Democratic challenger Helena Foulkes has a 20-point advantage over Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee in a poll released Wednesday by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
The gap is smaller than the 34-point edge held by Foulkes in UNH’s April poll, but it suggests she remains in a strong position with the Sept. 9 primary coming into view.
Thirty-one percent of likely Democratic primary voters remain undecided, down from 39% in April.
While Foulkes’ 26% favorability rating is in the same neighborhood as McKee (18%), the incumbent governor’s 56% disapproval is twice that of his challenger.
By another yardstick, UNH found that disapproval of McKee’s job performance is at 77%.
On the GOP side of the race for governor, self-described MAGA candidate Elaine Pelino has widened her lead over Aaron Guckian, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 and was once an aide to former Gov. Don Carcieri.
According to UNH, 42% of likely GOP primary voters support Pelino, compared with 17% for Guckian, with 39% undecided.
If Foulkes wins the primary ending Sept. 9, UNH found that she would get 38% of the vote in the November election, compared to 22% for a Republican and 19% for independent Ken Block, with many voters still undecided.
But if McKee wins the primary, UNH reports that Block would tie him with 27% of the November vote and 23% for the Republican nominee.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed remains the favorite in matchups with Democratic challenger Connor Burbridge and GOP opponent Raymond McKay.
UNH also found that just 21% of Rhode Islanders think the state is headed in the right direction.
The survey was conducted between June 18 and 23. The margin of error for Democratic primary questions was five points, plus or minus; eight points for Republican primary questions; and 4 points otherwise.
