Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
33.0%
17.2%
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
$14.0K
SEP 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusiness executive
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age61 years old (Jul 18, 1964)
GenderFemale
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LocationRhode Island
BackgroundBusiness executive
EducationHarvard College (A.B./B.A.)
Notable personal detailsHelena Buonanno Foulkes is an American business executive and political candidate from Rhode Island. She spent more than two decades at CVS, rising to lead its retail/pharmacy operations and playing a key role in the company’s decision to stop selling tobacco products. She later served as CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company and has served in Harvard University governance as president of the Harvard Board of Overseers (2021–2022). She was a Democratic candidate for governor of Rhode Island in 2022 and has since run again for governor.
SourcesShowHide
helenafoulkes.comen.wikipedia.orgmaterials.proxyvote.comthecrimson.comoctagonai.conga.orgpolymarket.comrhodeislandcurrent.comfortune.combluevoterguide.orgsuttonsmart.comwhatsupnewp.comoceanstatemedia.orgthegreenpapers.combhfs.comharvardmagazine.comcollege.harvard.edubostonglobe.comgolocalprov.comontheissues.orgabc6.comapnews.comtime.comdemocracyinaction.uswashingtonpost.comkffhealthnews.orgpolitico.comballotready.orgcongress.govdocquery.fec.govfec.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for households (proposed a one-time $500 tax credit for earners under $100,000) and opposes proposed increases in corporate taxes; favors using budget surplus for relief and targeted investments rather than raising taxes.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to insurance and strengthening state healthcare programs, has worked to boost ACA enrollment and emphasizes lowering prescription drug prices and public-health measures (e.g., removing tobacco from CVS shelves); has called for eliminating a state budget ban on abortion coverage.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad access to abortion and removing state-level barriers to coverage; has called abortion healthcare and backed ending the ban on abortion coverage for Medicaid and state employees while enforcing Rhode Island’s Reproductive Privacy Act.
Climate & Energy
Supports making Rhode Island a leader in clean, affordable energy, investing in municipal climate resiliency and stormwater management, and advancing offshore wind and other renewable energy projects while building local clean jobs and infrastructure. Advocates restructuring and creating permanent state funding for municipal resiliency projects and planning requirements for municipalities to prepare for climate impacts. Emphasizes infrastructure resilience (roads, stormwater, buffers, trees) and state support for local adaptation efforts.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate has publicly called for banning assault weapons and banning or limiting high-capacity magazines and has said she will push the legislature to pass gun safety legislation. She supports prioritizing gun safety reforms in Rhode Island.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Helena Foulkes is drawing attention in Rhode Island’s Democratic governor primary, where recent polls have shown her ahead of Gov. Dan McKee, though one newer poll still shows a competitive race with many undecided voters. McKee has been attacking her and her CVS background, while several local Democratic groups and Attorney General Peter Neronha have endorsed her. Foulkes has also rolled out major policy proposals on housing and education, including a millionaire tax to fund affordable homes and a $100 million plan for career and technical schools.
helenafoulkes.com+31
Articles
TBThe Boston Globe2 months ago
For Dan McKee, a narrow path to reelection
Positive
PJProvidence Journal (Projo)2 months ago
Foulkes proposes $100M for career and technical education in RI
Positive
TBThe Boston Globe4 months ago
Attorney General Peter Neronha shaping R.I. politics before leaving office
Positive
TBThe Boston Globe4 months ago
R.I. AG Neronha endorses Foulkes in primary against Governor McKee
Positive
Polls
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Helena Foulkes for Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
The Boston Globe editorial board
Public endorsement
The Boston Globe editorial board endorsed Helena Foulkes in the 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial primary.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising