2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

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2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Dan McKee
Democratic



The 2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026. It will elect the governor of Rhode Island for a four-year term. The primary elections will take place on September 8, 2026. [1] Incumbent Democratic Governor Dan McKee, who became governor in 2021 upon the resignation of Gina Raimondo and was then elected to a full term in 2022, is running for re-election to a second full term in office.

Contents

While Rhode Island is a safely blue state, the Democratic primary and potentially the general election are predicted to be competitive due to McKee's low approval ratings and comparatively poor fundraising. [2] [3]

Republicans have not won a statewide election in Rhode Island since Donald Carcieri was re-elected Governor in 2006.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Helena Foulkes
Statewide officials
Dan McKee
Statewide officials

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Helena
Foulkes		Dan
McKee		Gregory
Stevens		OtherUndecided
University of New Hampshire [16] February 12–16, 2026364 (LV)± 5.1%34%18%4%3% [b] 41%
University of New Hampshire [17] September 17–23, 2025275 (LV)± 5.9%35%19%–6% [c] 40%
Hypothetical polling
Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Helena
Foulkes		Dan
McKee		Peter
Neronha		Joe
Shekarchi		OtherUndecided
University of New Hampshire [18] November 13–17, 2025364 (LV)± 5.1%29%11%–13%6% [d] 42%
URI/YouGov [19] August 1–18, 2025500 (A)± 6.0%14%19%15%7%4%41%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

  • Ashley Kalus, healthcare business owner and nominee for governor in 2022 [23]

Declined

Independents

Candidates

Potential

Declined

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [29] Solid DSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [30] Solid DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [31] Likely DSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [32] Likely DSeptember 16, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ↑ "Another candidate" with 3%
  3. ↑ "Someone else" with 6%
  4. ↑ 'Write in someone else' with 6%

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Anderson, Patrick. "How Shekarchi's shadow looms large in the 2026 RI governor's race". The Providence Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Kathy Hochul's Approval Rating Suggests an Uphill Climb to Re-Election". Morning Consult Pro. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Patrick (September 9, 2025). "Helena Foulkes launches second bid for governor. What we know". The Providence Journal . Retrieved September 9, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ Fortier, Marc (March 3, 2025). "RI Gov. Dan McKee announces reelection campaign". NBC10 Boston . Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  6. ↑ Baccari, Raymond (November 12, 2025). "Business owner Gregory Stevens announces 2026 run for governor". WPRI.com . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ Donnis, Ian (November 14, 2024). "Gina Raimondo is considering another run for governor of Rhode Island". Rhode Island PBS . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ Donnis, Ian (March 7, 2025). "State Sen. Alana DiMario on Trump and what's next in the Rhode Island Senate". The Public's Radio . Retrieved March 7, 2025. I'll break it to you right here. I am not running for governor in 2026. You can take me right off that list.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (January 13, 2025). "How Shekarchi's shadow looms large in the 2026 RI governor's race". The Providence Journal . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  10. ↑ Donnis, Ian (September 30, 2024). "Approval for McKee and Matos falls in new Pell Center poll". Rhode Island PBS . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lavin, Nancy (October 3, 2025). "Rhode Island AG Neronha will not run for governor". Rhode Island Current . Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ Anderson, Patrick. "AG Neronha wades into governor race to endorse Helena Foulkes. Here's why". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  13. ↑ Nesi, Ted; Sherman, Eli (February 3, 2026). "Shekarchi won't run for governor, leaving McKee to face Foulkes in primary". WPRI 12. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (January 13, 2025). "How Shekarchi's shadow looms large in the 2026 RI governor's race". The Providence Journal . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  15. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (January 13, 2025). "How Shekarchi's shadow looms large in the 2026 RI governor's race". The Providence Journal . Retrieved January 1, 2026.
  16. ↑ McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (February 24, 2026). "Foulkes Retains Lead in RI DEM Gubernatorial Primary, McKee Approval Falls to New Low". University of New Hampshire . Retrieved February 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (September 29, 2025). "Approval of McKee Remains Low in RI, Few Likely Democratic Primary Voters Back Him Against Foulkes". University of New Hampshire . Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  18. ↑ McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (November 24, 2025). "Rhode Island Democratic Gubernatorial Primary Muddied by High Number of Undecided Likely Voters". University of New Hampshire . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ Gregg, Katherine (September 15, 2025). "McKee leads – just barely – in hypothetical four-way primary race, according to new URI poll". Providence Journal. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  20. 1 2 Baccari, Raymond (November 14, 2025). "Republican Elaine Pelino is running for RI governor next year". WPRI.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Republican Guckian Is Running for Governor". GoLocalProv . November 30, 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  22. ↑ Allen, Christopher (November 20, 2025). "Robert Raimondo enters R.I. governor's race". Providence Business News. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (July 17, 2025). "Morning Digest: Gavin Newsom wants to fight fire with fire". The Downballot. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  24. ↑ Kalunian, Kim; Baccari, Raymond (January 21, 2026). "Community Focus: RI Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz". WPRI 12 News. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  25. ↑ Nesi, Ted (July 19, 2025). "Nesi's Notes: July 19". WPRI-TV . Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ Bessette, James (June 30, 2023). "Field for 1st Congressional District seat expands to 35 candidates". Providence Business News. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ Donnis, Ian (June 3, 2025). "Six big questions about Rhode Island's 2026 race for governor". The Public's Radio . Retrieved June 5, 2025. Via campaign spokesman Jon Romano, Foulkes is ruling out running as an independent
  29. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  31. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

Official campaign websites

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