Democratic candidate Helena Foulkes defeated independent Ken Block and Republican Aaron Guckian to win the Rhode Island governorship, the Associated Press called Tuesday night.
Foulkes served as an executive of CVS Health Corporation for 25 years, which included a four-year stint as president of the retail division. Notably, she worked to eliminate the sale of tobacco products across CVS stores nationwide. Her experience in business spans several other large corporations, including Goldman Sachs, Costco and Tiffany and Co. In 2022, during her first political campaign, she narrowly lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary to current Gov. Dan McKee — a faceoff she won this year.
Foulkes’s campaign platform included a widely-advertised plan to construct 20,000 new housing units before 2034. She has stated that she plans to fund this project with a millionaire’s tax. The governor-elect also aims to task “Medicaid navigators” with providing paperwork assistance to the 40,000 Rhode Islanders at risk of losing access to Medicaid.
Her other stated priorities include increasing renewable energy use, regulating Flock cameras, expanding childcare assistance and funding educational programs.
Foulkes has been endorsed by several high-profile politicians, such as United States Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA 11) and R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha P’19 P’22, and from unions, including the Rhode Island Troopers Association and the National Education Association of Rhode Island.
She will take office in January 2027.
Annika Melwani is a metro senior staff writer covering state politics and justice. She is from New York City and plans on concentrating in English and International and Public Affairs. In her free time, she can be found reading or drinking an iced vanilla latte.
