McKee comments on 2026 challenge from former CVS executive Foulkes

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Helena Foulkes is officially running for governor of Rhode Island.

Foulkes is a former CVS executive and ran for governor in 2022, falling just a few percentage points behind Governor Dan McKee in the Democratic primary.

This time around she says she believes things will be different because many people are feeling more pressure.

Governor Dan McKee, meanwhile, released an ad the same day Foulkes announced her campaign saying that she helped fuel the opioid crisis during her time as an executive at CVS.

We asked McKee about Foulkes entering the race today and he said that Foulkes had profited off of the opioid epidemic, saying that he believed he was a better leader for the state.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve done as a state,” said McKee.

The 2026 gubernatorial primaries will be held on September 8, 2026.