All articles tagged with #helena foulkes
Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee became the first U.S. governor in eight years to lose a primary, defeated by Helena Foulkes amid criticism of the Washington Bridge reconstruction that has faced delays and cost overruns; Foulkes’ campaign leaned into the project for the win as McKee’s handling of the bridge crisis contributed to his defeat.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee lost his Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes, becoming the first sitting governor to lose a primary since 1994, amid public anger over the Washington Bridge repairs that began in 2023 and are now delayed until 2028. Foulkes pledged unity and to push forward on the work, while McKee conceded and backed her for November. The vote also featured a progressive upset in Providence, where David Morales defeated mayor Brett Smiley.
Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in Rhode Island's Democratic primary, aided by a three-to-one spending edge and polls showing McKee’s unpopularity over the Washington Bridge closure; the loss makes McKee the first sitting governor to lose a primary in eight years and positions Foulkes as the front-runner in a blue Rhode Island.
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.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is in a narrow Democratic primary against Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive. McKee has attacked Foulkes as an out-of-touch corporate candidate and touted labor endorsements, while Foulkes defends CVS’s record, including opioid-related settlements and her leadership there. The contest highlights party divisions, with McKee carrying some labor support and Foulkes seeking to broaden her base, including ties to McKee’s hometown. The race features contrasting visions of leadership and accountability in a state where neither the state Democratic Party nor the AFL‑CIO endorsed a candidate.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee faces a high-stakes Democratic primary against Helena Foulkes, with the Washington Bridge traffic crisis becoming a symbol of voter frustration over costs and government responsiveness. The rematch from 2022 pits McKee’s incumbency record against Foulkes’ populist platform amid a broader anti-incumbent mood shaping the 2026 elections, including labor support shifts and debates over housing, energy, and safety.