The Anti-Incumbent Wave Hits Rhode Island

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is in serious trouble heading into his state's primary election. His challenger, Helena Foulkes, leads him by about 20 points in recent polls. If McKee loses, he would become the first sitting U.S. governor to lose a primary in eight years. The race has drawn national attention because it shows how fed-up voters are with leaders they feel are not solving their problems.

At the center of the race is a bridge — the Washington Bridge, which connects Providence to East Providence. In 2023, safety problems forced officials to partially close the bridge, causing major traffic jams and hurting local businesses. Drivers pass signs that say 'Thank you for your patience,' but many voters say those signs just make them angrier. One woman even joked to Foulkes that she wanted to shoot the signs with a BB gun.

Foulkes and McKee actually ran against each other before, in the 2022 primary. McKee won that race by a small margin in a contest with several candidates. This time, the race is more personal and more heated. Both candidates describe themselves as moderate Democrats, so the fight is less about big political ideas and more about who can actually get things done.

Foulkes says the state needs new energy and fresh leadership. She has proposed building 20,000 new homes, paid for by a tax on millionaires. She argues that people feel like the government is not working hard enough for them. 'It's so important that people feel a sense of momentum and energy,' she told reporters, 'because I think oftentimes government doesn't feel urgent to people, and their lives are really hurting.'

Governor McKee is pushing back hard. He says he has delivered results for Rhode Islanders on jobs, education, housing, and energy — even while facing challenges from the federal government. He argues that past leaders ignored the bridge's problems and that he was the one who finally put safety first. One poll taken by McKee's own allies showed a closer race, with Foulkes ahead by only 6 points instead of 20.

McKee is also attacking Foulkes' background as a top executive at CVS, the big pharmacy chain. He says she is more focused on corporate profits than on working people. His campaign also pointed out that her grandfather and uncle — Thomas and Chris Dodd — were both U.S. senators, suggesting she comes from a wealthy, well-connected family. 'My opponent's record's been in the corporate boardroom, really putting profits over people,' McKee said.

McKee has the support of many labor unions, including teachers, firefighters, and building trade workers. His base of support comes from the Blackstone Valley, a working-class region that was the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. However, some key groups that usually back him — like the state Democratic Party and the state AFL-CIO — chose not to endorse anyone in this race, which hurt his standing.

Some local Democratic leaders have also switched sides and are now backing Foulkes. Cumberland Mayor Jeff Mutter, who once saw McKee as a mentor, is one of them. Mutter said McKee no longer seems like the same person he once admired. 'It's one of those times where the advantage of incumbency might not be an advantage at this point because there's just so much kind of frustration,' Mutter said.

Two big questions could decide the race. First, how will Rhode Island's growing Hispanic community vote? Second, will left-wing Democrats — energized by a separate race for Providence mayor — support McKee or Foulkes? Rhode Island is a small state where you can drive from one end to the other in about an hour, meaning local issues like a single damaged bridge can shake up an entire election. The primary will show whether voter frustration is strong enough to end McKee's time in office.