2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

See also: 2022 United States gubernatorial elections

The 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic governor Dan McKee became Rhode Island's governor on March 2, 2021, when term-limited Gina Raimondo resigned following her confirmation as United States Secretary of Commerce. McKee easily won a full term on election day, defeating Republican Ashley Kalus by more than 19 percentage points.^[1][2]

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →

Nominee Dan McKee Ashley Kalus Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 207,166 139,001 Percentage 57.92% 38.86%

County results Municipality results Congressional district results Precinct results McKee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Kalus:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Dan McKee Democratic Elected Governor Dan McKee Democratic

McKee's margin of victory and vote share was the highest for any candidate for governor of Rhode Island since 1992. This was the first time since that election that Democrats won every county in a gubernatorial election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dan McKee, incumbent governor^[a][3]

Eliminated in primary

• Matt Brown, former Rhode Island secretary of state, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2006 and candidate for governor in 2018^[4]
• Helena Foulkes, former CVS executive, granddaughter of former U.S. senator Thomas Dodd and niece of former U.S. senator Chris Dodd^[5][6] (endorsed McKee)^[7]
• Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island secretary of state^[8][9]
• Luis Daniel Muñoz, physician, community organizer, and independent candidate for governor in 2018^[10][11]

Withdrew

• Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island general treasurer^[12][13] (ran for the U.S. House)^[14]

Declined

• Jorge Elorza, mayor of Providence^[15][16][5]
• James Langevin, U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district and former secretary of state of Rhode Island^[17][18]
• Peter Neronha, attorney general of Rhode Island (ran for re-election)^[15][19]

Endorsements

Matt Brown

U.S. senators

• Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present) and candidate for president in 2016 and 2020 (Independent)^[20]

State legislators

• Cynthia Mendes, state senator from the 18th district^[21]

Helena Foulkes

U.S. representatives

• Patrick J. Kennedy, former U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district (1995–2011)^[22][23]
• Nancy Pelosi, 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2019–2023) and U.S. representative for California's 12th congressional district (1987–present)^[24]

State legislators

• Joseph Almeida, former state representative from the 12th district^[25]
• Maryellen Goodwin, state senator from the 1st district^[25]

Local officials

• Jorge Elorza, mayor of Providence^[25]

Individuals

• Nicole Alexander-Scott, former director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (2015–2022)^[26]

Newspapers

• The Boston Globe^[27]

Nellie Gorbea

State legislators

• Karen Alzate, state representative from the 60th district^[28]
• Lauren Carson, state representative from the 75th district^[28]
• J. Clement "Bud" Cicilline, former state senator^[28]
• Terri-Denise Cortvriend, state representative from the 72nd district^[28]
• Grace Diaz, state representative from the 11th district and former acting chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party^[28]
• Alana DiMario, state senator from the 36th district^[28]
• Susan Donovan, state representative from the 69th district^[28]
• John Edwards, state representative from the 70th district and former Majority Whip of the Rhode Island House of Representatives^[28]
• Leonela Felix, state representative from the 61st district^[28]
• Meghan Kallman, state senator from the 15th district^[28]
• Rebecca Kislak, state representative from the 4th district^[28]
• Jason Knight, state representative from the 67th district^[28]
• Carol Hagan McEntee, state representative from the 33rd district^[28]
• Mary Messier, state representative from the 62nd district^[28]
• Jim Seveney, state senator from the 11th district^[28]
• June Speakman, state representative from the 68th district^[28]
• Bridget Valverde, state senator from the 35th district^[28]
• Myrth York, former state senator^[28]

Organizations

• Clean Water Action Rhode Island^[29]
• EMILY's List^[30]
• Latino Victory^[29]
• Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus^[28]
• Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals^[29]
• Rhode Island Latino PAC^[28]
• RI Association of Dem City and Town Chairs^[29]

Labor unions

• Carpenters Union Local 330^[29]
• SEIU 1199 New England^[28]
• United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328^[31]
• United Steelworkers Local 12431^[32]

Dan McKee

State officials

• Sabina Matos, Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island^[33]

State legislators

• Dominick Ruggerio, President of the Rhode Island Senate^[34]
• Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives^[35]

Local officials

• Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, mayor of Woonsocket^[36]
• Steven Contente, Bristol town administrator^[36] (Independent)
• Roberto DaSilva, mayor of East Providence^[33]
• Phil Gould, Lincoln town administrator^[36] (Independent)
• Don Grebien, mayor of Pawtucket^[36]
• Charles Lombardi, mayor of North Providence^[36]
• Jeff Mutter, mayor of Cumberland^[34]
• Jeann-Marie Napolitano, Mayor of Newport^[34]
• Joe Polisena, mayor of Johnston^[36]

Organizations

• Democratic Governors Association^[37]
• Rhode Island Democratic Party^[38]

Labor unions

• Amalgamated Transit Union^[39]
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 99^[40]
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323^[40]
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251^[41]
• LiUNA RI Laborers’ District Council^[34]
• National Education Association Rhode Island^[42]
• Rhode Island AFL–CIO^[42]
• RI State Association of Fire Fighters^[34]
• United Auto Workers Region 9A^[43]
• United Nurses and Allied Professionals^[44]

Luis Daniel Muñoz

Individuals

• Andrew Yang, entrepreneur, founder of Venture for America, Democratic candidate for President of the United States in 2020 and for Mayor of New York City in 2021 (Independent)^[45]

Local officials

• David Alden Sears, member of the Cranston School Committee^{[46][better source needed]}

Organizations

• Building Bridges for America^[47]
• Catch Fire Movement^[48]
• Doctors in Politics^[49][50]
• Forward Party^[45]
• Future Generations PAC^[51][52]
• Roadmap for Progress^[47]
• Woke Doctors^{[53][better source needed]}

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Matt Brown	Helena Foulkes	Nellie Gorbea	Seth Magaziner	Dan McKee	Luis Daniel Muñoz	Other	Undecided
Fleming & Associates[54]	August 7–10, 2022	405 (LV)	± 4.9%	8%	14%	25%	–	28%	1%	–	21%
Lake Research Partners (D)[55][A]	July 25–27, 2022	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	7%	14%	27%	–	22%	3%	5%	22%
Suffolk University[56]	June 19–22, 2022	353 (LV)	± 5.2%	5%	16%	24%	–	20%	1%	2%	31%
Fleming & Associates[57]	May 9–12, 2022	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	7%	6%	23%	–	25%	2%	–	37%
Lake Research Partners (D)[58][A]	April 11–14, 2022	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	10%	7%	30%	–	24%	1%	3%	26%
	January 26, 2022	Magaziner withdraws from the race
Lake Research Partners (D)[59][A]	November 7–10, 2021	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	6%	4%	24%	16%	26%	–	–	20%

Results

Results by county

  McKee

•   30–40%

  Foulkes

•   30–40%

Results by municipality:

  McKee

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%

  Foulkes

•   30–40%
•   40–50%

  Gorbea

•   30–40%

Democratic primary results^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dan McKee (incumbent)	37,288	32.82%
	Democratic	Helena Foulkes	33,931	29.87%
	Democratic	Nellie Gorbea	29,811	26.24%
	Democratic	Matt Brown	9,021	7.94%
	Democratic	Luis Daniel Muñoz	3,547	3.12%
Total votes			113,598	100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ashley Kalus, businesswoman and former gubernatorial aide to Bruce Rauner^[61][62]

Eliminated in primary

• Jonathan Riccitelli, Independent candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018^[63]

Declined

• Ken Block, businessman, Moderate Party nominee for governor in 2010, and Republican candidate for governor in 2014^[64]
• David Darlington, former chair of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority^[65][66]
• Jessica de la Cruz, minority whip of the Rhode Island Senate (ran for U.S. House)^[65][67]
• Blake Filippi, minority leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (ran for re-election)^[68][69]
• Allan Fung, former mayor of Cranston and nominee for governor of Rhode Island in 2014 and 2018^[15][16] (ran for U.S. House)^[70]

Endorsements

Ashley Kalus

Organizations

• Rhode Island Republican Party^[71]

Results

Results by county:

  Kalus

•   80–90%

Results by municipality:

  Kalus

•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%
•   >90%

Republican primary results^[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ashley Kalus	17,188	83.68%
	Republican	Jonathan Riccitelli	3,351	16.32%
Total votes			20,539	100.0%

Third parties and Independents

Qualified

• Elijah Gizzarelli (Libertarian), veteran^[72][73][74]
• Zachary Hurwitz (independent), small business owner and undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island^[75]
• Paul Rianna Jr (independent), nursing assistant at Fatima Hospital^[76]

Declined

• Bill Gilbert (Moderate Party), Moderate Party nominee for governor in 2018 and for lieutenant governor in 2014^[77] (ran for U.S. House)^[78]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[79]	Solid D	March 4, 2022
Inside Elections[80]	Solid D	March 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[81]	Likely D	January 26, 2022
Politico[82]	Likely D	April 1, 2022
RCP[83]	Likely D	January 10, 2022
Fox News[84]	Likely D	May 12, 2022
538[85]	Solid D	June 30, 2022
Elections Daily[86]	Likely D	November 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Dan McKee (D)

Individuals

• Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States^[87]

Ashley Kalus (R)

State legislators

• Matt Smith, former Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (Democratic)^[88]

Local officials

• Dick Fossa, former mayor of North Providence, Rhode Island (Democratic)^[88]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Dan McKee (D)	Ashley Kalus (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk University[89]	October 1–4, 2022	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	46%	36%	4%[c]	14%
Fleming & Associates[90]	September 29 – October 2, 2022	402 (LV)	± 4.9%	45%	32%	7%[d]	15%
Echelon Insights[91]	August 31 – September 7, 2022	373 (LV)	± 6.1%	51%	28%	–	21%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Dan McKee (D)	Jonathan Riccitelli (R)	Undecided
Echelon Insights[91]	August 31 – September 7, 2022	373 (LV)	± 6.1%	53%	25%	22%

Hypothetical polling

Dan McKee vs. Jonathan Riccitelli

Debates

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial general election debates

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key:  P  Participant
					Dan McKee	Ashley Kalus
1	October 11, 2022	WPRI-TV	Ted Nesi Tim White	YouTube	P	P
1	November 3, 2022	WJAR-TV	Gene Valicenti	C-SPAN	p	p

Results

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election^[92]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Dan McKee (incumbent)	207,166	57.92%	+5.28%
	Republican	Ashley Kalus	139,001	38.86%	+1.68%
	Independent	Zachary Hurwitz	4,512	1.26%	N/A
	Independent	Paul Rianna Jr.	3,123	0.87%	N/A
	Libertarian	Elijah Gizzarelli	2,811	0.79%	N/A
	Write-in		1,057	0.30%	−0.03%
Total votes			357,670	100.0%
Turnout				%
Registered electors
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Kent (largest municipality: Warwick)

By congressional district

McKee won both congressional districts.^[93]

District	McKee	Kalus	Representative
1st	62%	35%	David Cicilline
2nd	55%	42%	James Langevin (117th Congress)
			Seth Magaziner (118th Congress)

Notes

1. McKee became governor in 2021 when his predecessor, Gina Raimondo, resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Prior to that, he was the lieutenant governor of Rhode Island.
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
3. Hurwitz with 2%; Gizzarelli and Rianna with 1%
4. Rianna with 3%; Gizzarelli and Hurwitz with 2%

Partisan clients

1. This poll was sponsored by Gorbea's campaign