UPDATE: Asst. Charlestown Solicitor Bob Craven ends campaign for Attorney General after only four days.

Former Assistant Atty Gen. Keith Hoffman becomes second official candidate to replace term-limited Peter Neronha

By Will Collette

UPDATE: After his disastrous campaign launch, described below, Bob Craven announced today (Thursday) that he was ending his campaign for Attorney General. In a statement described by WPRI "The 69-year-old said he was making the decision “because my family — and my sobriety — must come first,” and out of a “genuine desire to protect my family from further pain.”

WPRI described additional legal problems in Craven's past. Craven's statement referred to the 2001 domestic violence charge brought against him:

“I spent yesterday with my family, discussing the events of that night more than 20 years ago,” he said. “Understandably, it is something we rarely talk about — it was the darkest moment of my life, and my family’s. As we spoke, I learned more details about my conduct that night — details that had been lost in the fog of too much alcohol. I do not say that by way of excuse, but by way of explanation.”

Incumbent RI Attorney General Peter Neronha is term-limited from running for another term in 2026. A likely three-way race for the Democratic nomination to become his successor is underway.

Neronha has anointed his former Assistant AG Keith Hoffman as the best person to continue Neronha's on-going battle with the Trump regime over assaults on civil rights and Draconian budget cuts. 

Hoffman had a smooth launch that featured Neronha's support. This is in sharp contrast to Bob Craven's day one gaffe where he claimed to have received the endorsement of the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence in 2024. The Coalition asserts he did not get their endorsement. 

RICADV is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and as their director Brianna Henries said:

“We do not make political endorsements. Nor do we engage in any electioneering or political campaign matters involving any candidates for public office.” 

Craven acknowledged his error, as reported by WPRI:

“The inclusion of an endorsement by the Coalition Against Domestic Violence was an honest mistake due in part to similarities with the name of another advocacy group,” he said, an apparent reference to the R.I. Coalition Against Gun Violence.

WPRI Target 12 reporters tied this gaffe to Craven's previous legal problems:

"Family Court records reviewed by Target 12 confirm Craven was arrested by North Kingstown police on Aug. 31, 2001. The records show Craven was “removed” from the home and a judge later granted a restraining order sought by his estranged wife. (They later reconciled.)

"While Craven’s campaign told The Boston Globe that the case was later dismissed, court records for the matter are no longer available, likely because the records were expunged.

"The Globe reported that Craven was involved in a second incident where he was charged with simple assault, but Craven said it did not involve his wife. That case, too, is no longer available in court records."

In my opinion, this is obviously a bad way to start a campaign, and it could nip Craven's ambitions in the bud. However, it's a year until the 2026 election and almost a year away from the Democratic primary. Given voters' short attention spans, maybe it's better to screw up early than closer to election day. That assumes that there will be no further mention of Craven's gaffe or his past legal problems.