New Poll Finds Just 15% Believe McKee Deserves to be Reelected, Foulkes Under Water

New Poll Finds Just 15% Believe McKee Deserves to be Reelected, Foulkes Under Water

A poll by the University of New Hampshire paints a dismal situation for Governor Dan McKee’s chances of winning reelection.

But, the poll also shows that more Rhode Islanders have a negative perception than a positive one of rival Helena Foulkes. The poll suggests that there may be an opportunity for another Democratic candidate. The UNH poll did include Speaker Joseph Shekarchi, but did not include Attorney General Peter Neronha. GoLocal columnist Robert Whitcomb hit on the potential for a Neronha candidacy in his column this weekend.

“Seven in ten Rhode Islanders disapprove of Governor Dan McKee's job performance, including six in ten Democrats. Many cite his handling of infrastructure or transportation or his leadership as the reason for their disapproval. Looking ahead to 2026, only one in six believes McKee deserves reelection. Prospective voters in the Democratic primary prefer former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, though half remain undecided,” writes UNH.

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Maybe the most damning number is “Only 15% of likely general election voters in Rhode Island think McKee deserves to be re-elected, 69% think he does not deserve to be re-elected, and 16% don't know or have no opinion. In May, only 11% said that McKee deserved re-election, while 74% said that he did not. Only 20% of Democrats, 14% of Independents, and 6% of Republicans think McKee deserves re-election.”

 

 

Foulkes Underwater

The poll gives Foulkes some positive news, but perhaps not as much as one would think, considering she ran and lost to McKee in 2022 in a close Democratic primary.

"Among likely voters in the 2026 Democratic primary, 35% say they would vote for former CVS executive Helena Foulkes if the primary were held today, 19% would vote for McKee, 6% would write in someone else, and 40% are undecided,” writes UNH.

But a bigger problem, Foulkes is upside down. More people have a negative opinion of her than a positive one. Foulkes has made a number of false statements about her and her family's involvement with opioids, and their ties to Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family.

More recently, GoLocal uncovered a series of connections between Foulkes and tobacco executives. She has repeatedly raised campaign funds from those executives and their families.

“Sixteen percent of Rhode Island residents have a favorable opinion of Foulkes, 22% have an unfavorable opinion of her, 27% are neutral, and 36% don't know enough about her to say. Foulkes' net favorability (the percentage who have a favorable opinion minus the percentage who have an unfavorable opinion) is -6. Twenty-four percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Foulkes but only 8% of Independents and 6% of Republicans feel that way,” finds UNH.

 

 

Shekarchi Lower Awareness

According to UNH, Speaker Joe Shekarchi also has a net negative.

“Thirteen percent of Rhode Islanders have a favorable opinion of Shekarchi, 24% are neutral, 19% have an unfavorable opinion of him, and 44% don't know enough about him to say. Shekarchi’s net favorability rating is -6. Twenty percent of Democrats have a favorable opinion of Shekarchi but only 6% of Independents and 5% of Republicans feel that way," writes UNH.