Foulkes Wins Rhode Island Governor’s Race

Helena Buonanno Foulkes was projected to win Rhode Island’s governorship on November 3, prevailing over independent Ken Block and Republican Aaron Guckian. The race was called Tuesday evening. Guckian later said he had called Foulkes to congratulate her and concede.

Foulkes, a former CVS Health executive, entered the general election after decisively beating incumbent Gov. Daniel J. McKee in September’s Democratic primary. She won 62.5 percent of that vote, carrying all 39 of the state’s cities and towns.

Campaign spending and polling showed Foulkes with a substantial advantage over her rivals. She spent $6.77 million from January 2025 through October 26, compared with $382,000 for Block and $139,000 for Guckian. A University of New Hampshire poll released shortly before Election Day put her at 55 percent, with Block at 34 percent and Guckian at 8 percent.

Foulkes’s role at CVS became a campaign issue amid scrutiny of the company’s handling of opioids. CVS Pharmacy and subsidiaries agreed in October to settle a Justice Department lawsuit over alleged unlawful dispensing of medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions for $315 million. Foulkes said that during her time leading CVS Pharmacy, the company reduced opioids dispensed by almost 40 percent and cut off more than 600 doctors she described as “pill mill doctors.”

Block criticized Foulkes as representing the state’s political establishment and filed an election-board complaint over spending by the state Democratic Party on digital communications and mailers attacking him. Foulkes denied the accusations, and the board had not acted on the complaint. Block also declined to release his tax returns, saying they could expose business information to competitors; Foulkes released hers.

Rhode Island Voters Choose Foulkes After Primary Victory

Rhode Island voters elected Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes governor on November 3, sending her to the State House after a commanding primary win over incumbent Daniel J. McKee. Foulkes beat independent Ken Block and Republican Aaron Guckian in the general election.

Her primary victory was decisive: she took 62.5 percent of the vote and won all 39 cities and towns. The general-election campaign also showed the force of her financial advantage. Foulkes spent $6.77 million through October 26, while Block spent $382,000 and Guckian $139,000. A University of New Hampshire poll shortly before Election Day put her at 55 percent.

But her corporate record remained a central question. CVS Pharmacy and subsidiaries agreed in October to settle a Justice Department case over alleged unlawful dispensing of medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions for $315 million. Foulkes, who led CVS Pharmacy from 2014 to 2018, said the company cut opioid dispensing by almost 40 percent during her tenure and stopped working with more than 600 doctors she called “pill mill doctors.”

The election gives Foulkes the opportunity to lead a state where the opioid crisis and the conduct of powerful institutions were prominent campaign concerns. Block attacked her as a new face for the same political machine and accused the state Democratic Party of improperly paying for communications targeting him. Foulkes rejected the claim; the Board of Elections had taken no action on his complaint.

Foulkes Wins as Rhode Island’s Political Establishment Holds On

Helena Buonanno Foulkes’s victory keeps Rhode Island in Democratic hands, despite independent Ken Block’s attack on what he called the state’s entrenched political machine. Foulkes defeated Block and Republican Aaron Guckian on November 3 after first ousting incumbent Gov. Daniel J. McKee in the Democratic primary.

Foulkes had a commanding financial edge, spending $6.77 million through October 26. Block spent $382,000 and Guckian $139,000. She also led in a University of New Hampshire poll released shortly before Election Day, with 55 percent to Block’s 34 percent and Guckian’s 8 percent.

The win does not erase questions about Foulkes’s years at CVS. CVS Pharmacy and subsidiaries agreed in October to settle a Justice Department case over alleged unlawful dispensing of medically unnecessary opioid prescriptions for $315 million. Foulkes said opioid dispensing fell almost 40 percent while she led CVS Pharmacy and that the company cut off more than 600 doctors she called “pill mill doctors.”

Block argued that Foulkes offered a new face for the same political establishment. He also filed a complaint alleging the state Democratic Party violated spending limits by paying for digital communications and mailers attacking him. Foulkes rejected the allegations, and the Board of Elections had not taken action. Guckian, the Republican nominee, conceded after the race was called.