, "2016 Democratic National Convention Delegate/Alternate Allocation," updated February 19, 2016
- ↑The Green Papers, "2016 Democratic Convention," accessed May 7, 2021
- ↑Democratic National Committee's Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection, "Unpledged Delegates -- By State," May 27, 2016
- ↑New York Times, "The Little State With a Big Mess," October 22, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - | U.S. Secretary of Commerce 2021-2025 | Succeeded by Jeremy Pelter |
| Preceded by - | Governor of Rhode Island 2015-2021 | Succeeded by Daniel McKee (D) |
| Preceded by - | Rhode Island General Treasurer 2011-2015 | Succeeded by Seth Magaziner (D) |
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