Voters in Rhode Island went to the polls yesterday to choose candidates for governor, attorney general, treasurer, and state legislature.
Governor
In a rare defeat for an incumbent, Governor Dan McKee (D) lost his primary election to Helena Foulkes, who advanced from the Democratic primary with approximately 62% of the vote. Foulkes had led McKee by 20 points in some polling while his administration has been weighed down by commuting disruptions and economic fallout from the Washington Bridge shutdown. Foulkes came close to unseating McKee in the 2022 gubernatorial primary as well, falling short by fewer than 4,000 votes
Foulkes spent 25 years at CVS Pharmacy, serving as president from 2014 to 2018. Her campaign plans include initiatives for job growth, expanding access to affordable health care, establishing an employer-matched childcare fund, auditing Rhode Island Energy, and creating an Office of Safety and Accountability. She has also proposed a $100 million bond to fund career and technical education facilities.
On the Republican side, the race remains too close to call between Elaine Pelino and Aaron Guckian. With 98% of the vote counted, Guckian currently leads by fewer than 300 votes.
Guckian, who was backed by the state GOP, previously worked as a vice president at Bank Newport, an officer with The Washington Trust Company, and a special assistant to former Governor Donald Carcieri (R). Guckian's goals include streamlining permitting, improving service delivery from government agencies, and strengthening revenue management. He is also prioritizing investments in public schools, incentives to attract and retain providers, and expanding housing options.
A newcomer to politics, Pelino previously worked in the entertainment industry and as an NFL cheerleader. Her campaign priorities include creating a Governor’s Office of Accountability to audit state spending, supporting law enforcement, expanding school choice, increasing access to trade and technical programs, and reducing regulations.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have rated this race as solid Democratic.
Attorney General
The Democratic primary featured four candidates vying to replace term limited Attorney General Peter Neronha (D): former senior leader in the attorney general’s office Keith Hoffman, former Special Assistant Attorney General Kim Ahern, and Representatives Jason Knight and Joseph Solomon.
Ahern ultimately defeated Neronha-endorsed Hoffman, securing 36.3% of the vote. Ahern is a seasoned prosecutor who served as Special Assistant Attorney General under three different attorneys general. She went on to serve as a senior counselor under former Governor Gina Raimondo (D) and Governor Daniel McKee (D). Most recently, Ahern was appointed as the first-ever Chair of the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission, overseeing the regulation, licensing, and enforcement of adult-use and medical cannabis. Ahern’s campaign priorities include expanding mental health programs and treatment options, strengthening hate crime prevention and prosecution, protecting residents from federal overreach, increasing enforcement of environmental laws, and implementing greater social media and AI safeguards.
Alan Gordon ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He earned his law degree from the University of Buckingham in England and subsequently passed all twelve England and Wales Bar examinations. Gordon currently serves as a private ecclesiastical legal advisor for several Christian organizations. His platform centers on protecting constitutional rights, increasing public safety by combatting human trafficking and enforcing federal immigration policy, and holding government officials accountable through the establishment of an independent counsel.
Treasurer
Incumbent James Diossa ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for treasurer, essentially guaranteeing a second term in office due to Rhode Island’s Democratic stronghold. Diossa began his political career in local politics, serving on the Central Falls City Council and later becoming the first Latino mayor of Central Falls and the youngest mayor in Rhode Island’s history. Since taking office in 2022, Diossa has launched the RISavers retirement savings program for private-sector employees, piloted the RI AnchorHome low-cost mortgage program for first time homebuyers, and erased $16 million in personal medical debt for residents.
Micholas Credle ran unopposed in the Republican primary for treasurer. Credle is an army retiree and has held multiple positions at the US Military Academy at West Point and the US Army Forces Command. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board and President of the Pyramid Club in Newport, Rhode Island. His campaign priorities include protecting pensions, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and restoring trust in how Rhode Island manages its resources.
State Legislature
All 75 house seats and 38 senate seats are on the ballot this year. Every senate incumbent is seeking reelection, while nine house seats are open. There were 15 contested Democratic primaries in the house and five in the senate. There are no contested Republican primaries.