Rhode Island’s Helena Foulkes becomes first to oust an incumbent governor in a primary since 2018, tell me about this news in (https://apnews.com/article/rhode-island-election-dan-mckee-helena-foulkes-b731e251ef8cfec4d895c38baaf3b6aa)

In the September 2026 Rhode Island Democratic primary, former CVS executive Helena Foulkes defeated incumbent Governor Dan McKee, marking a historic and rare defeat for a sitting governor.Here are the key details reported about the race:Historical Significance

• First U.S. Governor to Lose a Primary Since 2018: McKee became the first incumbent governor in any U.S. state to lose a primary election since Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer was defeated in the 2018 Republican primary.
• First in Rhode Island in Over 30 Years: An incumbent Rhode Island governor had not lost a party primary since 1994, when Democrat Bruce Sundlun was defeated by Myrth York.

The 2022 RematchMcKee originally assumed the governorship in 2021 when former Governor Gina Raimondo joined the Biden administration as Commerce Secretary. In 2022, McKee narrowly edged out Foulkes in a crowded five-way primary before going on to win the general election. Their 2026 contest became a high-stakes rematch where Foulkes outraised McKee and successfully tapped into voter dissatisfaction.Key Campaign Issues

• The Washington Bridge Crisis: The primary turned heavily on public anger over the westbound Washington Bridge on Interstate 195, a vital commuter link connecting Providence to its eastern suburbs and Massachusetts. McKee’s administration abruptly closed the bridge in late 2023 due to severe structural flaws. Delays, rising costs, and a pushed-back reopening date (slated for 2028) caused persistent traffic chaos. Foulkes made the bridge project a central symbol of administrative failure and unaccountability.
• “Outsider” vs. “Corporate Elite”: Foulkes framed herself as an experienced executive capable of making state government work for everyday citizens rather than a connected few. In response, McKee characterized Foulkes as an out-of-touch corporate figure attempting to buy the election, attacking her leadership background at CVS and pointing to the company’s settlement of opioid-related lawsuits. Foulkes defended her record by highlighting that CVS decreased its opioid dispensing by 40% during her leadership of the pharmacy division.

What Comes NextBecause Rhode Island is heavily Democratic, Foulkes heads into the November general election as the clear frontrunner to become Rhode Island’s next governor.