RI Election Recap: New Governor, AG, Plus Voters Consider Bond Questions

Rhode Island will have a new governor and attorney general.

Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes bested a field of five to win the governor's race.

Foulkes, who worked for CVS Pharmacy for 25 years and was president from 2014 to 2018, according to Ballotpedia, defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee in the primary.

"Thank you, Rhode Island!" the Foulkes Press Team tweeted following her victory.

Aaron Guckian, the Republican candidate and third-place finisher, tweeted that he conceded to Foulkes Tuesday night.

"To every supporter, volunteer, donor, and voter — THANK YOU," Guckian said. "I am forever grateful. It has been the honor of my life to campaign for the state I love. God Bless Rhode Island."

In the race for attorney general, Democrat Kim Ahern won against Republican Alan Gordon to succeed Peter F. Neronha, who is finishing his second and final term.

One her campaign website, Ahern listed putting violent offenders behind bars and bringing justice to survivors, providing mental health resources, and prosecuting hate crimes and civil rights violations as key issues.

Gordon, an ecclesiastical lawyer, had accused Ahern of having "interest conflicts and said he was "beholden to no special interests."

"I’d like to thank everyone who supported me and everyone who criticized me and everyone who voted for me and everyone else who voted," Gordon tweeted.

"Cannabis won this election," he said. Both candidates for the top law enforcement job think people should have access to God’s Gift."

Gordon congratulated Ahern and said, "I’m relieved I won’t have to wear panty hose to work every day for the next four years."

Also victorious Tuesday were incumbents Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Secretary of State Gregg Amore and General treasurer James Diossa, all Democrats.

Incumbent Sen. Jack Reed, a Democrat, also prevailed, as did Democrat Congressmen Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner.

Voters considered five statewide bond questions totaling $600 million in proposed borrowing, according to the Rhode Island Department of State's 2026 Voter Information Handbook.

Voters clearly approved three of the five, but two — one concerning borrowing $100 million for economic development and another for borrowing $50 million for the cultural economy — were by narrow margins with mail-ballot counting continuing Wednesday and provisional ballots generally counted beginning about 48 hours afterward.