Foulkes Victorious Over McKee
In Rhode Island’s Sept. 9th primaries, Governor Dan McKee (Democrat) found himself on the losing end of the primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes. Foulkes cruised to victory with 62.4% while McKee gained just 37.6% of the vote.
McKee, 75, took over as Governor in 2021 after Gina Raimondo joined the Joe Biden administration as the Secretary of Commerce. However, many Rhode Islanders did not approve of McKee’s tenure. In a UNH poll reported on June 30th, McKee’s approval rating was at 19%, and his disapproval was at 77%.
McKee’s defeat has been attributed in large part due to the crisis surrounding the Washington Bridge in Providence. The bridge has seen one of its spans closed since December 2023, which appeared to draw the ire of many Rhode Island voters. Earlier this year, Mckee released a schedule for the bridge’s construction benchmarks. This schedule does not show the bridge reopening until November of 2028.
A five-year closing of a major bridge seems to have been the final nail in the coffin for Mckee. Due to his loss, the Democrats will move forward with Foulkes. In November, Foulkes will be facing off against development officer Aaron Guckian for the republicans and rally driver Ken Block as an independent.
