Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee loses Democratic primary to businesswoman Helena Foulkes
McKee fell after voters soured on his handling of the Washington Bridge, with 63% disapproving in an August Emerson College poll.
- NBC News projected on Thursday that former CVS executive Helena Foulkes defeated incumbent Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in the Democratic primary, with public polling showing McKee trailing by double digits heading into Tuesday's vote.
- Voter dissatisfaction over the Washington Bridge closure in Providence served as a primary catalyst for the incumbent's defeat; an August Emerson College poll found 63% of likely voters disapproved of McKee's handling of the project.
- According to ad-tracking firm AdImpact, Foulkes outspent McKee by a 3-to-1 margin on the airwaves, while emphasizing in campaign ads that the state had "the worst roads and bridges."
- Supported by high-profile Democrats including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and relatives Thomas Dodd and Chris Dodd, Foulkes is now the heavy favorite in the general election for the blue state.
- McKee becomes the first governor to fall in a primary this year, joining a broader anti-incumbent wave that has seen 11 House members lose primaries in 2026, a rarity compared to the 2018 defeat of Kansas Republican Jeff Colyer.
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Huron Daily Tribune
Ckpg TodayHelena Foulkes defeats Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in Democratic primary
Helena Foulkes has defeated Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in the state’s Democratic primary, ending his bid for a second full term. McKee’s defeat marks the first time in more than 30 years that a...
Rhode Island governor ousted in Democratic primary
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is projected to lose his reelection bid to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island, according to Decision Desk HQ. (DDHQ). Foulkes led McKee by nearly 25 percentage points — 62 percent to nearly 38 percent — per DDHQ. It’s the second time the pair…
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee loses Democratic primary to businesswoman Helena Foulkes
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has lost his Democratic primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, NBC News projects, after facing a significant spending disadvantage and voter discontent with his tenure.
Helena Foulkes will defeat Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, CNN projects, marking a rare incumbent primary loss
By David Wright, CNN (CNN) — Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes will win the Democratic nomination for governor of Rhode Island, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, defeating incumbent Gov. Dan McKee as she capitalized on voter frustration over the partial closure of a key bridge and the ensuing traffic chaos. Used by tens of thousands of
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