{"id":2657638,"date":"2026-09-10T13:55:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T17:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incumbent-democratic-governor-loses-primary-by-a-stunning-25-points\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T13:58:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T17:58:42","slug":"incumbent-democratic-governor-loses-primary-by-a-stunning-25-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incumbent-democratic-governor-loses-primary-by-a-stunning-25-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Incumbent Democratic Governor Loses Primary by a Stunning 25 Points"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fincumbent-democratic-governor-loses-primary-by-a-stunning-25-points%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2657638&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rhode Island Democratic Governor Daniel McKee experienced a critically important defeat in his primary race, losing to Helena Foulkes by nearly 25 points. Foulkes secured over 62% of the vote with most ballots counted, marking the first primary defeat of a sitting Rhode Island governor in over three decades. A former CVS executive and retailer, Foulkes had previously challenged McKee in 2022, narrowly losing than. She emphasized unity and continued work for all residents after her victory. McKee conceded and committed to a smooth transition as he plans to collaborate with Foulkes for the upcoming general election.Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Republican primary remains unresolved, with Aaron Guckian narrowly leading Elaine Pelino. Guckian, a former GOP candidate and trade association leader, holds a slight advantage. In Providence, incumbent Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley lost his re-election bid to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-libertarian-activist-detained-handcuffed-by-campus-police-officers\/\" title=\"WATCH: Libertarian Activist Detained, Handcuffed By Campus Police Officers\">young democratic socialist<\/a> David Morales, who received endorsements from prominent progressives and labor unions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Incumbent Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee of Rhode Island suffered a devastating loss in his primary race on Wednesday, losing by almost 25 points.<\/p>\n<p>As of Thursday morning, business executive Helena Foulkes had 62.4 percent of the vote to McKee\u2019s 37.6 percent, with over 97 percent of the vote counted, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-primary-elections\/rhode-island-governor-results\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to NBC News.<\/p>\n<p>Foulkes gained a strong lead early in the night and never looked back.<\/p>\n<p>This is the first time in over 30 years that a sitting Rhode Island governor has been defeated in their primary, PBS <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/politics\/foulkes-defeats-rhode-islands-mckee-1st-governor-in-8-years-to-lose-a-primary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Foulkes has served as an executive with the pharmaceutical chain CVS and with retailer Hudson\u2019s Bay.<\/p>\n<p>This race marked a rematch from 2022, when Foulkes ran against McKee in the Democratic primary but failed to secure the nomination, <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/Rhode_Island_gubernatorial_election,_2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">losing<\/a> by only a few thousand votes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTonight, we may have won the Democratic primary for governor, but let me be clear about what happens next: You will have a governor for everyone,\u201d she told a crowd of supporters in Providence during her victory speech on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause there is so much work that needs to be done, and we need to do this together,\u201d Foulkes added.<\/p>\n<p>In his concession speech, McKee pledged to work with Foulkes to achieve a \u201csmooth transition\u201d as she prepares to face the GOP nominee in November.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is something that I think is difficult to deal with, but we just got to hold our heads high,\u201d McKee said, adding that he\u2019s proud \u201cbecause I know the work we\u2019ve done together is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Republican primary is still up for grabs between Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino.<\/p>\n<p>Guckian is clinging to a slight lead with 50.6 percent to Pelino\u2019s 49.4 percent, with almost 98 percent of the vote counted. It remains too close to call.<\/p>\n<p>Guckian is a state trade association executive and was the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor back in 2022. He also received a key endorsement from the state Republican party, <a href=\"https:\/\/kfoxtv.com\/news\/nation-world\/rhode-island-primary-election-republican-gop-primary-governor-aaron-guckian-elaine-pelino-september-10-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according<\/a> to KFOX-TV.<\/p>\n<p>Pelino, on the other hand, is a former actress and first-time political candidate.<\/p>\n<p>McKee wasn\u2019t the only incumbent to lose in Rhode Island on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Providence\u2019s Democratic Mayor Brett Smiley, 47, lost his reelection bid to David Morales, 27, a young democratic socialist who garnered the endorsement of Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.<\/p>\n<p>Morales was endorsed by Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, as well, along with several labor union figures, helping to put him over the top.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]] = document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display = 'block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src = firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id'] = firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting = jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display = 'none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display = 'block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Daniel McKee lost his primary by nearly 25 points, with Helena Foulkes leading at 62.4%<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2657639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-10T121615.721.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[45978,34069,44487,33184],"class_list":["post-2657638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-governor","tag-election-news","tag-political-upset","tag-primary-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-10T121615.721.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2657638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2657638"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2657638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2657642,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2657638\/revisions\/2657642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2657639"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2657638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2657638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2657638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}