Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee lost his Democratic primary on Wednesday to businesswoman Helena Foulkes, marking the first time a sitting governor has been denied their party's nomination since 2018. Foulkes, a former CVS executive and current Costco board member, defeated McKee in a race that echoed their closely contested 2022 primary, where McKee narrowly secured the nomination.
Mckee first assumed the governorship in 2021 when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo departed to serve as Commerce Secretary in the Biden administration. He subsequently won his first full term in 2022 after prevailing in a crowded Democratic primary that included Foulkes.
The last sitting governor to lose his party's nomination was Kansas Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer, who lost the 2018 GOP primary to Kris Kobach by fewer than 400 votes. Kobach had received the backing of then-President Donald Trump.
Foulkes, who spent decades in the private sector including as a senior executive at CVS Health, mounted her second bid for elected office after finishing second to McKee in the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Her campaign in this cycle focused on criticisms of McKee's administration, particularly its handling of the Washington Bridge closure in December 2023 due to structural concerns.
Mckee defended his administration's record and challenged Foulkes' tenure at CVS, questioning her leadership amid the company's involvement in the opioid crisis. He characterized her as an out-of-touch corporate executive.
Foulkes will now proceed to the general election in November. She is set to face the winner of the Republican primary between Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino.