Local Democratic party leaders endorse Foulkes and Khamsyvoravong over incumbents

The Democratic challengers for governor and lieutenant governor, Helena Buonanno Foulkes and Xay Khamsyvoravong, won the backing of local party leaders during a closed-door meeting at the Rochambeau Library in Providence Monday night.

The Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs did not disclose vote details from its endorsement meeting, which offers municipal party heads a chance to assert influence in state and federal primary races. 

“We are incredibly fortunate in Rhode Island to have such strong leaders serving our state and so many talented candidates willing to put themselves forward for consideration,” Erich Haslehurst, president of the association, said in a statement. “All of the candidates who sought our endorsement have demonstrated a commitment to public service and are working tirelessly to earn the trust and support of Rhode Islanders.”

The endorsement for Foulkes over Gov. Dan McKee comes as she amasses more donations and support from voters than McKee in recent public polling.

“These local Democratic leaders work tirelessly to advance Democratic values and build a better future for Rhode Islanders,” Foulkes said in a statement Tuesday. “As governor, I will work to make our state a place where all Rhode Islanders have access to strong schools, good-paying jobs, homes they can afford, and safe, thriving communities. I look forward to working together in the weeks ahead to continue earning Rhode Islanders’ support.”

McKee’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. 

But the embattled incumbent, bogged down by low approval ratings, debuted a new TV commercial Tuesday.

Much like McKee’s initial 30-second ad, the next spot focuses on Foulkes’ healthcare record as former president of CVS Pharmacy, framing her as the engineer behind the $69 billion merger of CVS and Aetna in 2018 and the corresponding drop in coverage for 900,000 people.

“Her record as a corporate executive tells you everything you need to know: when she had the chance to put people over profits, she chose profits,” Sophie Mestas, a spokesperson for McKee’s campaign, said in a statement accompanying the announcement of the new ad.

Angelika Pelligrino, a spokesperson for Foulkes’ campaign blasted the ad as “riddled with lies” in a statement Tuesday, noting she left CVS Pharmacy before the merger was completed, and that her role as head of the retail pharmacy arm did not include the business deal.

“McKee can’t defend his record as governor so is lashing out at Helena because he knows voters do not think he deserves an unprecedented third term,” Pelligrino said in a statement.

McKee’s campaign spent more than $66,000 on the newest commercial, which will air 155 times on local channels through June 15, according to filings with the Federal Communications Commission. Foulkes’ campaign also spent another $86,000 to air her own, twice-as-long commercial another 266 times through June 15, according to filings with federal regulators. 

The 32 city and town Democratic party committee chairs who participated in the Monday night meeting could choose to follow the endorsement of their local party committee, or make an independent vote based on personal assessment of the candidates, Haslehurst said in an email. A handful of city and town party leaders were not able to attend the meeting, while three — representing Coventry, Scituate and Jamestown — did not vote because their party committees had not finalized or reached consensus on endorsements, Haslehurst said.

“At the end of the day, our shared goal is to elect Democrats up and down the ballot and continue moving Rhode Island forward,” Haslehurst said.

In 2022, municipal party leaders also opted against McKee, endorsing then-Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea in a four-way gubernatorial primary that also featured Foulkes and Matt Brown. Gorbea finished third in the September primary, six percentage points behind McKee and three points behind Foulkes. 

The group also endorsed Khamsyvoravong for lieutenant governor, choosing the Newport City Councilor over incumbent Sabina Matos. In 2022, local party leaders endorsed Deb Ruggiero over Matos in a three-way primary, which Matos won with 47% of the vote. 

This year’s lieutenant governor primary also features former state senator Cindy Coyne and Sue AnderBois, a Providence City Councilor.

Khamsyvoravong’s campaign touted the endorsement as a sign of the “growing consensus that Rhode Islanders need a new generation of leadership.”

“Pushing back on the chaos out of Washington needs to start with common sense and competency at the local level,” he said in a statement Monday night.

The association did not make an endorsement in the open, four-way Democratic attorney general’s race between state representatives Jason Knight of Barrington and Joe Solomon of Warwick; former Cannabis Control Commission Chair Kim Ahern; and former aide to Attorney General Peter Nerona, Keith Hoffmann. Hoffmann said on Facebook Monday night that he received the “most support” from local Democrats of the four candidates.

City and town committee chairs also endorsed Secretary of State Gregg Amore and General Treasurer James Diossa in their reelection bids, and, for Congress, backed the heavily-favored U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner. 

Municipal party committees can also make their own endorsements. For example, the Portsmouth Democratic Town Committee voted unanimously to back Foulkes during its June 1 meeting, according to a statement from the Foulkes campaign. The committee did not endorse a candidate in the contested races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

“While it is unusual for a Democratic town committee to decline to support a sitting Democratic governor, members at the meeting spoke at length about persistent East Bay frustration with Governor Dan McKee’s handling of the Washington Bridge and RIDOT,” Juan Carlos Payero, chairman of the Portsmouth committee, said in a statement. “Foulkes had addressed the committee directly and answered questions on that and other issues.”  

The Democratic State Central Committee will hold its endorsement convention on June 20. 

The primary is Sept. 9.

Reporter Christopher Shea contributed to this story.