Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee loses Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes

9/10/2026

Rhode Island primary: Helena Foulkes ousts Gov. Dan McKee in a rematch See how bridge backlash and campaign attacks reshaped the race and what comes next

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee lost the Democratic primary on Wednesday to businesswoman Helena Foulkes, becoming the first sitting governor since 2018 to lose a party nomination. Foulkes, a former CVS executive and Costco board member, won a rematch of the 2022 primary, when McKee narrowly defeated her. McKee first became governor in 2021 after Gina Raimondo left office to join the Biden administration as commerce secretary. He later won a full term in 2022. The campaign focused on McKee’s record in office, including criticism over the state’s handling of the Washington Bridge closure and reconstruction. McKee, in turn, attacked Foulkes’ corporate background and her leadership at CVS during the opioid crisis. Foulkes will now move on to the November general election, where she will face the winner of the Republican primary, along with several independent candidates.