Aaron Guckian is a 49-year-old East Greenwich resident and Republican candidate for Governor in 2026. He previously served as a special assistant to former Governor Donald Carcieri (2003-2011) and has worked in various finance and development roles. He ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 2022, receiving 43% of the vote against Democrat Sabina Matos. Guckian holds a B.A. in music and education from Connecticut College and master's degrees in music and business administration. Prediction markets as of March 2026 showed him as the frontrunner for the Republican primary with 63-64% implied probability of winning.
Aaron Guckian was born and raised in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, graduating from East Greenwich High School. He holds a B.A. in music and education from Connecticut College and master's degrees in music (Rhode Island College) and MBA (Johnson and Wales University). His career includes development officer at Rhode Island Foundation, vice president at Bank Newport, officer at Washington Trust Company, and special assistant to Governor Donald Carcieri (2003-2011). He also serves as a coach for East Greenwich Basketball Association and East Greenwich Soccer Association. In 2022, he ran for Lieutenant Governor, receiving 43% of the vote against incumbent Democrat Sabina Matos. He officially launched his 2026 gubernatorial campaign on December 1, 2025, and subsequently stepped down from his position as executive director of the Rhode Island Dental Association.