Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee is poised to suffer a rare and stinging rebuke from his own party, with projections showing he has lost his primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes.
According to Just The News, The Associated Press called the race for Foulkes, who secured 62% of the vote compared to McKee's 37%, with 94% of ballots counted. McKee is now the first sitting governor anywhere in the country to lose a primary in eight years, according to CBS News, underscoring the depth of dissatisfaction with establishment Democratic leadership even in reliably liberal states.
McKee, a longtime party figure, previously served as lieutenant governor before being elevated to the states top job in 2021 when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo left to become commerce secretary in the Biden administration. He went on to win a full term in 2022, but his short tenure has now been cut short by his own base, reflecting growing fractures within the Democratic Party.
Foulkes, a corporate veteran with a background at CVS, will now face either Aaron Guckian or Elaine Pelino in November, though she is widely viewed as the favorite in deep-blue Rhode Island. For conservatives, the upset highlights how even entrenched Democratic incumbents are vulnerable when voters tire of progressive governance that has failed to deliver on public safety, economic stability, and competent management.
While Rhode Island is expected to remain in Democratic hands, the primary result serves as a warning sign for national Democrats heading into 2024, including allies of President Joe Biden whose policies have weighed heavily on state leaders. The race will test whether a business-oriented Democrat like Foulkes can distance herself from the failures of the Biden administration, or whether voters will continue to seek alternatives to the status quo in both parties.
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