Who’s running for Rhode Island Governor 2026?
The 2026 Rhode Island Governor election is set for November 3, 2026, as Rhode Islanders choose their state executive for the next four years. Incumbent Governor Daniel McKee is running for re-election against several challengers in a race shaped by Rhode Island’s strong Democratic tradition. This guide introduces the candidates, explains how the election works, and summarizes important context. It’s designed to help readers understand the 2026 Rhode Island Governor election and make sense of the race.
Who is running in the 2026 Rhode Island Governor election?
Rhode Island voters will elect their next Governor in the 2026 statewide election. The sitting Governor, Daniel McKee, a Democrat, is running for re-election to a second full term after previously assuming office in 2021 and winning a full term in 2022. Rhode Island is widely considered a stronghold for the Democratic Party, with a partisan voter index that strongly favors Democrats and consistent statewide support for the party. According to national analysts, the 2026 Rhode Island Governor race is currently rated as ‘Solid Democratic,’ reflecting the state’s political landscape but not predicting any outcome. As of late 2025, every statewide officeholder and member of Congress representing Rhode Island is a Democrat, and the legislature holds Democratic majorities in both chambers.
Candidates in the 2026 Rhode Island Governor election
Democratic Candidates: Daniel McKee is the incumbent Democratic Governor of Rhode Island, in office since 2021 and elected to a full term in 2022. He has filed for re-election and is officially declared as a candidate. According to the summary, he is endorsed by Sabina Matos, lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. His campaign website is https://www.governordanmckee.com/. Helena Foulkes, former CVS executive and niece of former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd, is also running in the Democratic primary. She ran for Governor in 2022 and is officially declared with a filed candidacy. Her website is https://helenafoulkes.com/. Gregory Stevens, a restaurateur, is the third declared Democratic candidate with a filed candidacy. Additional background is available through his campaign website at https://gregforgovri.com/. Republican Candidates: Elaine Pelino, an actress, is the declared Republican candidate for Governor in 2026. She has filed for the office and is officially declared. More about her campaign can be found at https://www.elainepelino4governor.com/. There are no declared Independent or other party candidates included in the provided records. All candidate information is drawn solely from official filings and the provided summaries.
2026 Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election Details
The 2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election will take place on November 3, 2026. The primary elections, which determine each major party’s candidate, are scheduled for September 8, 2026. According to the summaries, the Democratic primary includes Governor Daniel McKee, Helena Foulkes, and Gregory Stevens, while the Republican primary features Elaine Pelino as the declared GOP candidate. Candidates are required to file their candidacies by June 24, 2026. Rhode Island uses partisan primaries in which candidates compete within their own party, followed by a single-winner general election. There is no indication in the provided data of nonpartisan or ranked-choice voting procedures; standard plurality voting is implied. Various election analysis outlets, including Cook Political Report and Ballotpedia, rate this contest as “Solid Democratic”. The election process is governed by Rhode Island law, and official information about voting, voter rights, and accessibility is available through the state’s voter information center.
Polling and race outlook for the 2026 Rhode Island Governor race
Polling so far highlights a competitive Democratic primary for the Rhode Island governor’s race. According to a University of New Hampshire poll conducted from September 17–23, 2025, Helena Foulkes led Daniel McKee among likely voters, earning 35% to McKee’s 19%, with 40% of respondents still undecided. A separate four-way Democratic primary poll from University of Rhode Island/YouGov found McKee narrowly ahead at 19% versus Foulkes’s 14%, again with a large undecided segment. The general election is rated as ‘Solid Democratic’ by the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Race to the WH. This reflects Rhode Island’s historical Democratic lean and current control of state and federal offices by the party.
Key issues in the 2026 Rhode Island Governor election
While no specific key issues were listed in the input data, gubernatorial campaigns in Rhode Island often focus on topics such as the state’s budget, economic growth, public education, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy policy. Election summaries and recent coverage suggest that campaign fundraising, the incumbent’s approval rating, and Rhode Island’s economic recovery may also feature in candidate messaging. Given the office, the role of state government and party control may become discussion points throughout the 2026 campaign. Voters may also pay attention to policy experience among candidates, the impact of past officeholders, and Rhode Island’s ongoing priorities as identified by recent state governments and the legislature.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Rhode_Island_gubernatorial_election
Rhode Island gubernatorial election, 2026
https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Voter/VoterRights
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Jon Sutton
An expert in management, strategy, and field organizing, Jon has been a frequent commentator in national publications.
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