Foulkes Wins Rhode Island Governor Race
Democrat Helena Foulkes defeated independent Ken Block in a two-to-one margin, though the results have not yet been certified.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democrat Helena Foulkes won the Rhode Island governor election with 57.5% of the vote, defeating independent Ken Block by a two-to-one margin. Some absentee ballots remain uncounted, and the results have not yet been certified.
Why it matters
Foulkes's victory gives Rhode Island Democrats a new governor after she previously lost the 2022 race to Dan McKee by three percentage points. She will take office in January and has outlined plans for housing, tenant protections and the Washington Bridge.
Foulkes received 57.5% of the vote, a two-to-one margin over independent Ken Block, after losing the 2022 race to Dan McKee by three percentage points. The results have not been certified, and some absentee ballots remain uncounted.
The players
Helena Foulkes
Foulkes is a Rhode Island Democrat who previously ran for governor in 2022 and won the 2026 general election.
Ken Block
Block is an independent candidate who lost the Rhode Island governor race to Foulkes.
Dan McKee
McKee is the Democratic governor who defeated Foulkes in 2022 and lost to her in the 2026 Democratic primary.
The details
Foulkes's family joined her on stage at the state Democrats' election night victory party. She is 62 years old and her father, Bernard Buonanno, is a former chairman of Old Stone Bank.
Timeline
2022: Foulkes lost the governor race to Dan McKee by three percentage points.
September 2026: Foulkes beat McKee by 25 points in the Democratic primary.
November 4, 2026: Foulkes won the general election and gave her victory speech.
January 2027: Foulkes will begin her term as governor.
Season Trajectory
Foulkes's 2026 win reverses her 2022 loss to Dan McKee, when she trailed by three percentage points in the general election. Her 25-point primary victory over McKee in September 2026 set up the general election result.
Rhode Island voters now have a governor-elect whose stated priorities include building 20,000 new homes and apartments and passing a Tenants Bill of Rights. The Washington Bridge repair is also on her agenda.
The takeaway
Foulkes's victory shows that a candidate who lost a statewide race can return and win after a strong primary performance. Voters will watch whether her housing and infrastructure plans are funded and carried out after she takes office.
What happens next
Official certification of the results and the counting of remaining absentee ballots will determine the final tally before Foulkes takes office in January.
Further reading
For more on how state races are decided, see Elections coverage in Rhode Island.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USA TODAY.
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