Attorney General of Rhode Island · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island attorney general race?
Kim Ahern has the strongest record in the Rhode Island attorney general race. Kim Ahern scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Kim Ahern's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Gordon (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Kim Ahern
58 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 50
Republican
Alan Gordon
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 25
- Qualifications
- 44
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Kim Ahern
- On the record2026-08-18
A primary ad showed a plaque from Attorney General Neronha, who had endorsed her rival; Neronha said there should be no misunderstanding about his endorsement, and her campaign said no endorsement was implied.
- On the record2023
As first Cannabis Control Commission chair (2023 to October 2025) oversaw the first adult-use rules; no retail licenses were issued in her tenure and the rules drew litigation.
Sources: Providence Journal, via Yahoo, Oct. 21, 2025, Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, Aug. 12, 2026
- On the record2017
In 2017 a Superior Court judge declared a mistrial in the Andrew Jett murder case, faulting her and another prosecutor over failures to disclose evidence to the defense.
- Credit
Served nine years as a special assistant attorney general under three attorneys general, then as deputy counsel to Gov. Raimondo and deputy chief of staff to Gov. McKee.
Alan Gordon
- Mark against2018-10-23
At a 2018 attorney general forum at North Kingstown High School he spelled out a racial slur before students to object to the word marijuana, then left the stage.
Sources: WPRI, Oct. 2018, Reason, Oct. 24, 2018
- Unresolved2018-10-04
Charged in October 2018 with possession with intent to deliver about 48 pounds of marijuana and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; the matter was referred to a grand jury.
Where it stands: Final outcome not found in opened sources; hand check court records.
Sources: Associated Press, via FOX 5 DC, Oct. 5, 2018, The Public's Radio, Oct. 4, 2018
- On the record2026-09-15
Proposed prosecuting men whose consensual sex causes an unwanted pregnancy under existing assault statutes; he said he ran the legal analysis through three AI programs.
- On the record2026-09-15
His campaign biography says he holds a 2012 LL.B. from the University of Buckingham and has never been admitted to the Rhode Island Bar.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Kim Ahern. Took part in at least six primary debates and forums, including the Aug. 11, 2026 WPRI televised debate, and in-studio interviews. No general election debate with Alan Gordon found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Kim Ahern. Prosecutor, gubernatorial aide and commission chair with no censure, reprimand or conduct finding. A judge faulted her and a co-prosecutor over evidence disclosure in a 2017 mistrial (see Record).
Source: Boston Globe, Sept. 9, 2026
Alan Gordon. In a 2018 attorney general forum at North Kingstown High School he spelled out a racial slur in front of students and walked off the stage, per WPRI, Patch and Reason (R5).
Sources: WPRI, Oct. 2018, Patch, Oct. 24, 2018
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Kim Ahern. Sworn special assistant attorney general for nine years and Cannabis Control Commission chair (2023 to 2025); no finding of misuse of office.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Kim Ahern. Nine years as a state prosecutor, deputy counsel to Gov. Raimondo, deputy chief of staff to Gov. McKee and first chair of the Cannabis Control Commission.
Alan Gordon. Holds an English LL.B. and is a canon of a cannabis church; has never held office and has not been admitted to the Rhode Island Bar.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Kim Ahern. Specific plan within the office's powers for a reproductive justice unit using litigation, public education, a legal helpline and coordination with advocates.
Alan Gordon. Published a 19-page plan to prosecute men for unwanted pregnancies under existing assault statutes; Rhode Island Current notes neither statute names pregnancy as bodily harm.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Kim Ahern. Several channels: televised debates and forums, an in-studio WPRI interview and an Ocean State Media one-on-one interview. Campaign site blocked automated access; Ballotpedia survey not checked.
Sources: WPRI, via MSN, Oct. 6, 2026, Rhode Island Current, via Yahoo, Aug. 12, 2026
Alan Gordon. Two channels: a published policy plan with a press conference, and an in-studio WPRI interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: WPRI, via MSN, Oct. 2, 2026, Ballotpedia, Alan Gordon
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Kim Ahern. Resident of Providence. Years of residence and in-state donor share not established.
Source: Boston Globe, Sept. 9, 2026
Alan Gordon. Resident of West Greenwich. Years of residence not established.
Source: Boston Globe, Sept. 9, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Kim Ahern. First chair of the three-member Cannabis Control Commission (2023 to 2025), which adopted the first adult-use rules but issued no retail licenses during her tenure.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Kim Ahern. As commission chair, oversaw the state's first adult-use cannabis regulations and social equity certification; the 24 new retail licenses the 2022 law envisioned were not issued.
Sources: Providence Journal, via Yahoo, Oct. 21, 2025, Boston Globe, Sept. 9, 2026
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Kim Ahern. No public record found.
Alan Gordon. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Rhode Island attorney general race?
Kim Ahern has the strongest record in the Rhode Island attorney general race. Kim Ahern scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Kim Ahern's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Gordon (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Rhode Island attorney general race in 2026?
Kim Ahern (Democratic), Alan Gordon (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Kim Ahern a good candidate for Attorney General?
Kim Ahern scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Alan Gordon a good candidate for Attorney General?
Alan Gordon has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Rhode Island race scored, and the Rhode Island 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.