Rhode Island voters to elect new governor in Tuesday election

Rhode Island voters head to the polls for a new governor

Rhode Island voters will select a new governor in Tuesday’s election, marking a significant shift in the state’s executive leadership. Following the defeat of incumbent Governor Dan McKee in the Democratic primary, the general election features a field of candidates vying to lead the state through its next chapter. According to reports from WJAR and Coastal ABC, Helena Foulkes, the Democratic nominee and apparent frontrunner, faces a multi-candidate challenge from both the Republican and independent camps.

The race for the state’s highest office represents a departure from the previous administration. Foulkes, a former executive at CVS, previously lost to McKee in the 2022 primary. She has positioned herself as a candidate focused on practical governance. “I am ready to work for Rhode Islanders to make this state really work for them,” Foulkes told NBC 10 News on Monday.

The challengers seeking to break the political status quo

The gubernatorial contest is not limited to the Democratic frontrunner. Ken Block, an independent candidate and software engineer, is running a campaign centered on his distance from established political structures. Block has a history in Rhode Island politics, having run for governor in 2010 as the Moderate Party nominee and again in 2014 as a Republican. He is joined on the ballot by independent candidates Jasjit Gotra and C.D. Reynolds.

Block is framing his candidacy as an alternative to the traditional party systems. “What sets me apart is I’m actually different. I’m not part of the political status quo. I’m not a member of a political machine. I’m not a member of any political party. So, I don’t come into politics with an ideology,” Block said Monday.

The Republican nominee, Aaron Guckian, offers a platform focused on fiscal reform and state efficiency. Guckian previously served as an aide to former Governor Don Carcieri and was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022. His campaign emphasizes economic competitiveness through cost reductions. “All I want is to lower taxes and fees and make this state more efficient, more practical, and more competitive. We can be better,” Guckian said Monday.

Multiple executive offices on the ballot

Beyond the governor’s mansion, several other statewide offices are up for election, determining the composition of Rhode Island’s executive branch. The race for lieutenant governor features incumbent Sabina Matos seeking reelection. Matos, who was appointed to the position by McKee in 2021, won her first full term in 2022 and successfully navigated a five-way primary in September to secure the Democratic nomination. She is challenged by Republican nominee John Loughlin, a former state lawmaker and media personality who also served in the National Guard and Army Reserves.

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The legal and financial oversight of the state is also at stake. The office of attorney general is an open seat this year. The Democratic candidate is Kim Ahern, a former prosecutor and former chair of the Rhode Island Cannabis Commission, while Republican Alan Gordon, a cannabis activist, is also seeking the position. Meanwhile, the race for general treasurer features incumbent Democrat James Diossa seeking a second term against Republican nominee Micholas Credle. Secretary of State Gregg Amore is running unopposed for reelection.

Office	Democratic Candidate	Republican Candidate	Independent/Other
Governor	Helena Foulkes	Aaron Guckian	Ken Block, Jasjit Gotra, C.D. Reynolds
Lieutenant Governor	Sabina Matos	John Loughlin	—
Attorney General	Kim Ahern	Alan Gordon	—
General Treasurer	James Diossa	Micholas Credle	—