RI Gov's Race: Big Money Raised by McKee and Foulkes, Is Shekarchi Looming?

RI Gov's Race: Big Money Raised by McKee and Foulkes, Is Shekarchi Looming?

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Helena Foulkes continue to battle for campaign fundraising supremacy in anticipation of a 2026 gubernatorial run. But, there is an 800-pound political gorilla in the corner who could be looming — Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi.

Foulkes loaded up on donations from the East Side of Providence. It was a bastion of giving from the likes of prominent Rhode Islanders, including thousands in donations from the Boss family, once of AT Cross, and there were thousands more from the Dimeos. 

It would only be appropriate that her campaign spent nearly $4,000 on the Agawam Country Club and another $4,100 on the Rhode Island Country Club.

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Also, there looked to be some movement away from McKee — David Chenevert made two $1,000 donations to Foulkes. He heads the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association.

Jonathan Duffy, whose firm Duffy & Shanley just received a contract extension from Commerce Corporation, which McKee chairs, gave Foulkes $2,000, and his brother Jeremy Duffy of the Isle Brewers chipped in another $250.

Former Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, who once tried to spark a fight with McKee, donated $2,000 to Foulkes.

Lawyer Mac Farmer maxed out to Foulkes with a $2,000 donation, and his daughter and realtor Heidi Farmer added another $250.

Liquor distributor Raymond Mancini was in for $2,000.

There was a flurry of donations from Gina Raimondo’s former staffers, including Mike Raia ($250), Jon Romano ($2,000) as well as his wife Jennifer Paolino ($2,000), and Meredith Curren ($1,000). Romano has an active role in the Foulkes campaign.

Top Democrats Don and Sherry Sweitzer each dated $500. Sweitzer was a top executive with IGT and was treasurer for the Democratic Governor's Association when Raimondo chaired the group. That sparked its own controversy.

Foulkes' cash balance for the second quarter was $469,601.81. 

 

McKee's Take

McKee ends the quarter with $421,352.93. He took in $250,000 after returning some checks and had significantly higher campaign expenses than Foulkes. His campaign spent $79,000 with the biggest slice going to former chief-of-staff Tony Silva via his consulting business AJS Consulting, which is paid $7,500 a month.

McKee piled up donations from State House Lobbyists in the second quarter including Bob Goldberg ($1,750), Matthew Lopes ($2,000), and Chris Boyle ($1500).

Politicos like Guy Dufault added $1,000 and David Caprio added $1,500.

Close McKee ally and former head of the State Police Brendan Doherty contributed $1,000, and his wife Michele added $250.

Steven Filippi of Ballard's on Block Island added $2,000.

And Mary O’Brien of Saugy’s gave $350.

 

 

Shekarchi Looming?

Is Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi a potential candidate?

He continues to play coy, but if McKee stepped away due to low approval ratings as a result of the Washington Bridge controversy and the financial mismanagement of the minor league soccer stadium in Pawtucket, Shekarchi could jump in the race.

He took in more than $420,000 in the second quarter.

Shekarchi is sitting on $2,826,301.91 cash on hand, dwarfing McKee and Foulkes' combined balances.