Foulkes Retains Lead in RI DEM Gubernatorial Primary, McKee Approval Falls to New Low 2/24/2026

Helena Foulkes remains the leader in the race for the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island governor, but a plurality of likely voters remain undecided. Neither the declared candidates nor possible late entrant and former Governor Gina Raimondo are particularly popular among likely Democratic primary voters, and very few want Raimondo to launch a new campaign for governor. On the Republican side, the declared candidates are not well-known among likely Republican primary voters, but there is strong interest in 2022 Republican nominee Ashley Kalus running again. Approval of Governor Dan McKee's performance as governor has fallen to an all-time low, but state residents are quite supportive of his recent calls to levy a "millionaire's tax" and to end state taxes on Social Security benefits.