Rhode Island Governor Faces Rematch in Democratic Primary
Rhode Island's governor faces a tough primary rematch against Helena Foulkes, with the Washington Bridge project a key issue.
Providence, RI — Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is seeking to avoid becoming the first incumbent governor in the United States to lose a primary election since 2018. He faces a Democratic primary challenge on Wednesday from Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive he narrowly defeated four years ago.
Foulkes is capitalizing on public frustration over the replacement of the Washington Bridge, a critical link on Interstate 195 that was abruptly closed in 2023 due to safety concerns. The project has taken longer than initially estimated, causing significant traffic disruptions for daily commuters. Foulkes argues the situation reflects a broader failure of state government to serve ordinary residents.
McKee counters that his administration's priority was public safety and that the new bridge will be completed by 2028. He has also sought to portray Foulkes as an out-of-touch elite, pointing to her tenure at CVS during the opioid crisis. Foulkes has defended her record, noting that CVS reduced its opioid distribution by 40% while she led the pharmacy division.
Incumbent governors rarely lose primaries. The last such loss in Rhode Island was in 1994. Nationally, the most recent was in Kansas in 2018. McKee has served as governor since 2021, when he succeeded Gina Raimondo.
On the Republican side, Aaron Guckian, a state trade association executive, faces first-time candidate Elaine Pelino. The state party has endorsed Guckian.
Rhode Island's primary is being held on a Wednesday, a change from the usual Tuesday, to avoid a conflict with Labor Day.