Candidate · November 3, 2026
Jasjit S Gotra
On the ballot for Governor · Rhode Island
- issues with public statements
- 4
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | Governor · Rhode Island1 |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Independent1 |
| Status | Open seat — no incumbent is running for this seat. |
| Also on the ballot |
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§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Jasjit (Jay) Gotra came to the United States from Mumbai, settled in Agawam, Massachusetts, at age 15 and later made Rhode Island his home.2 He founded the company Alliance Security in 2003 and the solar company SmartGreen Solar in 2021.2
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running because of his four children, so that they inherit a better Rhode Island, and that he would govern for residents rather than for a party.2,
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitegovernorgotra.com3,
4 - Facebookfacebook.com/GovernorGotra3
- Instagraminstagram.com/governorgotra3
- YouTubeyoutube.com/@GovernorGotra3
- TikToktiktok.com/@GovernorGotra3
- LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/jgotra3
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says he would fully eliminate Rhode Island's tax on Social Security benefits within his first two years in office.3,
His campaign website says he would run state government like a business, cut waste, hold every agency to a budget and publish a plain-English state profit-and-loss statement, with no new taxes.5
Housing
His campaign website calls for cutting zoning barriers, automatically approving complete residential permit applications that are not decided within 90 days, and leasing state land to private developers, with a goal of 30,000 new homes by 2034.3,
His campaign website proposes a 3-to-1 state match on down payments, up to $10,000, for first-time buyers earning under 120% of the area median income, paid for with revenue from leasing state land.5
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left.
Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Campaign finance electronic reporting and tracking system (public site) — Rhode Island Board of Elections.6