Incumbent
Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
16.1%
30.8%
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
$9.6K
SEP 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age74 years old (Jun 16, 1951)
GenderMale
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LocationRhode Island
BackgroundPolitician
EducationAssumption College (B.A., education and political science, 1973)
Notable personal detailsDaniel J. McKee is an American politician and businessman who has served as the 76th Governor of Rhode Island since March 2, 2021. He previously served as Rhode Island’s lieutenant governor (2015–2021) and as mayor of Cumberland (2000–2004; 2007–2015), after earlier service on the Cumberland Town Council. He has also worked in family businesses and in the health and fitness industry.
SourcesShowHide
governor.ri.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orges.wikipedia.orgpt.wikipedia.orgapnews.comde.wikipedia.orggovernordanmckee.comit.wikipedia.orgfr.wikipedia.orgyahoo.comimdb.comcranstonri.govarchive.phus.onair.ccballotready.orgbostonglobe.comdem.ri.govthepublicsradio.orgabc6.comclimatechange.ri.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgnga.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax increases on high earners and certain business activities while expanding tax relief and refundable credits for lower- and middle-income residents; advances budget proposals that avoid broad-based tax hikes but create new revenue tiers and program-specific taxes to fund spending priorities.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable care through strengthening Medicaid and state health system reforms, investing in primary care and behavioral health, and creating a Health Care System Planning Cabinet to evaluate systemic changes. Prioritizes improving Medicaid managed care oversight, raising or reviewing provider reimbursement rates, and using federal grants to expand rural health access.
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Immigration & Border
Supports welcoming refugees and protecting immigrants in the state while allowing cooperation with federal law enforcement in criminal cases; favors a path to legal status for undocumented residents and opposes warrantless detentions or profiling by state authorities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion and reproductive health care, including codifying Roe v. Wade protections and removing restrictions on abortion coverage; has signed state actions to protect patients and providers and backed legislation to ensure Medicaid and other coverage for abortion services.
Climate & Energy
Dan McKee has advanced binding climate legislation and state programs to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions, including signing the 2021 Act on Climate with enforceable emissions-reduction mandates and a law requiring 100% of Rhode Island’s electricity be offset by renewable energy by 2033. His administration has promoted clean-energy programs (heat pump incentives, Clean Heat RI) and funded climate planning, resilience, and environmental-justice initiatives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Public Safety & Guns
Dan McKee supports significant gun-safety measures including banning the sale/manufacture of certain assault-style weapons, banning large-capacity magazines, raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21, and enacting safe-storage requirements. He has included an assault-weapons ban in his budget proposals, publicly called for passage of such bans, and signed related gun-safety legislation as governor.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMay 19, 2026
Dan McKee is facing a tough Democratic primary challenge from Helena Foulkes, who is leading him in recent polls and has drawn an endorsement from Attorney General Peter Neronha. McKee has pushed back on the challenge, calling it disgraceful, while his administration is also under criticism over problems with Rhode Island’s $99 million ERP financial system and recent RIPTA service cuts. Separately, he extended the state of emergency and travel ban during a severe blizzard as the state dealt with outages and closures.
governor.ri.gov+24
Articles
TBThe Boston Globe2 months ago
RIPTA cuts were a mistake and must be reversed
Negative
PJProvidence Journal (Projo)3 months ago
RI Gov. McKee calls primary challenge 'disgraceful'
Negative
PJProvidence Journal (Projo)3 months ago
New poll shows Foulkes leading McKee in governor's race
Negative
BNBaltimore News3 months ago
State of emergency, travel ban to remain in effect in Rhode Island
Positive
Polls
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising