One day after a decisive win in Rhode Island’s Democratic primary for governor, Helena Foulkes said creating more unity in the state will lay the groundwork for positive change on key challenges.
Foulkes defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee by 24-points, according to the still-unofficial tally.
“To win by that margin shows that people really believe in the message we had, that we can do something different, and I’m excited to bring people together to build a real coalition,” Foulkes said during a press availability Thursday morning outside the Coffee Exchange in the Fox Point section of Providence.
During her victory speech on Wednesday, the 62-year-old former CVS executive vowed to improve Rhode Island’s economy, help make schools better and upgrade life for Rhode Islanders.
Many candidates and officeholders have made similar pledges over the years, with marginal or no improvement, so Ocean State Media asked Foulkes what she will do differently.
“I think the idea of everyone coming together because we love this state so much and we want it to work for all of us – every single person – that is the mandate for change that I felt from last night and I think that by bringing everyone together we can really make change happen,” she said.
Foulkes greeted customers at the Coffee Exchange and spoke with reporters after her campaign didn’t make her available to the media on the night of her victory. She vowed to have an open and accessible administration if elected.
Asked if she will release more detailed policy proposals on the way to the Nov. 3 general election, Foulkes said, “We’ll see. I think that the policies right now are pretty clear. Obviously, there will be more work to be done, but I am mostly focused on meeting as many people as I can, listening, hearing what questions they have. And people in a small state like this really want to get to know me and feel that they can believe in my vision.”
For now, Foulkes’ main general election rival is independent Ken Block, a previous two-time candidate for governor, who argues in a new ad that he is Rhode Islanders’ best hope for change as someone who is more of an outsider.
“If you think Rhode Island is working well, vote for someone else,” Block said in the ad. “Vote for me if you want to shake things up.”
Foulkes has earned millions in compensation as a corporate executive. She is the granddaughter and niece of two former U.S. senators from Connecticut.
Asked why she would be more effective than Block in making change, Foulkes said, “I think that I really know how to pull people together. I have the right combination of a real outsider’s lens, but I have also spent my whole life building relationships.”
Also on the November ballot: the winner of the GOP primary for governor, which was too close to call on election night but appears to be Aaron Guckian. Two lesser-known independents, Jasjit Gotra and C.D. Reynolds, also expect to be on the ballot.
Here are more highlights from Foulkes’ interview with a group of reporters on a Wickenden Street sidewalk.
On David Morales’ win over Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, the first time an incumbent in that position has lost a primary:
“I’m looking forward to working with (Morales) and making sure that the people here can afford to live in the state. I think that was the main message. The state, the city and really feeling priced out, squeezed out … I think the thing that was very powerful in my election and in the mayor’s race was the cost of housing.”
On being a step closer to being governor:
“It feels like a tremendous honor but also a responsibility. I know there’s a lot of work to be done.”
On why she won:
“I think people were really ready for change. This was not just about the (Washington Bridge). I think that we’re living in really challenging economic times … so I think that people were feeling priced out of the state. And then I think the other thing is that people had had enough time with me – in other words, had seen me, how hard I was working, how much I was doing to build relationships in the communities.”
Budget priorities:
“We couldn’t find $10 million to fully fund RIPTA two years ago and yet we were spending $4.5 million on two permanent tow trucks on the Washington Bridge. That says a lot of values and what we care about.”
