2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

See also: 2026 United States gubernatorial elections

2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
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.

While Rhode Island is considered to be 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 source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Helena
Foulkes 		Dan
McKee 		Gregory
Stevens 		Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[16] February 12–16, 2026 364 (LV) ± 5.1% 34% 18% 4% 3%[b] 41%
University of New Hampshire[17] September 17–23, 2025 275 (LV) ± 5.9% 35% 19% – 6%[c] 40%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Helena
Foulkes 		Dan
McKee 		Peter
Neronha 		Joe
Shekarchi 		Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire[18] November 13–17, 2025 364 (LV) ± 5.1% 29% 11% – 13% 6%[d] 42%
URI/YouGov[19] August 1–18, 2025 500 (A) ± 6.0% 14% 19% 15% 7% 4% 41%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Independents

Candidates

Potential

Declined

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[28] Solid D September 11, 2025
Inside Elections[29] Solid D August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[30] Safe D March 19, 2026
Race to the WH[31] Likely D September 16, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Kalunian, Kim; Baccari, Raymond (January 21, 2026). "Community Focus: RI Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz". WPRI 12 News. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  24. ^ Nesi, Ted (July 19, 2025). "Nesi's Notes: July 19". WPRI-TV. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  25. ^ Bessette, James (June 30, 2023). "Field for 1st Congressional District seat expands to 35 candidates". Providence Business News. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  26. ^ "Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election, 2023". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  27. ^ 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
  28. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  29. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  30. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  31. ^ "Governor Forecast – 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

Official campaign websites

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