WPRO News

Don Carlson suspended his campaign for Congress Sunday, just over a week before the primary election, after reports that he was told not to reapply for a college teaching position five years ago.

On Friday, Carlson disputed a WPRI-TV report that he had broached a romantic relationship with a student in a text message. Carlson issued a statement saying he had “misinterpreted” a conversation with the student while he taught at Williams College in 2019.

On Sunday, Carlson suspended his campaign, saying in a statement, “this race has brought extraordinary stress on my family and close friends. That very high personal cost is more than I’m willing to pay for the honor of public service.”

Carlson, a venture capital investor and multimillionaire who largely funded his campaign, said he will support state Senator Sandra Cano in the race for the Democratic nomination in the Rhode Island 1st Congressional District primary September 5.

Cano, in turn, issued a news release said she did not seek Carlson’s support, but appreciate his “kind words about my candidacy.”

Cano’s statement went on to say, ““The news that has been reported thus far is concerning. I take neither the accusations nor the implications lightly. It is vital that we hold those who abuse their power to account.”