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Helena Foulkes Defeats Incumbent Dan McKee in Rhode Island Democratic Gubernatorial Primary
Just the facts
McKee shut down the Washington Bridge, a major transit arterial carrying roughly 100,000 vehicles per day, in December 2023 after inspectors discovered major structural deficiencies. State transportation officials later determined full reconstruction was necessary, pushing the expected reopening date to November 2028. Foulkes, the niece of former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, previously finished second behind McKee in the 2022 Democratic primary before his general election victory. McKee's defeat marks the first time a sitting U.S. governor has lost a primary election in eight years.
Why this is news
Incumbent Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee lost the Democratic primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes following voter frustration over the closure and delayed repair timeline of Providence's Washington Bridge.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.