Republican Robert Raimondo, a distant relative of the former governor, said he recently moved back to Rhode Island.

Loughlin, who narrowly lost a 2010 bid for Congress, joins a growing field of Democrats challenging incumbent Sabina Matos

E AST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Elaine Pelino, a former actress and model, is running for governor of Rhode Island next year as a Republican. Pelino, a Smithfield resident, told 12 News she launched her campaign in July and is running “as a common-sense candidate.”