Former RI State Rep. John Loughlin Ends Radio Show, Announces Run For Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor

John Loughlin, former State Representative and Saturday radio host of The John Loughlin Show on WPRO, Providence, announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island. He announced his candidacy as he ended his radio show Saturday.

Here is his announcement:

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for tuning in once again to The John Loughlin Show here on WPRO. As we wrap up today’s program, I have an important announcement to share with you all—one that’s bittersweet, but ignited by a deep sense of purpose and unyielding optimism for the future of our Ocean State.

After nearly 13-years behind this microphone—week after week, sharing your stories, debating the ideas that shape our lives, and forging connections with so many of you across Rhode Island—I’ve made the heart-wrenching decision to conclude The John Loughlin Show.

This will be my final broadcast as your host, effective today.

It’s been an incredible journey, one that has touched me in so many ways. I want to start by extending my deepest gratitude to the WPRO team, our steadfast advertisers, and above all, to you—the listeners who’ve become like family. Your calls, your emails, your raw passion for Rhode Island… they’ve inspired me every single Saturday, through triumphs and trials. You’ve shared your joys, your struggles, and your dreams with me, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

But why now? Why step away from this microphone that has been my voice – and yours – for so long?

It’s because I love this state. As a lifelong Rhode Islander, an Iraq War veteran, and as a former state representative, I’ve always felt a calling to serve.

In the legislature, I fought tooth and nail for fiscal responsibility, for our veterans who gave so much, and for the everyday heroes of Rhode Island—the families scraping by, the dreamers building futures.

Those experiences shaped me. Today, with a mix of humility and resolve, I’m proud to announce that I am running for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island.

I want to transform this office—not just occupy it, but redefine it as a true, unwavering voice for all the people – not just political insiders.

It’s time to shatter the status quo and confront the dismal state of governance here in Rhode Island with the urgency it demands.

We’ve all felt the pain, haven’t we? The quiet despair in a parent’s eyes when they can’t afford a home for their children, the exhaustion of a small business owner drowning in bills, the frustration of knowing our government could do better—but doesn’t.

There’s only about 47 affordable homes available for every 100 extremely low-income households, and nearly half of Providence renters—along with over a third of homeowners—are cost-burdened, pouring more than they can bear just to keep a roof over their heads.

When was the last time you heard about a young couple in their 20’s buying their first home? Especially for our young we must solve this problem and we must solve in now, not as part of some magic 30-year plan to with zero specifics that will somehow  raise everyone’s income, make us all better looking and solve all our problems.

Rhode Island is too expensive! So why is that?  For one, there’s the crushing weight of high energy costs, suffocating families and dreams alike.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Rhode Island’s average residential electricity rate is more than 26 cents per kilowatt-hour, while the national average is just over 17 cents per kilowatt-hour. That means monthly electric bills are far more than what most Americans pay

Our almost religious obsession with so-called green energy comes at a steep price paid on the backs of working Rhode Islanders and making Rhode Island one of the worst places to do business because of sky high energy costs. But that’s ok, because we’re saving the planet – right?

Never mind that Communist China, you know, the folks that actually manufacture the wind turbines?, produces more CO2 in a single month than Rhode Island does in an entire year.  That sound you hear is that entire industrialized country laughing as our jobs disappear and lights dim.

Through my recurring Small Business Saturday segments right here on this show—for nearly 13 years—I’ve sat with entrepreneurs, listened to their voices as they described the effects of regulations, skyrocketing energy costs, and taxes that feel like a noose.

CNBC ranks Rhode Island a dismal 46th in the nation for overall business climate, and a Wallet Hub survey says we’re dead last when it comes to the best states to start a business. These aren’t cold statistics; they’re shop owners closing doors forever, they’re jobs lost that leave families adrift, and they’re dreams deferred because our state is too darn expensive!

And Rhode Island HAS become too expensive!

Plain and simple. 90 years of just one party ideas, has atrophied our state to the point where our next really big idea will be our first. This can’t go on! And amid all this, the lack of meaningful oversight in our government erodes trust like a slow poison.

Rhode Island desperately needs an independent Office of Inspector General to root out waste, fraud, and corruption—something that could have possibly prevented disasters like the Washington Bridge fiasco, saving taxpayers millions and sparing us the chaos.

As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll fight with every ounce of my being to make sure this office, brings transparency and accountability and serves you. I love Rhode Island—it’s where I grew up, where I raised my family, where I returned from war with a renewed sense of duty. It’s where I fought in the legislature for what we believe in.

I can’t just sit by and watch as our state continues to sink. One party dominance of the legislature and all four general officers means we don’t get new ideas and instead of real leadership we get poorly recited talking points.

Rhode Island has some big problems to solve, because 90 years of one party rule has left us with a mess.

But, the good news, is we have a spectacular location, great people and tremendous potential. Together we are unstoppable, all it takes is leadership.

My commitment to you is unbreakable: to make Rhode Island a beacon where businesses can thrive, where innovation sparks hope, and where every resident—every child, every veteran, every dreamer—has a fair shot at the American promise.

If you’re ready for real change—if you truly want a better Rhode Island,—I invite you to join me on this journey. Learn more at Loughlin4RI.com.

Let’s work together to reclaim our state’s promise and to build a future we can all be proud of.

Thank you, again, for these incredible years on the air. You’ve been my inspiration, my strength. It’s been the honor of a lifetime. God bless you, and God bless the Ocean State.

Although we will meet again, this is John Loughlin, signing off.”