Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, won the Democratic nomination for governor of Rhode Island, defeating incumbent Gov. Dan McKee. The Associated Press reported the result on Wednesday night.

McKee is the first sitting governor to lose a primary since 2018 and the first in Rhode Island in over 30 years. The race was combative, with Foulkes portraying McKee as an insider protecting cronies, while McKee criticized her leadership at CVS during the opioid crisis. Foulkes gained traction by highlighting voter frustration over the 2023 closure of the Washington Bridge, a key link between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which caused major traffic disruptions.

She also benefited from a national anti-incumbent sentiment and voter perception that McKee was an accidental governor, having assumed office after Gina Raimondo joined the Biden administration in 2021. McKee, 75, defended his handling of the bridge crisis, citing structural failures and claiming he prioritized public safety over popularity. However, voters criticized delayed communication and his decision to retain the transportation chief for over two years post-closure.

Foulkes pledged to hire an outsider to lead the state Transportation Department if elected. Political scientist Adam Myers of Providence College noted McKee’s lack of popularity predated the bridge issue, which then dominated his governorship. Foulkes had four years to prepare after her prior primary challenge, emerging well-funded and strategically refined.

Construction on the new Washington Bridge continues, with completion expected by 2028.