Gina Raimondo
Gina Marie Raimondo (/rəˈmɒndoʊ/; born May 17, 1971) is an American businesswoman, lawyer, politician, and venture capitalist who has served as the 40th United States secretary of commerce since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the 75th governor of Rhode Island from 2015 to 2021, and was the first woman to serve in the role.[1][2]
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Raimondo began her career in venture capital following law school. In 2000, Raimondo co-founded Point Judith Capital, Rhode Island's first venture capital firm. She entered politics in 2010, when she successfully ran for the position of general treasurer of Rhode Island.[3] During her first year in office, Raimondo prioritized reforming Rhode Island's public employee pension system.[4]
In 2014, Raimondo was elected governor in a three-way contest with 41% of the vote.[5] While in office, Raimondo was elected to serve as vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) for the 2018 election cycle.[6] Reelected in 2018, Raimondo was tasked with overseeing the state's initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] In the 2020 presidential election, Raimondo served as co-chair of Michael Bloomberg's 2020 presidential campaign.[9]
Described as a "moderate technocrat" by The Washington Post,[10] Raimondo is often characterized as a centrist within her party.[11][12][13] Chosen to serve as Secretary of Commerce by President Joe Biden,[1] Raimondo played a leading role in negotiations for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021.[14]