The 2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic governor Dan McKee ran for re-election to a second full term but was defeated in the primary by Helena Foulkes. Primary elections took place on September 9, 2026.
Republicans have not won a statewide election in Rhode Island since 2006. While Rhode Island is generally a safely Democratic state, the Democratic primary was predicted to be competitive due to McKee's high unpopularity. The election has also been noted as not following national trends of progressives versus moderates, with both Democrats being relatively moderate and the primary instead largely boiling down to anger over the longtime closure of the Washington Bridge.
This is the first election since 2014 in which an elected state governor lost renomination. It is also the first time since 1994 in which an incumbent governor of Rhode Island lost renomination.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Helena Foulkes, former CVS executive, niece of former U.S. senator Chris Dodd, and candidate for governor in 2022 Eliminated in primary Dan McKee, incumbent governor (2021–present)
Disqualified Wil Gregersen, librarian Gregory Stevens, restaurateur
Declined Gregg Amore, Rhode Island Secretary of State (2023–present) (running for re-election) Alana DiMario, state senator from the 36th district (2021–present) Sabina Matos, lieutenant governor of Rhode Island (2021–present) and candidate for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district in 2023 (running for re-election, endorsed McKee) Peter Neronha, Rhode Island Attorney General (2019–present) (endorsed Buonanno Foulkes) Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (2021–2026) from the 23rd district (2013–present)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2026 Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Foulkes McKee 1 Aug 3, 2026 WPRO Bill Bartholomew YouTubeBartholomewTown Candidate Forum Series: RI Governor 2 Aug 12, 2026 WJAR Gene Valicenti YouTubeElection 2026 Debate: Democratic candidates for Rhode Island governor 3 Aug 18, 2026 WPRI-TVRhode Island College Ted NesiTim White YouTubeRI Governor Democratic Primary Debate
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated HelenaFoulkes DanMcKee GregoryStevens Other/UndecidedMargin270toWinAugust 18–27, 2026August 27, 202649.7%25.3%25.0%Foulkes +24.4%Race to the WHthrough August 11, 2026August 19, 202646.0%27.6%1.3%25.1%Foulkes +18.4%Average47.9%26.5%1.3%24.3%Foulkes +21.4%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HelenaFoulkes DanMcKee GregoryStevens Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026451 (LV)±4.6%56%18%—2%23%Emerson College/WPRI-TVAugust 21–22, 2026528 (LV)±4.2%45%30%——24%Embold ResearchAugust 3–11, 2026(LV)—48%28%—1%22%Tavern Research (D)July 10–14, 2026777 (LV)—39%33%——28%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026337 (LV)±5.0%42%22%1%4%31%Emerson College/WPRI-TVMay 14–16, 2026565 (LV)±4.1%40%20%—3%37%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026327 (LV)±5.4%45%11%3%2%39%Expedition Strategies (D)March 24–29, 2026800 (LV)±3.5%34%20%8%—38%Concord Public Opinion Partners (D)February 28, 2026319 (LV)—24%15%3%—58%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026364 (LV)±5.1%34%18%4%3%40%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–23, 2025275 (LV)±5.9%35%19%—6%40%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HelenaFoulkes DanMcKee PeterNeronha JoeShekarchi Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireNovember 13–17, 2025364 (LV)±5.1%29%11%—13%6%42%URI/YouGovAugust 1–18, 2025500 (A)±6.0%14%19%15%7%4%41%
Results
Republican primary 2022 lieutenant governor nominee Aaron Guckian defeated actress Elaine Pelino for the Republican nomination. Pelino requested a recount, which was approved by the Rhode Island Board of Elections, however it did not change the outcome.
Candidates Nominee Aaron Guckian, former chair of the Warwick Sewer Authority and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2022
Eliminated in primary Elaine Pelino, former actress and model
Disqualified Robert Raimondo, businessman and cousin of former Democratic Governor Gina Raimondo
Declined Jessica de la Cruz, minority leader of the Rhode Island Senate (2022–present) from the 23rd district (2019–present) (running for re-election) Kenneth Hopkins, mayor of Cranston (2021–present)
Endorsements
Debates and forums 2026 Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Participants Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee Withdrawn Guckian Pelino 1 Aug 12, 2026 WJAR Gene Valicenti YouTubeElection 2026 Debate: Republican candidates for Rhode Island governor
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AaronGuckian ElainePelino RobertRaimondo Other UndecidedEmbold ResearchAugust 3–11, 2026(LV)—17%37%—2%44%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026145 (LV)±8.1%17%42%1%1%39%
Results
Independents Candidates Declared Ken Block, founder of the Moderate Party of Rhode Island, Moderate Party nominee for governor in 2010 and Republican candidate in 2014 Jasjit Gotra, businessman CD Reynolds, perennial candidate
Did not qualify Paul Rianna Jr., independent candidate for governor in 2022 Julian J. Smith, photographer (previously ran for Rhode Island’s 1st congressional district)
Declined Helena Buonanno Foulkes, former CVS executive, candidate for governor in 2022, granddaughter of former U.S. senator Thomas Dodd and niece of former U.S. senator Chris Dodd (running as a Democrat)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 11, 2025Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HelenaFoulkes (D) AaronGuckian (R) KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedOpinion DiagnosticsSeptember 23–25, 2026800 (LV)±3.5%41%19%24%–16%39%–44% 17%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–21, 2026598 (LV)±4.0%44%17%25%4%10% September 9, 2026 Primary electionsUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026750 (LV)±3.6%40%15%19%6%19%Emerson College/WPRI-TVAugust 21–22, 20261,000 (LV)±3.0%45%18%21%2%14%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026664 (LV)±3.9%38%22%19%21% Opinion DiagnosticsApril 13–16, 2026802 (LV)33%16%18%33%
Helena Foulkes vs. Elaine Pelino vs. Ken Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HelenaFoulkes (D) ElainePelino (R) KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026750 (LV)±3.6%42%20%18%4%17%
Dan McKee vs. Aaron Guckian vs. Ken Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanMcKee (D) AaronGuckian (R) KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026750 (LV)±3.6%27%17%26%10%20%Emerson College/WPRI-TVAugust 21–22, 20261,000 (LV)±3.0%36%17%26%3%19%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026664 (LV)±3.9%27%23%27%23% Opinion DiagnosticsApril 13–16, 2026802 (LV)28%15%20%37%
Dan McKee vs. Elaine Pelino vs. Ken Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanMcKee (D) ElainePelino (R) KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026750 (LV)±3.6%26%19%25%9%20%
Helena Foulkes vs. Republican nominee vs. Ken Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HelenaFoulkes (D) Republicannominee KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026664 (LV)±3.9%38%22%19%1%20%Emerson College/WPRI-TVMay 14–16, 20261,000 (LV)±3.0%39%21%19%3%19%
Dan McKee vs. Republican nominee vs. Ken Block Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanMcKee (D) Republicannominee KenBlock (I) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026664 (LV)±3.9%27%23%27%2%21%Emerson College/WPRI-TVMay 14–16, 20261,000 (LV)±3.0%33%23%22%6%17%
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections 2026 Rhode Island elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Ken Block (I) Helena Foulkes (D) Jasjit Gotra (I) Aaron Guckian (R)