Rhode Island’s Democratic governor loses primary amid anger over bridge
Helena Foulkes beats incumbent Dan McKee after criticizing handling of Providence’s Washington bridge, now expected to be completed in 2028 Rhode Island’s Dan McKee became the first sitting governor to lose a primary in nearly a decade, bested not by a more progressive challenger or a more youthful upset but by frustration over a bridge. McKee lost his Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes, a…
Helena Foulkes, a former executive at CVS, emerged victorious in Rhode Island's Democratic primary, defeating incumbent Governor Dan McKee. Her win came after she criticized McKee's handling of repairs to the Washington bridge in Providence, a crucial east-west traffic route. The bridge, which sees about 100,000 vehicles daily, had been closed since December 2023 following the discovery of significant structural issues.
McKee had initially planned to reopen the bridge this year, but delays have pushed its completion to November 2028. This primary race was somewhat reminiscent of a previous one, as Foulkes had finished second to McKee four years ago in a five-way race. McKee, who had previously served as governor following Gina Raimondo's term as US Commerce Secretary, had won the 2022 general election.
The primary results indicate that the Democratic seat is highly competitive, and Foulkes is expected to have a strong advantage in the upcoming November election.
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