Former CVS executive Helena Foulkes wins Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary over incumbent Dan McKee
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Helena Foulkes defeated Governor Dan McKee in the Democratic primary, becoming the first sitting governor to lose a primary in eight years.
Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, secured the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island governor by defeating incumbent Dan McKee, according to Associated Press projections. With about half of the votes counted, Foulkes led 62.3% to 37.7%.
The state, which has not elected a Republican to a statewide office since 2006, is expected to favor Foulkes in the November general election. The Republican primary will be contested between Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino.
McKee, who assumed the governorship after former Gov. Gina Raimondo joined the Biden administration and won a full term in 2022, has overseen the Washington Bridge project. The bridge, a key connection between Providence and its eastern suburbs, was closed in December 2023 after structural issues were found. The reconstruction cost has risen to $427 million, with completion now projected for November 2028, up from an original $368 million estimate and an anticipated August finish.
Foulkes, who has not previously held elected office, has longstanding political connections; her uncle and grandfather, Chris and Thomas Dodd, served as U.S. senators, and she received an endorsement from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a college roommate of her mother. She previously challenged McKee in the 2022 Democratic primary and was defeated.