PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is attempting to avoid becoming the first incumbent governor in any state to lose a primary since 2018 as he faces a challenge from former CVS executive Helena Foulkes in Wednesday's state primary.
McKee narrowly defeated Foulkes in a multi-candidate Democratic primary four years ago to secure his first full term. In their rematch, he has faced scrutiny regarding his administration's efforts to replace a critical bridge in the state capital that was closed due to safety concerns in 2023.
Foulkes has capitalized on public frustration over the cost and pace of the bridge project, arguing that McKee's administration is not serving the interests of most Rhode Islanders. "People feel like state government just works with a powerful few," she stated. "They don't think it's working for them."
In response, McKee has characterized Foulkes as disconnected from the public, suggesting she ignored the opioid crisis during her tenure at CVS. "The option here is somebody who wants to buy this state office who doesn't have any credibility with their policy thoughts and someone like myself, who has a strong record in terms of working people," McKee told The Associated Press.
Incumbent governors rarely lose party primaries; the last instance in Rhode Island occurred in 1994 when Democrat Bruce Sundlun lost to state Senator Myrth York amid multiple controversies and voter fatigue.
McKee has been governor since 2021, following the appointment of former Governor Gina Raimondo as U.S. commerce secretary. In 2023, he closed the Washington Bridge, an important link carrying Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River, which connects Providence to its eastern suburbs and the south coast of Massachusetts. Although traffic continues to flow, it has been reduced to fewer lanes on a newer part of the bridge, leading to longer commute times. McKee asserts that his decisions prioritized public safety and anticipates the bridge construction will be completed by 2028.
Foulkes, whose grandfather and uncle were both Democratic U.S. senators from Connecticut, worked at CVS for 25 years, eventually becoming president of the company's pharmacy division from 2014 to 2018. After leaving CVS, she served as CEO of Hudson's Bay Company until 2020. Regarding her time at CVS, Foulkes noted that the company reduced opioid distribution by 40% during her presidency. In 2022, CVS agreed to a $5 billion settlement over opioid-related lawsuits without admitting wrongdoing.
The last governor to lose in a primary was former Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, who narrowly lost the Republican nomination to Kris Kobach in 2018.
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino are competing for the nomination. Guckian, a state trade association executive, was the nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022, winning that primary with approximately 68% of the vote. Pelino is a former actor and first-time candidate, with the state party endorsing Guckian.
Rhode Island's primary elections are being held on a Wednesday this year, a change from the typical Tuesday date due to its proximity to Labor Day. Only four states hold their primary elections in September: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware, which has the latest primary date in the U.S., occurring on September 15.