Foulkes defeats Rhode Island’s Gov. McKee. He’s the first governor in 8 years to lose a primary
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Helena Foulkes defeated Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in the state's Democratic primary Wednesday, making him the first governor in any U.S. state to lose a party primary since 2018.
McKee's defeat ends his bid for a second full term and marks the first time in more than 30 years that a sitting Rhode Island governor has been beaten in a primary.
Foulkes, a former senior executive at CVS and the retailer Hudson's Bay, wasn't the only challenger to oust an incumbent Wednesday. The mayor of Providence lost to David Morales, a young democratic socialist endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
For Foulkes, the win was a redemptive rebound from 2022, when she narrowly lost to McKee in a more crowded primary field -- on a night when the governor notably refused to take her concession call.
In their rematch, McKee was dogged by questions about his administration's work to replace a critical bridge in the state capital that was abruptly closed due to safety problems in 2023.
Foulkes leveraged public exasperation over the cost and pace of the bridge project for her argument that McKee's administration isn't working for most Rhode Islanders.
"Tonight, we may have won the Democratic primary for governor, but let me be clear about what happens next: You will have a governor for everyone," Foulkes told a large crowd in Providence during her victory speech Wednesday. "Because there is so much work that needs to be done, and we need to do this together."
McKee attempted to characterize Foulkes as an out-of-touch elite who turned a blind eye to the opioid crisis during her tenure at CVS, arguing that he had a stronger record.
However, in his concession speech in Providence, McKee promised to work with Foulkes to ensure a "smooth transition."
"This is something that I think is difficult to deal with, but we just got to hold our heads high," McKee said, adding that he has his head "very high because I know the work we've done together is really special."
Incumbent governors rarely lose party primaries. The last time it happened in Rhode Island was in 1994, when Democrat Bruce Sundlun lost to state Sen. Myrth York, ending his bid for a third term. In that race, Sundlun was facing multiple controversies and voter fatigue while York ran on reform.
In a separate election shakeup, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley lost his reelection bid to Morales, 27, in the Democratic primary. Smiley, 47, has held the seat since 2022. Aside from Sanders, Morales also had the backing of U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna and several high-profile labor unions.
McKee has been governor since 2021.