- Helena Foulkes won the Democratic primary for Rhode Island governor, unseating incumbent Gov. Dan McKee, and becoming the first challenger in 32 years to defeat an incumbent seeking renomination.
- Foulkes ran a hard-fought and highly negative campaign, outspending McKee by millions of dollars.
- McKee had previously won the 2022 primary with just 33% of the vote, a modern low, and faced criticism for his handling of the Washington Bridge crisis.
- McKee's handling of the Washington Bridge crisis drew significant voter discontent, with only 18% of voters approving of his response according to a recent poll.
- The Washington Bridge closure, due to major structural problems, has been a significant issue for McKee's campaign, with 63% of likely voters disapproving of his handling of the situation.
Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, has unseated Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee in a historic Democratic primary, marking the first time in 32 years an incumbent has lost. Foulkes, 61, outspent McKee by a 3-to-1 margin, reflecting significant voter discontent with his administration.1
Foulkes, who has never held elected office, comes from a prominent political family and previously served as president of CVS's retail pharmacy division. Her campaign focused on economic growth and infrastructure improvements, criticizing McKee's handling of the Washington Bridge crisis, which saw only 18% of voters approving his response.35
McKee, 75, faced backlash for his management of the bridge closure, which was necessitated by structural issues. Public polling indicated he was trailing by double digits leading up to the primary, with 63% of likely voters disapproving of his handling of the situation. This primary was a rematch of 2022, where Foulkes narrowly lost to McKee, who had replaced former Governor Gina Raimondo.
Foulkes's victory signals a shift in Rhode Island politics, as she becomes the first challenger to defeat an incumbent governor in a primary since Bruce Sundlun in 1994. With the general election approaching, she is positioned as a frontrunner against the Republican nominee and three independents, including businessman Ken Block.
“Foulkes, 61, has never held elected office but is the granddaughter of Connecticut U.S. Sen. Thomas Dodd, and her late mother was a close friend of Nancy Pelosi. She outspent McKee on airwaves by a 3-to-1 margin, according to AdImpact, and will be the heavy favorite in November against the Republican nominee and independents.”
