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Independent

Ken Block

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Independent

Ken Block

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Rhode Island Governor winner?

$10.5K

NOV 7, 2026

General Election

Voters choose the office holder.

D. Party

89.0%

K. Block

11.0%

R. Party

4.0%

Overview

Current roleBusinessman

PartyIndependent

Political ideologyCentrist Independent

Age60 years old (Oct 11, 1965)

GenderMale

LocationRhode Island

BackgroundBusinessman

EducationDartmouth College (B.S.)

Notable personal detailsKenneth J. Block is a Rhode Island software engineer and businessman who founded Simpatico Software Systems and the Moderate Party of Rhode Island. He ran for Governor of Rhode Island as the Moderate Party nominee in 2010 and sought the Republican nomination in 2014, later becoming an independent and announcing another gubernatorial bid in 2026. He has also been active in Rhode Island government-reform and taxpayer watchdog efforts.

SourcesShow

en.wikipedia.org blockforgovernor.com justfacts.votesmart.org linkedin.com bostonglobe.com ballot-access.org es.wikipedia.org oceanstatemedia.org nga.org politifact.com pbn.com politics1.com independentpoliticalreport.com reddit.com nebhe.org golocalprov.com abc6.com browndailyherald.com anchorrising.com pbs.org epsilon.creativecirclecdn.com pressherald.com jamestownpress.com govtech.com stateofthestateri.com tax.ri.gov legislation.ballotpedia.org developer.ballotpedia.org voterguide.ballotpedia.org cba.ballotpedia.org cdn.ballotpedia.org senate.gov congress.gov ballotready.org govinfo.gov commerce.senate.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

Economy & Taxes

Supports lowering business and personal tax burdens to make Rhode Island more business‑friendly and to retain/attract companies; proposes targeted tax changes such as eliminating or reducing minimum corporate taxes and experimenting with sales-tax zones near state borders to boost cross‑border sales; emphasizes reducing wasteful government spending to relieve taxpayers.

Healthcare

Ken Block has criticized the Affordable Care Act/’Obamacare’ and Rhode Island’s HealthSource RI exchange, arguing the state cannot afford the law’s mandates and exchange. He has also focused on alleged waste and fraud in Rhode Island health and human services programs and advocated for cutting or reworking budgetary healthcare spending.

Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Ken Block has said he did not want his party to focus on divisive social issues such as abortion, and has been reported to describe abortion as a legal right and to support keeping Roe v. Wade in place. His public statements emphasize avoiding social-issue debates while indicating support for abortion remaining legally protected under Roe.

Climate & Energy

Supports alternative and renewable energy development, endorses projects like the Deepwater Wind offshore wind farm, and says Rhode Island should lessen dependence on fossil fuels and create green jobs through such projects.

Public Safety & Guns

The candidate opposes new statewide restrictions on firearms and does not intend to change Rhode Island’s existing gun laws; he has defended Second Amendment rights and criticized efforts to divest pension funds from gun manufacturers. He has argued that mental health and criminal intent, not the weapon, are the primary causes of gun violence and has expressed skepticism that an assault-weapons ban would reduce crime.

Polls

Rhode Island Governor winner?

Polling Average

25%20%15%10%5%0%

19%

K. Block

Date (Start - End)	Spread	Block
Polling Average	–	19.0%
Opinion DiagnosticsApr 13 - 16	–	18.0%
Opinion DiagnosticsApr 13 - 16	–	20.0%

Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne

New updates coming soon

We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.

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