NBC News projects that Foulkes won the Democratic nomination in the blue state, making McKee the first governor to fall in a primary in eight years.
Page B1From§Eachthe wee small hours edition — 10 September 2026
Rhode Island governor loses primary, exits office as business steps in
Born in Rhode Island, Governor Dan McKee entered office as the party's choice, survived by a long line of business-backed candidates. Preceded in death by every governor who lost a primary before him, McKee's tenure ended with a quiet handoff to businesswoman Helena Foulkes. The story opens with McKee ousted in the Democratic primary (member 0), then confirmed in defeat by NBC News, which names Foulkes as the winner (member 1). The sequence is not upheaval, but the steady rhythm of political life: the incumbent goes down, the challenger steps up, and the machinery keeps humming. In lieu of flowers, Rhode Island requests continued investment from the business community.
“When the governor goes down in the primary, it's not a shake-up, it's a handoff. The business candidate wins, and the old guard leaves quietly. The only change is the name on the door.”
“This is democracy at work. The voters chose a fresh face, and that's good for Rhode Island. Did I say 'business steps in'? That makes it sound like a takeover. It's just new leadership, plain and simple.”
The receipts
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is projected to lose his reelection bid to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes in the Democratic primary for Rhode Island, according to Decision Desk HQ. (DDHQ).
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.