Pell Says Meetings with Top Democrats Is "Just Catching Up...Not Planning to Run..."

Pell Says Meetings with Top Democrats Is "Just Catching Up...Not Planning to Run..."

Clay Pell, who ran for the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island Governor in 2014, has been in the state meeting with top Democrats including Governor Dan McKee about a potential run for the second congression district, GoLocal has learned.

But, Pell says the meetings are about "catching up."

“I had a personal meeting with the Governor, whom I have known for many years,” said Pell. “[I am] just catching up, nothing to do with asking for support.”

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“I am not planning to run for Congress,” said Pell.

Pell finished third in the primary battle against Gina Raimondo and Angel Taveras.

He graduated from Harvard and Georgetown Law School before serving in the U.S. Coast Guard and then as a White House Fellow from 2011 to 2012. 

He is the grandson of the late U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell.

Since leaving politics, Stanford University awarded Pell the prestigious Sloan Fellowship at its Graduate School of Business in 2020.

He also made headlines relating to his divorce from Olympian Michelle Kwan.

In December, President Joe Biden nominated Kwan to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Belize.

In February 2021, Pell has announced he had remarried. 

“On this snowy day, I would like to share the very happy news that Youna Kim and I are married,” said Pell. “Friends in high school and now looking forward to many wonderful years as husband and wife. Apologies for the virtual notice - we are still social distancing."

Pell noted the couple looks forward to celebrating the marriage with friends and family in the future. 

This story was updated 2/2/22 at 5:48 AM