Wednesday's Democratic primary could make Dan McKee the first elected U.S. governor in 12 years to lose renomination, with Helena Buonanno Foulkes mounting a strong rematch challenge.
The race has turned on the Washington Bridge, whose westbound span was shut in December 2023 after structural flaws were found; traffic that once carried about 100,000 vehicles a day is still squeezed onto the eastbound side.
State officials first said the bridge could reopen this year, but the timeline later slipped to November 2028, giving Foulkes an opening to attack McKee over the bidding process and rebuilding pace.
Foulkes has also outspent McKee by nearly 2-to-1, while high electricity rates and Rhode Island's affordable-housing shortage have added to anti-incumbent pressure.
In heavily Democratic Rhode Island, the primary winner is widely favored in November against Republican contenders Aaron Guckian or Elaine Pelino.