Polls close in Rhode Island as traffic drama threatens to end Dem governor's tenure - Fox News
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is facing a difficult primary election challenge from Helena Buonanno Foulkes. The campaign has been heavily influenced by public frustration over the long-term closure and reconstruction delays of the Washington Bridge.
Why it matters
This race serves as a bellwether for incumbent Democratic governors and highlights how local infrastructure failures can become decisive political liabilities.
The polls have closed in Rhode Island as Democratic Gov. Dan McKee fights for his political life in the smallest U.S. state's primary elections on Wednesday. McKee first assumed office in March 2021 when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo stepped down to become U.S. Commerce secretary. He was then elected four years ago for a full term. Now, McKee is trying to avoid becoming the nation's first elected governor in a dozen years to lose renomination. The governor is facing off in a primary rematch with Helena Buonanno Foulkes, a former longtime executive with CVS, which is based in Rhode Island. THESE 12 MIDTERM RACES WILL DECIDE WHICH PARTY CONTROLS THE SENATE McKee narrowly edged Foulkes, who is the niece of former Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of neighboring Connecticut, in a multi-candidate field in the 2022 Democratic primary before winning the general election in the solidly blue state.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in