The latest ri election results have reshaped Rhode Island politics after Helena Foulkes defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in the Democratic primary for governor. The result ends McKee’s campaign for another full term and marks one of the most significant primary defeats for a sitting governor in recent U.S. political history.
Foulkes entered the contest seeking a different outcome from her previous campaign against McKee. In 2022, she narrowly finished behind McKee in a crowded Democratic primary. Four years later, the two candidates faced each other again, but this time Foulkes built a much stronger campaign and ultimately secured the Democratic nomination.
The September 9 primary also produced important results in Providence and several federal races, giving Rhode Island voters a significantly different political landscape heading into the November general election.
Helena Foulkes Defeats Dan McKee
The biggest story from the Rhode Island primary was Foulkes’ victory over McKee.
Foulkes, a former executive at CVS and Hudson’s Bay, successfully challenged the sitting governor after making government performance and infrastructure a central part of her campaign. Preliminary election-night figures showed Foulkes with a clear advantage over McKee, and the Associated Press declared her the winner.
The outcome was particularly notable because incumbent governors rarely lose their own party’s primary.
McKee had entered the election seeking the Democratic nomination for another full term. Instead, his campaign ended with the primary, leaving Foulkes to carry the Democratic banner into the November general election.
The result also represents a political reversal from 2022, when McKee narrowly defeated Foulkes in their first primary matchup.
A Historic Defeat for the Incumbent Governor
McKee’s defeat carries significance beyond Rhode Island.
The Associated Press reported that McKee became the first sitting U.S. governor to lose a party primary since 2018. Rhode Island had not seen a sitting governor lose a primary since Democrat Bruce Sundlun was defeated in 1994.
McKee became governor in 2021 after Gina Raimondo left the position to become U.S. commerce secretary. He later won a full term in 2022.
His latest primary loss means Rhode Island will have a new Democratic gubernatorial nominee in November.
Following the result, McKee acknowledged the outcome and said he intended to help provide a smooth transition. His concession brought an end to a political career that had included service as lieutenant governor before he moved into the state’s top office.
Washington Bridge Became a Major Campaign Issue
One of the most important issues in the gubernatorial contest was the Washington Bridge reconstruction.
The bridge connects Providence with East Providence and surrounding communities and serves as a major transportation route. It was closed after officials identified serious structural problems in 2023.
The closure created substantial disruption for commuters and businesses. The project also faced delays and rising costs, turning the bridge into one of the most visible infrastructure issues in Rhode Island.
Foulkes repeatedly used the project to criticize McKee’s administration. Her campaign argued that the prolonged reconstruction reflected broader problems with state government management.
McKee defended his administration’s actions, emphasizing that safety concerns required the bridge to be closed and that the state had moved forward with a replacement project. He has said the replacement is expected to be completed in 2028.
The bridge issue became more than an infrastructure debate during the campaign. It became a test of public confidence in the governor’s leadership.
Foulkes’ Political Comeback
Foulkes’ victory represents a major turnaround from her 2022 campaign.
She previously challenged McKee in the Democratic gubernatorial primary and came close to defeating him. McKee ultimately won that contest before going on to win the general election.
The 2026 campaign gave Foulkes another opportunity.
This time, she entered the race with a more established political profile, significant support from Democratic figures and a campaign centered on government reform and infrastructure.
Foulkes has spent much of her professional career in the private sector. She worked for CVS for roughly 25 years and eventually became president of the company’s pharmacy division. She later served as chief executive of Hudson’s Bay before leaving that position in 2020.
Her business background became both an asset and a target during the campaign.
Foulkes presented her executive experience as evidence that she could bring a different approach to state government. McKee, meanwhile, criticized her corporate background and raised questions about her record at CVS.
The primary electorate ultimately gave Foulkes the opportunity to take her campaign into the general election.
McKee Defended His Record
McKee did not concede that the state’s infrastructure problems represented a failure of his administration.
During the campaign, he argued that closing the Washington Bridge was necessary because of safety concerns. He also highlighted state efforts to secure funding and move forward with the replacement.
McKee additionally criticized Foulkes over her time at CVS and the company’s history involving opioid litigation.
Foulkes rejected the attacks and pointed to CVS’ reduction in opioid dispensing during the period when she led the company’s pharmacy division. The broader legal disputes involving CVS continued after she had left the company.
The competing arguments gave Democratic voters a clear choice between an incumbent defending his administration and a challenger promising a change in direction.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley Also Loses Primary
The gubernatorial result was not the only major upset in Rhode Island.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost the Democratic primary to state Rep. David Morales. Morales, 27, mounted a challenge against the incumbent mayor and secured the nomination.
Smiley became mayor in 2022 and was seeking another term.
Morales’ campaign focused heavily on issues affecting Providence residents, including housing affordability, development and city government.
His victory adds another major leadership change to the September primary. Rhode Island voters therefore saw both a sitting governor and the mayor of the state’s largest city lose Democratic primary contests on the same night.
The Providence result also attracted attention because Morales received backing from prominent progressive political figures and labor organizations.
Jack Reed Wins Democratic Senate Primary
The primary also featured a closely watched U.S. Senate contest.
Sen. Jack Reed sought the Democratic nomination for another term. He faced Connor Burbridge and Luis Daniel Muñoz in the Democratic primary.
Reed has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997 and has become one of Rhode Island’s longest-serving federal lawmakers. The Democratic Senate contest therefore offered voters a choice between the established incumbent and two challengers.
Election results showed Reed maintaining a substantial lead over his challengers.
On the Republican side, Raymond McKay was running unopposed for the GOP Senate nomination, setting up a November contest between the party nominees.
The Senate race will be one of the major federal contests on Rhode Island’s November ballot.
House Races Also Advance Toward November
Rhode Island’s two U.S. House districts were also part of the primary election.
Democratic incumbents Gabriel Amo and Seth Magaziner were unopposed in their respective Democratic primaries, according to election results available after polls closed.
The Republican primary in the 2nd Congressional District featured Victor Mellor and Stephen Skoly, while the Republican nominee in the 1st District faced no primary opponent.
The results mean the state’s congressional races can now shift toward the November general election.
Republicans Hold Their Own Governor Primary
The Republican gubernatorial nomination was also contested.
Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino competed for the GOP nomination. Guckian previously ran for lieutenant governor and had the backing of the state Republican Party, while Pelino entered the race as a first-time candidate with a background in acting.
The Republican winner will face Foulkes in the November general election.
Rhode Island has historically leaned strongly Democratic in statewide elections. The state has not elected a Republican governor since 2006, according to pre-election information reported by the Associated Press.
That history makes the Democratic primary especially important because the winner of that contest entered the general election with the advantage of representing the state’s dominant political party.
Election Day Also Saw Polling-Site Problems
The primary was not without logistical difficulties.
Several polling locations in Providence opened late after staffing shortages affected election operations. More than 100 of the roughly 480 workers hired for Providence polling locations reportedly called out or did not appear, according to the city’s election director.
The delays affected several locations, although officials worked to get the sites operating.
The issue highlighted the practical challenges election administrators face in staffing polling locations, particularly for elections requiring long hours.
Despite the disruptions, voting continued and election officials proceeded with ballot counting after polls closed.
What the RI Election Results Mean for November
The ri election results have now set the stage for a new phase of the Rhode Island election cycle.
Foulkes will head into the November general election as the Democratic gubernatorial nominee after defeating the sitting governor.
The Republican Party will have its own gubernatorial nominee following its primary contest.
At the federal level, the Senate and House nominees are moving toward the general election, while Providence is also preparing for a new mayoral contest following Morales’ primary victory.
The November election is scheduled for November 3, 2026. Rhode Island’s Board of Elections lists October 4 as the voter registration deadline and October 14 as the beginning of the early voting period.
That gives candidates several weeks to shift their attention from primary voters to the broader electorate.
Why the Rhode Island Governor’s Race Matters
The gubernatorial primary has national significance because sitting governors are rarely defeated by challengers from their own party.
McKee’s defeat demonstrates how a major state issue can become central to an incumbent’s reelection campaign. The Washington Bridge project became a defining issue, giving Foulkes an opportunity to argue that voters needed a different approach to state government.
At the same time, McKee’s campaign attempted to emphasize his record and defend decisions made during the bridge crisis.
The final result showed that Democratic primary voters chose Foulkes.
Her victory also gives Rhode Island a new Democratic nominee who has never previously served as an elected state official.
What Comes Next for Helena Foulkes
Foulkes now faces the general-election stage of her campaign.
Her immediate challenge will be broadening her coalition beyond Democratic primary voters while continuing to explain her plans for Rhode Island.
Infrastructure is likely to remain an important subject, particularly because the Washington Bridge project remains unfinished.
Other issues expected to remain relevant include housing, health care, economic development, education and the state’s overall approach to government spending and services.
The November election will determine whether Foulkes converts her primary victory into the governorship.
Rhode Island Voters Enter a New Election Phase
The September primary produced a series of notable changes across the state.
Foulkes defeated McKee in the Democratic gubernatorial contest. Morales defeated Smiley in the Providence mayoral primary. Reed advanced from the Democratic Senate primary, while congressional candidates also moved closer to the November election.
For McKee, the primary marked the end of his campaign for another full term. For Foulkes, it represented a second opportunity to pursue the governorship after coming close in 2022.
The state’s attention now turns toward November.
With the primary nominees established, candidates will have to campaign before the full electorate and address the issues most important to Rhode Island voters.
The general election will ultimately determine who takes control of the governor’s office, who represents Rhode Island in Congress and who leads Providence.
Key Points Summary
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║ – Helena Foulkes defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in Rhode Island’s Democratic gubernatorial primary. ║
║ – McKee’s defeat marked Rhode Island’s first primary loss by a sitting governor since 1994. ║
║ – The Washington Bridge reconstruction was one of the central issues in the gubernatorial campaign. ║
║ – Providence Mayor Brett Smiley also lost his Democratic primary to state Rep. David Morales. ║
║ – Sen. Jack Reed advanced from the Democratic Senate primary as Rhode Island moves toward the November 3 general election. ║
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