Bridge Troubles Put Rhode Island Governor McKee on Primary Defense

Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee faces a tough primary challenge from Helena Foulkes, driven by voter frustration over the Washington Bridge repairs and rising costs/delays. An August UNH poll shows McKee at 24% approval among Democrats, while Foulkes leads 56%–18%. The bridge project, announced in 2023 with a 2024 target but now extended to 2028 and $59 million more costly, has become a symbol of perceived governance failures. McKee defends the decisions, but opponents argue the project illustrates mismanagement as incumbents rarely lose primaries; the race centers on infrastructure and its political fallout.