Rhode Island Governor McKee Defeated in Democrat Primary

In a surprising turn of events, former CVS executive Helena Foulkes won the Democrat primary against Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, marking the first time in eight years that an incumbent U.S. governor has lost in a primary election.

This primary was reminiscent of the 2022 race when Foulkes narrowly lost to McKee, who took office in 2021 after Governor Gina Raimondo resigned to join President Joe Biden’s cabinet.

McKee, who had previously served as the mayor of Cumberland and as lieutenant governor for two terms, managed to secure his first full term in 2022, narrowly beating a competitive field that included Foulkes.

However, his campaign in 2026 faced heavy criticism, largely due to his controversial decision made in 2023 to close the Washington Bridge, a crucial commuter route in Providence. The decision was followed by the discovery of significant structural issues that raised concerns about the bridge’s safety, leading to its ongoing construction three years later and sparking widespread discontent across the state.

On the flip side, Foulkes focused her campaign on addressing infrastructure problems, asserting that Rhode Island suffers from “the worst roads and bridges” in the country.

Despite the criticism, McKee stood by his decision to close the bridge, arguing that he was prioritizing public safety rather than political favors.

The last instance of a sitting governor losing a primary occurred in 2018, when Kansas Republican Jeff Colyer was defeated by Kris Kobach, a candidate endorsed by Trump. In a previous Democratic situation, Hawaii’s Neil Abercrombie lost his primary to state Senator David Ige by a wide margin in 2014.

This primary in Rhode Island didn’t draw as much national interest compared to others across the country, which were marked by intense ideological and generational conflicts, instead focusing on more localized issues.