The 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant 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. Despite a heavily contested primary, McKee easily won a full term on Election Day, defeating Republican Ashley Kalus by more than 19 percentage points.
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 Kent County, as well as swept every county in a gubernatorial election.
Democratic primary Candidates
Nominee
Dan McKee, incumbent governor
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 Helena Foulkes, former CVS executive, granddaughter of former U.S. senator Thomas Dodd and niece of former U.S. senator Chris Dodd (endorsed McKee) Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island secretary of state Luis Daniel Muñoz, physician, community organizer, and independent candidate for governor in 2018
Withdrew Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island general treasurer (ran for the U.S. House)
Declined Jorge Elorza, mayor of Providence James Langevin, U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district and former secretary of state of Rhode Island Peter Neronha, attorney general of Rhode Island (ran for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling Graphical summary
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MattBrown HelenaFoulkes NellieGorbea SethMagaziner DanMcKee Muñoz Other UndecidedFleming & AssociatesAugust 7–10, 2022405 (LV)± 4.9%8%14%25%–28%1%–21%Lake Research Partners (D)July 25–27, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%7%14%27%–22%3%5%22%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityJune 19–22, 2022353 (LV)± 5.2%5%16%24%–20%1%2%31%Fleming & AssociatesMay 9–12, 2022400 (LV)± 4.9%7%6%23%–25%2%–37%Lake Research Partners (D)April 11–14, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%10%7%30%–24%1%3%26% January 26, 2022 Magaziner withdraws from the raceLake Research Partners (D)Lake Research Partners (D)November 7–10, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%6%4%24%16%26%––20%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Ashley Kalus, businesswoman and former gubernatorial aide to Bruce Rauner
Eliminated in primary Jonathan Riccitelli, Independent candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018
Declined Ken Block, businessman, Moderate Party nominee for governor in 2010, and Republican candidate for governor in 2014 David Darlington, former chair of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Jessica de la Cruz, minority whip of the Rhode Island Senate (ran for U.S. House) Blake Filippi, minority leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (ran for re-election) Allan Fung, former mayor of Cranston and nominee for governor of Rhode Island in 2014 and 2018 (ran for U.S. House)
Endorsements
Results
Third parties and Independents Qualified Elijah Gizzarelli (Libertarian), veteran Zachary Hurwitz (independent), small business owner and undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island Paul Rianna Jr (independent), nursing assistant at Fatima Hospital
Declined Bill Gilbert (Moderate Party), Moderate Party nominee for governor in 2018 and for lieutenant governor in 2014 (ran for U.S. House)
General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report March 4, 2022Inside Elections March 4, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball January 26, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPJanuary 10, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022538June 30, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorDanMcKee (D)AshleyKalus (R) Other UndecidedSuffolk UniversitySuffolk UniversityOctober 1–4, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%46%36%4%14%Fleming & AssociatesFleming & AssociatesSeptember 29 – October 2, 2022402 (LV)± 4.9%45%32%7%15%Echelon InsightsEchelon Insights August 31 – September 7, 2022373 (LV)± 6.1%51%28%–21%
Dan McKee vs. Jonathan Riccitelli Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DanMcKee (D) JonathanRiccitelli (R) UndecidedEchelon Insights August 31 – September 7, 2022373 (LV)± 6.1%53%25%22%
Debates +2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial general election debatesDateHostModeratorLink Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant Dan McKeeAshley Kalus1October 11, 2022WPRI-TVTed NesiTim WhiteYouTube 1November 3, 2022WJAR-TVGene ValicentiC-SPAN
Results
By county Dan McKeeDemocratic Ashley KalusRepublican Others County Votes % Votes % Votes % Bristol12,72461.8%7,13434.7%7173.5% Kent36,12252.8%30,20444.1%2,1193.1% Newport19,96461.6%11,39735.2%1,0373.2% Providence104,19658.8%67,43938.0%5,6713.2% Washington34,16057.9%22,82738.7%1,9593.4%
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Kent (largest municipality: Warwick)
By congressional district McKee won both congressional districts. District McKee Kalus Representative 62% 35%David Cicilline55%42%James Langevin (117th Congress)Seth Magaziner (118th Congress)
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Matt Brown (D) for Governor Helena Foulkes (D) for Governor Nellie Gorbea (D) for Governor Rey Alberto Hererra (R) for Governor Dan McKee (D) for Governor Luis Daniel Muñoz (D) for Governor Ashley Kalus (R) for Governor Paul Rianna Jr (I) for Governor