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Helena Buonanno Foulkes

Democratic candidate for Governor, Rhode Island · Open seat

Businesswoman; former president of CVS Pharmacy and former CEO of Hudson's Bay Company

Helena Buonanno Foulkes, 62, of Providence, is a former CVS Health executive and former CEO of Hudson's Bay Company. She ran for governor in 2022 and lost the Democratic primary to Gov. Dan McKee. In September 2026 she beat McKee in a rematch to win the Democratic nomination. She faces Republican Aaron Guckian and independent Ken Block on Nov. 3, 2026.

Where Foulkes stands

Housing: Proposes a 'Rhode Home' program that she says will create 20,000 homes and apartments people can afford by 2034, funded by a millionaire's tax and run as a low-interest loan program for developers.
Taxes: Supports a state millionaire's tax to pay for her housing program.
Health care: Supports raising Medicaid reimbursement rates and says the state should stop leaving federal money unused. She says this would help keep primary care doctors and nurses in Rhode Island.
Jobs and economy: Proposes $100 million for classroom-to-career programs and says she will remove barriers for businesses that want to stay, grow or start in the state.
State pensions (retiree COLAs): Says she cannot commit to restoring retiree cost-of-living increases until she better understands what it would cost.
Education: Supports holding back third graders who are not proficient in reading, based on a model started in Mississippi.
Judicial selection: Supports having magistrate judges go through the same merit-based Judicial Nominating Commission review used for Superior and Supreme Court judges.
Sports betting: Said yes when asked whether the state should take another look at its sports betting laws because of addiction concerns, especially for young people.
Transparency / tax returns: Released summaries of her tax filings and has called on her opponents to release theirs.
Federal policy: Criticized Trump administration policies, including immigration enforcement, cuts to food assistance and Medicaid, and tax breaks for billionaires.

Background

Democratic nominee for Governor of Rhode Island, 2026 (won the September 2026 primary over Gov. Dan McKee)
Candidate in the 2022 Democratic primary for Governor of Rhode Island (lost to Dan McKee)
Former CEO, Hudson's Bay Company
Former executive at CVS Health, including president of CVS Pharmacy
Resident of Providence

In the news

New controversies bring fresh disagreements to final RI gubernatorial debate Rhode Island Current, October 21, 2026
Key takeaways from the final R.I. governor's debate before the Nov. 3 election The Boston Globe, October 21, 2026
'I took action': Foulkes responds to criticism of her leadership role at CVS after $315M settlement WPRI, October 17, 2026
Foulkes will vote for, would endorse Morales NBC 10 (WJAR), October 2, 2026
Helena Foulkes will defeat Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, CNN projects, marking a rare incumbent primary loss CNN, September 9, 2026

Also running for Governor

Aaron C. Guckian Republican
Ken Block Independent

Sources

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.