R.I. Rep. Regunberg, considering run for state office, to announce plans Tuesday

Oct. 19--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The starting gun has apparently sounded in the 2018 race for lieutenant governor.

State Rep. Aaron Regunberg -- a Providence Democrat -- has put the media on notice that he will be announcing his future political plans "alongside friends, supporters and community leaders on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 12 p.m. at the Aspray Boat House in Warwick."

Warwick is a long ways from the Mount Hope neighborhood in Providence where Regunberg lives with his wife, Katie, and represents in the legislature.

Regunberg, 27, has not yet officially confirmed his intent to run for lieutenant governor, a job currently held by Democrat -- and former Cumberland mayor -- Dan McKee. But he has left no doubt that he has been seriously considering a run for statewide office, and this one in particular.

McKee has reportedly been weighing his own choices: run for reelection to a second-term as lieutenant governor or mount a Democratic primary challenge to Governor Gina Raimondo. But the low-key McKee has not, at this point, publicly confirmed his potential interest in running for the top job.

McKee has pledged to disclose his own political plans on Nov. 7 .

Regunberg was first elected to his current House District 4 seat in 2014. His political biography notes that he was the lead sponsor of "successful legislation to raise Rhode Islanders' wages, expand renewable energy programs, and guarantee earned sick time to over 100,000 working families in our state."

Here are a few more highlights of the political biography he provided the media on Wednesday:

"In the most recent legislative session Regunberg helped organize a coalition of representatives around the Fair Shot Agenda, and has been a consistent voice for universal healthcare, reproductive rights, climate action and resistance to the Trump agenda.

"He is also co-founder of the Providence Student Union, a youth leadership and advocacy organization that works to empower students in Providence to win positive changes in public school policy."

While Regunberg is sometimes described as a leader of the progressive bloc in the House, McKee is viewed as a moderate.

In the days leading up to last week's short-lived contest for Rhode Island's representative on the Democratic National Committee between Sen. Josh Miller and Joseph Paolino, a real-estate developer and former Providence mayor, a spokesman for McKee said:

"The lieutenant governor shares the belief of national Democrat leadership that the party has struggled to connect with voters on the issue of jobs and the economy" and needs a delegate who will convey the needs of "the small business sector ... which represents roughly 80 percent of our economy ... Based on this, he will support the bid of Joseph Paolino Jr. "

Amid rumors of a move to get the state party to commit to a litmus test for candidates, the spokesman said: "While the lieutenant governor is pro-choice, he also believes that the majority of Rhode Islanders do not want the choice question to be a single-issue litmus test for officeholders. A democratic government must be able to respect differing views on all issues if it is to represent all citizens."

McKee has not responded directly to queries about the level of his interest in running for governor. When asked, his political consultant Mike Trainor said: "He wants to continue to serve Rhode Island in a way that will allow him to help advance Rhode Island by improving our business climate, creating jobs, improving public education for all students and helping our municipalities to better serve the taxpayer. On Nov. 7th, he will announce just how he will pursue this agenda."

-- [email protected]

(401) 277-7078

On Twitter: @kathyprojo

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