After considering a run for governor, Mayor Ken Hopkins has decided not to pursue the position this year. He told Tara Granahan on her news talk show Feb. 23 that his friendship with Governor Daniel McKee and not having the support from the Rhode Island GOP are the reasons for the decision. Granahan hosts a weekday show from 9 a.m. to noon on WPRO 99.7 FM and 630 AM.

“The bottom line is right now I’m the mayor of Cranston, I don’t have the support or the endorsement of the state committee and Dan McKee’s a friend of mine, so I’m not going to do it,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins issued a statement in early January saying he was looking at a potential run for governor.

A number of people approached him about running for governor, causing him to ask a small group of campaign advisors what the 2022 race looked like and if he could assemble a winning campaign in the months leading up to November.

Hopkins said Sue Cienki, Chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party never called to congratulate him for winning the mayoral seat nor did she approach him after his announcement of considering a run for governor.

“The head of the state of the Republican Party made a comment saying I’m just learning to be Mayor of Cranston,” Hopkins said.

When asked about his thoughts on the alleged statement, Hopkins said Cienki could have handled it differently.

At the time of publication, there has been no response from Cienki. Hopkins attended McKee’s announcement for re-election campaign as governor last Tuesday at igus in East Providence, saying that he was there to support his friend. Hopkins said McKee has been very good with the mayors, and that he gets a “high mark for communicating with cities and towns.”

While it is too early to say if he would endorse any of the candidates running, Hopkins told Granahan he would support Allan Fung in his endeavors. As of now, Hopkins is not considering a run for governor.

“I’ve made the decision that I want to finish what I started in Cranston,” he said.