A new poll delivered red flags for Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, ahead of his reelection bid next year.
Why It Matters
The poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire, suggests that a majority of Rhode Islanders are unhappy with McKee’s leadership ahead of the 2026 midterms, when Republicans could be eyeing the race as a potential opportunity to flip, despite the state’s long-standing record of being solidly Democratic.
Although the poll did not ask about specific head-to-head matchups for the election, the results could be troubling for Democrats in the state.
The state has not elected a Republican governor since 2006, though it did support independent former Governor Lincoln Chafee in 2011.
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Newsweek reached out to McKee’s campaign via email for comment.
What to Know
Only 19 percent of Rhode Islanders approve of McKee’s job performance, while 71 percent disapprove of him, according to the survey of 653 Rhode Island residents from May 22 to May 26, 2025. The poll had a margin of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
It found that 74 percent of all Rhode Island voters—including 60 percent of Democrats—do not believe McKee deserves to be reelected; only 11 percent said they think he deserves to be reelected.
Thirty-two percent of respondents said they want to see Democrat Helena Foulkes, a businesswoman who challenged McKee in 2022, to run again, while 23 percent said they want Republican Ashley Kalus to jump into the race. Only 19 percent said they want to see former Governor Gina Raimondo, who served as Commerce secretary under former President Joe Biden, run.
At the same time, the poll found that President Donald Trump is also unpopular in the state. Only 37 percent of respondents gave him positive marks, compared to 61 percent who disapproved of his performance during his first few months back in the Oval Office.
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Joe Powers, chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, described the poll as a “glaring reflection of the Governor’s failed leadership and the growing dissatisfaction among Rhode Islanders” in a statement to Newsweek, pointing to the closure of the Washington Bridge, pay raises for the governor’s cabinet and the sanctuary state designation as key issues the state is facing.
“The upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race, while traditionally leaning Democratic, is poised to be highly competitive. The Republican Party of Rhode Island is committed to presenting a viable alternative—one that prioritizes transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the genuine needs of our citizens,” he said.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee meets with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in Warwick, Rhode Island, on May 5, 2021. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee meets with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in Warwick, Rhode Island, on May 5, 2021. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
While McKee remains unpopular, according to the poll, a Republican victory in the state may not be an easy feat, given the state’s Democratic lean. It backed Vice President Kamala Harris by nearly 14 points in 2024 and voted for Biden by more than 20 points in 2020.
On the presidential level, Rhode Island has not voted for a Republican since 1984.
McKee, who assumed office after Raimondo resigned to join the Biden administration, won his first full term in office in 2022, defeating Kalus by nearly 20 points.
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What People Are Saying
WPRI political analyst Joe Fleming told the Providence-based news station: “The governor has some serious work to do over the next six months or so to show voters that he’s doing a good job and deserves reelection. If he can’t do that, I think you’ll see Democrats lining up to run for the office.”
McKee told WJAR in March: “I think that we’ve made a great deal of progress, keeping people safe during the COVID certainly was important, opening the businesses at that time. Keeping people safe when I shut down the bridge, the Washington Bridge, and now we’re actually in the process of rebuilding that bridge and have the money in place.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether McKee will face a primary challenge from fellow Democrats or which Republicans may enter the race. The primary is still more than a year away on September 8, 2026. The Cook Political Report currently classifies the race as being Solid Democratic, though Sabato’s Crystal Ball classifies it as Likely Democratic.
Costco is nominating former US commerce secretary and Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo to serve on its board of directors, the Washington state-based retail giant announced last week.
“We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board,” Costco chairman Hamilton James said in a statement. “Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise. We look forward to her contributions.”
Raimondo served as Rhode Island governor from 2015 to 2021, when she was tapped to serve as the Biden administration’s secretary of commerce. Before entering politics in 2010, she worked in venture capital.
Her nomination will likely be voted on at the company’s next shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for Jan. 15.
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The nomination comes days after the warehouse store announced it would sue the Trump administration over its tariff policy. Costco says the administration’s tariffs are unlawful, since they were imposed under a law that has historically been used to impose sanctions against other nations.
Earlier this year, Raimondo said she is considering running for president in 2028, becoming one of the first Democrats to do so. She also criticized the direction of the party and suggested it had ignored bread-and-butter economics issues in 2024 election loss to Donald Trump.
She added, though, that “if I thought somebody else would be better, or better able to win, I’d get behind that person in a minute.”
Costco does not currently operate any stores in Rhode Island. The nearest location is located on Interstate 95 in Sharon, Mass., according to the company’s website.
Last year, the company seemed to back away from a plan to build a warehouse at a shuttered correctional facility in Cranston, WPRI reported. Officials in Warwick and Smithfield have also expressed interest in bringing the box store to their communities.
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Material from previous Globe coverage and Globe wire services was used.
Camilo Fonseca can be reached at camilo.fonseca@globe.com. Follow him on X @fonseca_esq and on Instagram @camilo_fonseca.reports.
KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) — Tyshawn Archie scored the game-winning jump shot with two seconds left and racked up 18 total points to lead McNeese past Rhode Island 66-64 on Tuesday.
Archie went 7 of 12 from the field for the Cowboys (8-2, 1-1 Southland Conference). Jovohn Garcia scored 13 points while shooting 4 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Larry Johnson shot 4 of 11 from the field and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points.
Jahmere Tripp finished with 16 points and three steals for the Rams (7-4). Myles Corey added 12 points for Rhode Island. Keeyan Itejere had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
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McNeese went into halftime tied with Rhode Island 37-37. Archie scored eight points in the half. Archie scored 10 second-half points for McNeese to help set up their game-winning shot.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The lawsuits allege the administration violated congressional intent by dramatically reducing the amount of grant funding that can be spent on permanent housing and project renewals, from about 90 percent down to a third of the funding.
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HUD also planned to place new restrictions on access to the funds, including requirements mandating providers recognize only two genders, and punishing providers in localities that do not roll out strict anti-homeless laws.
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Monday’s filing states the government plans to “assess the issues raised” and release a revised notice.
“Because the December and January deadlines set by the 2025 [funding notice] are no longer operative, Plaintiff’s request for emergency, expedited relief via a Temporary Restraining Order is now moot,” the filing argues.
In an update posted to the HUD website, the department said in the previous fiscal year 2024-2025 funding notice, it “reserved the right to make changes to the [funding notice] instead of processing renewals for a variety of reasons.”
“The Department still intends to exercise this discretion and make changes to the previously issued [Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity] to account for new priorities,” the update states.
US District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy criticized the Trump administration for the sudden withdrawal at Monday’s hearing, according to Reuters.
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“It feels like intentional chaos,” said McElroy. “You can change the policy all you want [but] there’s a mechanism for doing so.”
McElroy ordered the Trump administration to file new arguments by next week, Politico reported.
Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.
