A Republican primary in Rhode Island remained too close to call in the early hours of Thursday, with former NFL cheerleader and publisher Elaine Pelino facing off against Aaron Guckian, a former aide to ex-Governor Donald Carcieri, in a contest that highlighted a divide over experience and political style. Republicans are hoping the winner can end the state's history of backing Democrats, though the party faces long odds after incumbent Democrat Daniel McKee comfortably defeated his Republican rival in the last gubernatorial race.

Pelino, who has worked as a model, in media and as a cheerleader for the Houston Oilers before founding Tigress magazine in 2011, has campaigned on merit-based hiring, support for law enforcement, tougher immigration enforcement and school choice, casting herself as a political outsider. Guckian has taken a more policy-focused approach, pledging to overhaul the state's permitting system and rein in spending, pointing to Rhode Island's budget rising from $9.3 billion in 2019 to more than $14 billion by 2026 as federal Covid relief funding runs out. Whichever candidate wins the primary will face a difficult path in the general election on 3 November.