Rhode Island Dem Gov Gina Raimondo Faces Possible Primary Challenge From Her Predecessor Lincoln Chafee

Rhode Island Democrat Governor Gina Raimondo received some unwelcome news last night when her predecessor, Democrat Governor Lincoln Chafee, further fanned speculation that he may seek to challenge her in the state’s 2018 Democrat primary. Chafee has spent months feuding with Raimondo, openly criticizing her failed record in numerous radio and TV interviews. The news comes as Raimondo faces low approval ratings, bipartisan criticism of her handling of a scandal-plagued state agency, “anemic” job growth, and even talk of unseating her as the Democrat nominee by some of her big labor allies. As Raimondo desperately tries to boost her waning popularity through phony PR events while ignoring Rhode Island’s challenges, it‘s clear that she faces an increasingly tough road to re-election with even members of her own party seeking to oust her from office in 2018.

WPRI reports:

“Former Gov. Lincoln Chafee is still mulling whether to challenge his successor Gina Raimondo in the 2018 election, but he has made one decision – there would be a ‘D’ next to his name if he jumps into the race.

‘I’m a Democrat,’ Chafee told Eyewitness News in an interview Monday.

Therefore, Chafee said, if he decides to enter the governor’s race he would run against Raimondo, a first-term Democrat, in next September’s party primary. ‘That would be the plan,’ he said.”