Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee faces rematch with Helena Foulkes amid turmoil over Washington Bridge
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Four years ago, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee was celebrating his narrow victory in the Democratic primary surrounded by supporters, when someone handed him phone — it was his opponent…
Four years ago, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee secured a slim victory in the Democratic primary, only for his opponent to concede over the phone. This time, Foulkes, a former CVS Health executive, is staging a comeback, raising more funds than McKee and saturating the media with advertisements. The incumbent faces growing discontent among Democratic voters, who are more inclined to challenge established politicians this election year.
Simmering frustration over the prolonged construction of the Washington Bridge adds another layer of difficulty to McKee's campaign. In 2023, he ordered the closure of the westbound side of the Washington Bridge after a "critical failure" was detected. This decision caused considerable disruption, affecting over 100,000 commuters daily.
While McKee insists that safety was his priority and the repairs will be completed by 2028, Foulkes has seized upon the situation to criticize his leadership. The primary election in Rhode Island, set for September 9, is expected to be a foregone conclusion, with the victor poised to win the subsequent general election.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
