Results from the latest Ocean State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, indicate McKee has significant ground to cover if he hopes to advance.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee is looking at steep uphill battle in his 2026 re-election bid, according to data from the University of New Hampshire.

Republican Robert Raimondo, a distant relative of the former governor, said he recently moved back to Rhode Island.

E AST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Elaine Pelino, a former actress and model, is running for governor of Rhode Island next year as a Republican. Pelino, a Smithfield resident, told 12 News she launched her campaign in July and is running “as a common-sense candidate.”

In November 2024, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio maintained a strong hold on power, but concerns about his declining health sparked a sharp divide in the Rhode Island