EXCLUSIVE: Clay Pell Looks To Run For Governor in 2014

EXCLUSIVE: Clay Pell Looks To Run For Governor in 2014

According to multiple Democratic sources, Clay Pell, grandson of six-term Rhode Island Senator Claiborne Pell, is currently weighing a potential 2014 gubernatorial run in Rhode Island.

Pell, a White House staffer and Coast Guard Reserve Officer, married Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan in a ceremony at First Unitarian Church in Providence earlier this year, and recently was appointed by President Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education in April.

"Pell would start the race with good name identification, but it is very shallow. He would need to quickly establish himself," said Jennifer Duffy with The Cook Political Report. "What is his key issue? What is his vision for the state? Can he rally key Democratic constituencies like the unions around his candidacy? What is his geographic base?"

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While the election is just over a year away, the entrance of Pell would dramatically change the landscape in the race for Governor.

See Pell Family Legacy Slideshow BELOW

As the grandson of Senator Claiborne Pell, whose legacy includes the Pell Grant, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, Pell IV has followed in his grandfather's footsteps in both civil -- and military -- service.

Pell, a JAG who graduated first in his class from Coast Guard Direct Commission Officer School, has a JD from Georgetown University and graduated from Harvard University with high honors in Social Studies and a Citation in Modern Standard Arabic. 

Named to the 2011-2012 class of White House Fellows, Pell served as Director for Strategic Planning on the National Security Staff prior to his recent appointment to the Department of Education post.

Impact on Governor's Race

Pell would enter a field of candidates for Rhode Island Governor in 2014 that has some definition at this point, but more than its share of uncertainty still.  

Governor Lincoln Chafee has already declared he will not be seeking re-election. Former gubernatorial candidate and Moderate Party founder Ken Block has declared his candidacy, while speculation swirls as to whether he might decide to run as a Republican.

And while Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has announced the formation of an "exploratory committee", neither Providence Mayor Angel Taveras nor General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, both widely considered to be in consideration, have made any formal announcements at this time, although both have been polling in the field.

Duffy further weighed in on Pell's possible addition to the roster of those seeking Smith Hill's highest seat next year.  

Parsing Pell's Chances

"The possibility of Clay Pell entering the Democratic gubernatorial primary raises more questions for me than I have answers for. Certainly the Pell name has a great deal of political cachet in Rhode Island, but the Pell name hasn't been on a ballot since 1990 -- a political generation ago," said Duffy.

Duffy continued, "While Clay Pell has an impressive resume -- Coast Guard officer and White House Fellow -- he has not been tested on the campaign trail or proven his fundraising chops. I don't mean to suggest that he doesn't possess one or both, but no one really knows yet."

"Overall, if Pell was to run, it adds some uncertainty to an already very interesting primary," Duffy added.  

Field Taking Shape?

With the only declared candidates in Block and Todd Giroux, Pell's entrance could force the hand of the other potential candidates.  

"I have always believed that Raimondo would be the beneficiary of a three-way primary race if she is the only woman in the field. If she is giving serious consideration to running as an independent, Pell's entrance into the race should give her pause," said Duffy. "Absent Pell's candidacy, I have a long pro/con list of the implications of Raimondo running as an independent."

As for whether the Pell entrance would impact Taveras at all, Duffy did not see that being the case.

"The only compelling reason I can think of for Tavares to rethink running for Governor is if his natural constituency (i.e., public employees unions) backs Pell instead. Although Tavares hasn't announced, he is pretty far down the road in this contest," said Duffy. "There would have to be some very compelling evidence that he can't win a three-way contest for him to think about abandoning the race now.