Rhode Island's Dan McKee faces tough Democratic primary for governor

Key Points:

• Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee faces a primary challenge from Helena Foulkes, whom he narrowly defeated four years ago, with Foulkes outraising him and running aggressive campaign ads amid voter appetite for change.
• McKee is under scrutiny for delays and cost overruns in repairing the critical Washington Bridge in Providence, which has been partially closed since 2023, a key issue that Foulkes leverages to criticize his leadership.
• McKee attacks Foulkes as a corporate executive linked to CVS Health’s role in the opioid crisis, while Foulkes counters by highlighting CVS’s efforts to reduce opioid distribution during her tenure and warns McKee’s criticisms risk alienating major local employers.
• Labor endorsements are split, with McKee receiving some union support but the state Democratic Party and AFL-CIO withholding endorsements, while Foulkes is gaining momentum with Democratic voters, including in McKee’s hometown.
• The September 9 Democratic primary winner in heavily Democratic Rhode Island is favored to win the general election, making this rematch a pivotal contest with potential to end a 30-year streak of incumbent Rhode Island governors winning primaries.