Foulkes defeats Rhode Island's McKee, 1st governor in 8 years to lose a primary

Key Points:

• Sabina Matos Foulkes won the Rhode Island Democratic primary for governor, rebounding from her narrow loss to incumbent Dan McKee in 2022, with her campaign capitalizing on public frustration over delays and costs associated with a critical bridge replacement project.
• McKee faced criticism over the prolonged replacement of the Washington Bridge, which was closed in 2023 due to safety concerns, leading to traffic congestion; despite this, he conceded and pledged to support a smooth transition.
• Foulkes emphasized unity and the need to address ongoing challenges in her victory speech, while McKee attempted to portray her as disconnected from issues like the opioid crisis, referencing her tenure at CVS, where opioid dispensing was later subject to a major lawsuit settlement.
• In a notable political upset, incumbent Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost the Democratic primary to 27-year-old Gonzalo Morales, who received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna and several labor unions.
• The Republican gubernatorial primary in Rhode Island remains closely contested between Aaron Guckian, endorsed by the state party, and Elaine Pelino, with only a few hundred votes separating them as most ballots have been counted.