Biden Formally Introduces RI Governor As Commerce Nominee

PROVIDENCE, RI — It's official: Gov. Gina Raimondo is headed to Washington, D.C. Friday afternoon, President-elect Joe Biden formally announced the remainder of his cabinet nominees in Delaware, which included the Rhode Island Democrat for the position of Secretary of Commerce.

"Thank you for this opportunity to serve the American people," Raimondo said at the announcement.

Biden described Raimondo as "the daughter of a working-class family, who knows what it's like to have her parents' jobs shipped overseas."

"She's put Rhode Island on the path to achieving 100 percent clean energy," Biden said, saying Raimondo will now use that knowledge to help bolster clean energy initiatives nationwide, as well as praised her firsthand knowledge of handling the coronavirus pandemic. "She knows what other governors are facing on the front lines ... I'm honored to have her in my cabinet."

In her speech, Raimondo told her personal story and connection to Rhode Island's economy, as the granddaughter of two Italian immigrants, one of whom helped found the state's meat cutter's union, as well as the daughter of a man who lost his manufacturing job after 28 years when his job moved overseas.

"We had to cut back to make it through," Raimondo said of her family's struggle following her father's sudden, forced retirement.

The governor went on to describe how her administration turned the Rhode Island economy around over the last six years, bringing the unemployment level to its lowest in years and empowering small businesses.

"Over the lat six years, we worked hard and we fought back," Raimondo said. "That's the same vision, the same faith in American workers that I see in the Build Back Better agenda ... I am ready to get to work."

If the cabinet is confirmed, Raimondo will be part of a record-breaking group, which breaks several barriers. It is the first cabinet to be equally comprised of male and female members, Biden said, as well as the first with a majority of members who are people of color.

Biden also shouted out another member of the Raimondo family who was in attendance — Gina's son Tommy, who was present at the formal announcement. The president-elect called Tommy his "buddy" and thanked him and his sister for supporting their mother in taking the new role.

Raimondo also thanked her husband Andy and her children, saying "we'll do this as a family."

The announcement explains the cancellation of Raimondo's weekly coronavirus news conference, which was initially scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday.

Read more:

• Rhode Island Leaders Applaud Raimondo For Commerce Nomination
• RI Governor Acknowledges Biden Commerce Nomination
• Biden Picks Gov. Gina Raimondo For Commerce Secretary: Report