On October 24 a candidate announced his campaign for Lieutenant Governor, but the race for that slot is more than a contest for a statewide office. Rhode Island State Representative Aaron Regunberg declared his candidacy, and along with it, an agenda taken out of the progressive Democrats’ handbook. The incumbent, Daniel McKee, announced his bid for reelection for reelection on November 7. McKee is a more moderate candidate who is more in the tradition of a John Kennedy democrat. The gulf between the two men is wide and the contest is symbolic of the fight for the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.

Representative Aaron Regunberg advocates for health care as a basic human right. He embraces efforts to mitigate climate change and is steadfast in protecting women's right to abortion. He was instrumental in the passage of legislation which will give workers at companies with at least 18 employees 3 paid sick days starting in 2018. The number will increase incrementally to five days in 2020. Other successful legislation which he sponsored includes a clean energy growth initiative and an increase in the minimum wage.

One area where he disagrees with the efforts of Lt. Governor McKee is the expansion of charter schools. As Mayor of Cumberland, McKee was a staunch advocate for public charter schools and he launched a mayoral academy which has become one of the most successful charter schools in the state. For years he has had a tense relationship with the teacher unions because of his support for charters. He often speaks about the need to help small businesses in Rhode Island and faulted Regunberg's original bill which would have included smaller businesses with less than 18 employees. The Lieutenant Governor considers himself the voice of small businesses in Rhode Island. At his announcement, his credentials to step into the gubernatorial spot were highlighted in contrast to the alleged inexperience of his opponent.

Ironically, both candidates have sought to embellish the role of the Lieutenant Governor as the mouthpiece for a constituency he espouses. It wasn’t that long ago that the late Robert Healey ran his campaign for the post on the platform that it should be abolished and that the office's million dollar budget should be reduced to $1 since the Lieutenant Governor was a person “in waiting” for something to happen with the governor without any other constitutional duties.

Both the incumbent and challenger have no desire to eliminate the office budget. Mr. Regunberg says that his background as a community organizer will help him bring the voices of more people into state government and to fight for a variety of progressive causes. Democrats like Mr. McKee and Speaker Nick Mattiello are centrists who try not to tip the balance between the poor and other constituents.

One thing is for sure. This race will put front and center the very direction of the Democratic Party. In effect, the Bernie Sanders wing of the party will be jostling with the Hillary Clinton branch. It will be interesting to note to what degree Mr. McKee will woo the Progressive branch. If he moves left of center Mr. Regunberg would have accomplished quite a feat in any event. Yet, he may take the whole prize.

Arlene Violet is an attorney and former Rhode Island Attorney General.