Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
31.9%
16.6%
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
$10.9K
SEP 9, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusiness executive
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age61 years old (Jul 18, 1964)
GenderFemale
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LocationRhode Island
BackgroundBusiness executive
EducationHarvard College (A.B.), 1986
Notable personal detailsHelena Grace Foulkes is an American business executive and Rhode Island Democratic candidate for governor. She spent more than two decades at CVS Health, including serving as Executive Vice President of CVS Health and President of CVS Pharmacy, and later served as CEO of Hudson's Bay Company. She is a Harvard College graduate and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. She previously ran for governor in 2022 and announced a second campaign for Rhode Island governor in 2025.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgapnews.comhelenafoulkes.coms206.q4cdn.comwikidata.orgoctagonai.corhodeislandcurrent.compolitics1.comri.govfortune.comnga.orgwral.comes.linkedin.compa.govrilegislature.govbhfs.combostonglobe.comgolocalprov.comontheissues.orgwhatsupnewp.comabc6.comtime.comdemocracyinaction.uswashingtonpost.comkffhealthnews.orgsubscribe.bostonglobe.comncsl.orgfec.govballotready.orggovinfo.govdocquery.fec.govcdn.ballotpedia.orgvotesmart.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for households (proposed a one-time $500 tax credit for earners under $100,000) and opposes proposed increases in corporate taxes; favors using budget surplus for relief and targeted investments rather than raising taxes.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to insurance and strengthening state healthcare programs, has worked to boost ACA enrollment and emphasizes lowering prescription drug prices and public-health measures (e.g., removing tobacco from CVS shelves); has called for eliminating a state budget ban on abortion coverage.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad access to abortion and removing state-level barriers to coverage; has called abortion healthcare and backed ending the ban on abortion coverage for Medicaid and state employees while enforcing Rhode Island’s Reproductive Privacy Act.
Climate & Energy
Supports making Rhode Island a leader in clean, affordable energy, investing in municipal climate resiliency and stormwater management, and advancing offshore wind and other renewable energy projects while building local clean jobs and infrastructure. Advocates restructuring and creating permanent state funding for municipal resiliency projects and planning requirements for municipalities to prepare for climate impacts. Emphasizes infrastructure resilience (roads, stormwater, buffers, trees) and state support for local adaptation efforts.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate has publicly called for banning assault weapons and banning or limiting high-capacity magazines and has said she will push the legislature to pass gun safety legislation. She supports prioritizing gun safety reforms in Rhode Island.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedFeb 12, 2026
Helena Foulkes, a gubernatorial opponent of Gov. Dan McKee, had said she would fire Rhode Island Transportation Director Peter Alviti if elected. Alviti has now announced his retirement amid criticism and controversy over management of the Washington Bridge, saying the decision was his and not tied to the controversy. He also said he did not want to be a political pawn in the upcoming election.
en.wikipedia.org+32
Articles
PJProvidence Journal (Projo)4 months ago
Shekarchi ends 2026 speculation, says he won't run for RI governor
Positive
PJProvidence Journal (Projo)4 months ago
Botched RI state employee W-2s spark controversy
Neutral
TBThe Boston Globe4 months ago
After the Washington Bridge mess, Peter Alviti’s exit isn’t exactly quiet
Negative
Polls
Rhode Island Democratic Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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