There is only one sure thing that we know about next year’s elections in Rhode Island: The voters will choose a new attorney general because current Attorney General Peter Neronha is term-limited.
And the race to replace Neronha is quietly beginning to take shape.
We already know that State Representatives Robert Craven and Jason Knight are publicly flirting with entering the Democratic primary, but another intriguing name has taken a significant step toward entering the race.
Keith Hoffmann, a University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law graduate, left his job as Neronha’s chief of policy on Friday as he gears up to run as a Democrat.
Hoffmann said he isn’t ready to make a formal announcement and he hasn’t yet opened up a campaign account, but his decision to leave the attorney general’s office is a sign that he’s serious about joining what could be a crowded field.
If he does decide to run, Hoffmann’s campaign could receive an immediate boost with an endorsement from Neronha, who speaks glowingly of his former staffer.
The attorney general’s race is always going to be on the undercard when the governor’s race is the main event, but the result could be just as important.
Like him or not – and most Democrats do – Neronha has emerged as Rhode Island’s most consequential statewide elected official since Gina Raimondo left office in 2021. He is the most outspoken leader when it comes to fixing the state’s fragile health care system, and has sued President Trump’s administration dozens of times.
The health care crisis won’t be solved by the time Neronha leaves office, and Trump will still have two more years in the White House, so the next attorney general will inherit plenty of high-profile work, in addition to their own agenda.
It’s unclear who else might take a shot at running for the job, although former Providence City Council president John Igliozzi has long been eyeing the job. Another interesting name is Kim Ahern, who currently chairs the state Cannabis Control Commission.
This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you’d like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.