Foulkes Defeats McKee in Rhode Island Primary
Foulkes Defeats McKee in Rhode Island Primary
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Key Points
1
Helena Foulkes significantly outspent Dan McKee on television advertising, with a roughly 3-to-1 advantage, while public polling showed McKee trailing by double digits before the primary.
2
An Emerson College poll found that 63% of likely Rhode Island voters disapproved of McKee’s handling of the Washington Bridge, compared with only 18% who approved.
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The Washington Bridge’s westbound lanes served tens of thousands of commuters each day before closing, turning the resulting traffic disruption into a major political liability for McKee.
4
Foulkes presented a broader rationale for her campaign beyond the bridge, saying she wanted Rhode Islanders to afford to live in the state, obtain good-paying jobs and have state government “really work for them.”
5
Foulkes overcame political liabilities tied to her corporate background, including her connections to the opioid crisis and the Sackler family, as well as past Republican donations.
Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, defeated Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in the Democratic primary, making McKee the first sitting U.S. governor in eight years to lose his party's nomination WSJ. Foulkes won 62.3% to McKee's 37.7%, capitalizing on widespread anger over the Washington Bridge closure and voter frustration with state government Yahoo News.
The bridge closed in December 2023 after inspectors found severe structural problems. Its replacement will cost $427 million and won't open until November 2028. An Emerson College poll found 63% of voters disapproved of McKee's handling versus just 18% who approved, turning the infrastructure crisis into a referendum on executive competence WSJ.
Foulkes Outspent McKee and Rode Anti-Incumbent Anger
Foulkes deployed a roughly 3-to-1 spending advantage on television advertising, while public polling showed McKee trailing by double digits heading into Election Day WSJ. The former CVS executive overcame political liabilities tied to her corporate background, including past Republican donations and connections to the opioid crisis and Sackler family The Epoch Times.
The Washington Bridge Became a Symbol of Failed Leadership
The bridge's westbound lanes once served tens of thousands of commuters daily before the closure. The resulting traffic disruption made the infrastructure project politically toxic for McKee Yahoo News. Foulkes argued the delays and $427 million price tag reflected a need for new leadership and better priorities. McKee defended the closure as necessary for public safety.
McKee Faced Scrutiny Beyond Infrastructure Problems
The governor also faced questions over his intervention in a multimillion-dollar contract WSJ. State investigators found no bribery or campaign-finance violations in their review. Despite that clearance, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha endorsed Foulkes, signaling doubt about McKee's fitness to lead WSJ.
Foulkes Faces Independent and Republican Challenges Ahead
Democrats favor Foulkes in November's general election, but the race remains uncertain Yahoo News. Independent candidate Ken Block could fragment the anti-Republican vote and complicate her path to victory. Foulkes must also manage voter concerns about her corporate ties and past donations to Republicans as she builds her general-election coalition Yahoo News.
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