Elaine Pelino holds a strong lead in the Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary on September 9, driven by recent polling among GOP primary voters that shows her ahead of Aaron Guckian by roughly 20 points, with many voters still undecided. Pelino, a political newcomer and former actress, has built visibility through active campaigning and appeals to conservative voters, while Guckian benefits from the state party endorsement and prior experience as lieutenant governor nominee and local official. A recent debate highlighted contrasts in their backgrounds and approaches. Other candidates including Robert Raimondo remain negligible factors, leaving the contest centered on Pelino’s polling edge versus Guckian’s institutional support as early voting approaches.