Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes defeats incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in Rhode Island Democratic primary
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Helena Foulkes won the Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary, defeating incumbent Dan McKee amid criticism of the delayed Washington Bridge reconstruction, positioning her as the likely nominee for the November election.
Helena Foulkes, a former executive with CVS, secured the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island governor, defeating incumbent Dan McKee in a primary that highlighted concerns over the prolonged reconstruction of Providence's Washington Bridge. The bridge, which carries about 100,000 vehicles daily, was closed in December 2023 after serious structural issues were identified, and officials later determined it would need to be rebuilt, with completion now projected for November 2028.
Foulkes, who previously ran a close second to McKee in the 2020 race, emphasized unity in her victory speech, saying, > "Tonight, we may have won the Democratic primary for governor, but let me be clear about what happens next: you will have a governor for everyone. Because there is so much work that needs to be done, and we need to do this together."
McKee, conceding the race, pledged to cooperate with the nominee to ensure a smooth transition and a successful November campaign, noting, > "This is something that I think is difficult to deal with, but we just got to hold our heads high."
The primary outcome is viewed as a significant advantage for Foulkes in the upcoming general election, given Rhode Island's strong Democratic lean. The contest also saw other upsets, including a 27-year-old Democratic socialist winning the Providence mayoral primary.