Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently made her first public statement indicating that she is considering running for the 2028 presidential election, becoming one of the earliest potential Democratic candidates to declare her intentions.
During a dialogue at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics on Tuesday, April 29th, current Obama senior advisor and seasoned political strategist David Axelrod asked her if she was interested in running for president, to which Raimondo responded affirmatively.
She stated, “I care deeply about this country. Over the past 15 years, I have been fully devoted to public service. If I believe there is an important way to serve America again, including running for president, I would do it.” She also added that if there were other candidates with a better chance of winning at that time, she would be willing to support them instead, showing her willingness for teamwork and party unity.
Raimondo also expressed concern about the current challenges facing the Democratic Party. She pointed out that the party needs to address criticisms from the public regarding its “elitism, disconnect from the people, and lack of cultural awareness.” She admitted, “There is still much to be done. I don’t know how many election cycles it will take to completely change this perception.”
With a strong political background, Raimondo was elected twice as Governor of Rhode Island, becoming the first female governor in the state’s history. In 2021, she was appointed as the Secretary of Commerce by President Biden, where she spearheaded the development and promotion of the U.S. CHIPS Act to revitalize the domestic semiconductor manufacturing industry and reduce reliance on the Chinese supply chain.
During the 2020 presidential election, Raimondo supported former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s candidacy and served as the co-national campaign chair. She was also included in the Biden team’s list of potential vice presidential candidates.
In January 2025, after leaving the Biden administration, Raimondo joined the Council on Foreign Relations as a distinguished researcher focusing on global economic and national security issues.