Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has lost his Democratic primary to businesswoman Helena Foulkes, becoming the first sitting US governor since 2018 to be denied renomination by his own party. The result marks a significant upset in the 2026 primary season and adds McKee to a growing list of incumbents ousted this cycle, ending his bid for a second full term as governor.

Foulkes, a former CVS Health executive and Costco board member, avenged her narrow defeat to McKee in their 2022 primary contest. The campaign focused heavily on the candidates' records, with Foulkes attacking McKee's handling of the Washington Bridge closure since December 2023, while McKee criticised her corporate background and CVS's opioid-related controversies. Foulkes now heads into the November general election as the favourite, facing the winner of a Republican primary between Aaron Guckian and Elaine Pelino, alongside three independent candidates.