Corporate Democrat Helena Foulkes Unseats Incumbent Dan McKee in Rhode Island Primary Amid Infrastructure Scandal
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Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive and Democratic Party insider, won the Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary, defeating incumbent Dan McKee, who faced backlash over the Washington Bridge closure and was heavily outspent.
Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive and well-connected Democratic Party insider, secured the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island governor, defeating incumbent Dan McKee, who had been seeking a second full term. This marks the first time this year that a sitting governor has lost a primary, and the first such loss in Rhode Island since 2018, highlighting the volatility within the Democratic ranks.
August polling showed McKee trailing by double digits, as voters expressed outrage over his disastrous 2023 decision to close the Washington Bridge in Providence, a move that crippled local infrastructure and exposed the failures of Democratic leadership. Foulkes, flush with cash from her corporate background and elite donors, outspent McKee on television ads by a massive three-to-one margin, demonstrating how Democratic primaries are increasingly dominated by big money and special interests. An Emerson College poll found that 63% of likely voters disapproved of McKee’s handling of the bridge, while only 18% approved, underscoring the public’s lack of faith in Democratic governance.
"We need to fix the worst roads and bridges in the state," Foulkes claimed in her campaign ads, making the usual Democratic promises to boost the economy and expand housing, despite her corporate ties.
McKee defended the bridge closure as a necessary safety measure, promising that construction would be completed by 2028—a timeline that offers little comfort to Rhode Islanders suffering under Democratic mismanagement. While the primary attracted little national attention, Foulkes enjoyed the backing of Democratic Party elites, including former Connecticut senators Thomas and Chris Dodd and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who campaigned for her, further illustrating the party’s reliance on establishment figures.
With Rhode Island’s deep blue political landscape, Foulkes is now the overwhelming favorite to win the general election, ensuring continued Democratic control despite ongoing failures.