Guckian and Pelino trade accusations over resumes and radio comments in first TV debate

But the tension lingered and intensified over the course of the hourlong forum in the lobby of the Providence Performing Arts Center and livestreamed on both local broadcast stations.

Ideological differences have separated the Republicans since the race began. Guckian, 50, a former aide to Gov. Don Carcieri who also ran for lieutenant governor in 2022, launched his 2026 campaign as a “compassionate conservative” focused on affordability and government efficiency. Pelino, 72, a first-time candidate, proudly proclaims herself as the “only MAGA candidate” in the primary, promising to keep the left-leaning state from continuing down a path toward “socialism.”

Guckian won the GOP’s endorsement at its state convention in June, and has roughly 10 times more campaign cash than Pelino as of June 30. But Pelino had a 25-point lead over Guckian in a University of New Hampshire poll published June 30. 

One day after the unfavorable polling information for Guckian was released, he made disparaging comments about Pelino’s age and appearance in a WPRO interview.

Pelino on her campaign social media sites in a radio interview on WPRO. Pelino quickly denounced the comments as sexist and agist. A day later, Guckian called back in to radio host Tara Granahan’s show to apologize. But, as Pelino noted Wednesday, he had not yet apologized to her in person despite several close interactions since the comment.

“I ran into him a couple times, and I was waiting for him to say something,” Pelino said.

After Guckian tried to return the focus to policy as the topic voters most wanted to hear about, she added, “and they want to know if their governor has good moral character, too.”

Credentials in question

Pelino never got the “sorry” from Guckian she wanted. But she had more accusations ready to lob at her opponent, calling him a “flip-flopper” on conservative social issues like gun rights and abortion, and later, insinuating he exaggerated his role in Carcieri’s administration.

Guckian also took aim at Pelino’s resume, specifically a claim mentioned in her campaign social media post that she served as chief of staff for financial services giant Cantor Fitzgerald. The position was first reported by The Providence Journal. 

Pressed by Valicenti on this role, which is not mentioned on Pelino’s LinkedIn or other public credentials, Pelino flashed a badge from the company to the cameras.

“Just because you have a badge from Cantor Fitzgerald doesn’t mean you were chief of staff,” Guckian said.

Pelino, whose extensive resume also includes a bit role in “Terms of Endearment,” a stint as a Houston Oilers cheerleader and publisher of a women’s magazine, never directly responded to questions about her position at Cantor Fitzgerald.

“I had the highest security you could get,” she said, adding she also served as an executive assistant to firm founder B. Gerald Cantor, and worked on the firm’s charitable foundation.

Guckian, who admitted in a previous Ocean State Media interview that his job for Carcieri was primarily as a driver and special assistant, continued to emphasize his credentials in government and relationships with public and private sector leaders as top qualifications. Guckian most recently served as executive director of the Rhode Island Dental Association, stepping down when he launched his run for governor.

“You can’t teach experience,” Guckian said. 

He also pledged to use his party affiliation to secure more support from the Trump administration, including federal funding for satellite health services centers and to offset the lost revenue from the still-shuttered state truck toll program. Neither Guckian nor Pelino supported reactivating the gantries despite a federal appellate court decision in 2024 allowing Rhode Island to revive the truck toll program with some restrictions.

The two GOP rivals also espoused similar conservative talking points about increasing government efficiency and accountability while reducing state spending and taxes. But Guckian’s campaign hinges on a plan to work with unions and government employees to incentivize ways to trim unnecessary government spending, while Pelino said working with organized labor was not a top priority.

Immigration enforcement

Pelino took a stronger position on immigration, promising a first-day-in-office executive order that would clarify the state is not a sanctuary for undocumented residents — though that official designation does not exist now — and ordering state police to work with federal immigration agents to remove undocumented residents.

“A big thing that would help us is if we would take the illegals out of Rhode Island,” Pelino said, alleging proof, though not cited, that undocumented residents’ use of social service and welfare programs was edging out veterans and other documented recipients. Undocumented immigrants do not qualify for many safety net programs including Medicaid and federal food assistance.

Guckian stressed the importance of cracking down on “violent offenders” — who statistically are more likely to be U.S. citizens than undocumented residents — while also creating pathways to citizenship to support the workforce needs of major employers.

“You want a socialist state,” Pelino said of Guckian’s response, which she contrasted with the desires of conservative residents. “Rhode Island wants to be a capitalist, free enterprise state. We want a chance to buy a home, afford a home, buy a car we want, and not have all these crazy green energy standards.”

Yet, as Valicenti noted, even a Republican governor will have to work with a Democratic-led legislature, which controls the state pursestrings and major policy decisions.

Guckian acknowledged the need to work across the aisle, while staying within the bounds of the governor’s authority. Pelino’s take?

“If I can’t change it or fix it, I can actually podcast at night and expose what they’re doing,” she said of state lawmakers.

Back to the bridge 

Pelino also engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Valicenti during a segment devoted to the Washington Bridge. Valicenti, who frequently hosted former Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti on his own WPRO radio show, grilled Pelino after she remarked that she hoped Alviti was “in witness protection right now” to avoid being investigated by her proposed “department of accountability” for his role in the bridge debacle.

“I’m not offended by it, but I’m using your words,” Valicenti said. “You sort of bought the narrative that wasn’t the state’s fault. They hired inspectors and construction companies that failed them. Alviti is the state, failed him. Why do you want to pivot on him?”

Guckian also took issue with the witness protection comment, despite Pelino characterizing the remark as a joke.

“Oh, Aaron, grow up,” Pelino said to the 6-foot-7 rival beside her, later adding “Forgive me honey.”

“Now you’re calling me honey,” Guckian noted.

A second gubernatorial debate featuring Democratic candidates McKee and Helena Buonanno Foulkes was set to air at 7 p.m. on NBC10 and Coastal ABC, with both events also available on the station’s YouTube channel.

Early voting begins Aug. 20 ahead of a Sept. 9 primary.

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