# 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

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2022 :
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Question 1 :
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2022 :
vte :
The 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Rhode Island. Incumbent Democratic 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. 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 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

U.S. senators
* Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present) and candidate for president in 2016 and 2020 (Independent)
State legislators
* Cynthia Mendes, state senator from the 18th district
U.S. representatives
* Patrick J. Kennedy, former U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district (1995–2011)
* Nancy Pelosi, 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2019–2023) and U.S. representative for California's 12th congressional district (1987–present)
State legislators
* Joseph Almeida, former state representative from the 12th district
* Maryellen Goodwin, state senator from the 1st district
Local officials
* Jorge Elorza, mayor of Providence
Individuals
* Nicole Alexander-Scott, former director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (2015–2022)
Newspapers
* The Boston Globe
State legislators
* Karen Alzate, state representative from the 60th district
* Lauren Carson, state representative from the 75th district
* J. Clement "Bud" Cicilline, former state senator
* Terri-Denise Cortvriend, state representative from the 72nd district
* Grace Diaz, state representative from the 11th district and former acting chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party
* Alana DiMario, state senator from the 36th district
* Susan Donovan, state representative from the 69th district
* John Edwards, state representative from the 70th district and former Majority Whip of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
* Leonela Felix, state representative from the 61st district
* Meghan Kallman, state senator from the 15th district
* Rebecca Kislak, state representative from the 4th district
* Jason Knight, state representative from the 67th district
* Carol Hagan McEntee, state representative from the 33rd district
* Mary Messier, state representative from the 62nd district
* Jim Seveney, state senator from the 11th district
* June Speakman, state representative from the 68th district
* Bridget Valverde, state senator from the 35th district
* Myrth York, former state senator
Organizations
* Clean Water Action Rhode Island
* EMILY's List
* Latino Victory
* Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus
* Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals
* Rhode Island Latino PAC
* RI Association of Dem City and Town Chairs
Labor unions
* Carpenters Union Local 330
* SEIU 1199 New England
* United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328
* United Steelworkers Local 12431
State officials
* Sabina Matos, Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
State legislators
* Dominick Ruggerio, President of the Rhode Island Senate
* Joe Shekarchi, Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Local officials
* Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, mayor of Woonsocket
* Steven Contente, Bristol town administrator (Independent)
* Roberto DaSilva, mayor of East Providence
* Phil Gould, Lincoln town administrator (Independent)
* Don Grebien, mayor of Pawtucket
* Charles Lombardi, mayor of North Providence
* Jeff Mutter, mayor of Cumberland
* Jeann-Marie Napolitano, Mayor of Newport
* Joe Polisena, mayor of Johnston
Organizations
* Democratic Governors Association
* Rhode Island Democratic Party
Labor unions
* Amalgamated Transit Union
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 99
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323
* International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 251
* LiUNA RI Laborers’ District Council
* National Education Association Rhode Island
* Rhode Island AFL–CIO
* RI State Association of Fire Fighters
* United Auto Workers Region 9A
* United Nurses and Allied Professionals
Individuals
* Andrew Yang, entrepreneur, founder of Venture for America, Democratic candidate for President of the United States in 2020 and for Mayor of New York City in 2021 (Independent)
Local officials
* David Alden Sears, member of the Cranston School Committee
Organizations
* Building Bridges for America
* Catch Fire Movement
* Doctors in Politics
* Forward Party
* Future Generations PAC
* Roadmap for Progress
* Woke Doctors

### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Matt Brown | Helena Foulkes | Nellie Gorbea | Seth Magaziner | Dan McKee | Luis Daniel Muñoz | Other | Undecided |
| Fleming & Associates | August 7–10, 2022 | 405 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 8% | 14% | 25% | – | 28% | 1% | – | 21% |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | July 25–27, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 7% | 14% | 27% | – | 22% | 3% | 5% | 22% |
| Suffolk University | June 19–22, 2022 | 353 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 5% | 16% | 24% | – | 20% | 1% | 2% | 31% |
| Fleming & Associates | May 9–12, 2022 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 7% | 6% | 23% | – | 25% | 2% | – | 37% |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | April 11–14, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 10% | 7% | 30% | – | 24% | 1% | 3% | 26% |
| | January 26, 2022 | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race | Magaziner withdraws from the race |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | November 7–10, 2021 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 6% | 4% | 24% | 16% | 26% | – | – | 20% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dan McKee (incumbent) | 37,288 | 32.82% |
| | Democratic | Helena Foulkes | 33,931 | 29.87% |
| | Democratic | Nellie Gorbea | 29,811 | 26.24% |
| | Democratic | Matt Brown | 9,021 | 7.94% |
| | Democratic | Luis Daniel Muñoz | 3,547 | 3.12% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 113,598 | 100.0% |

## 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

Organizations
* Rhode Island Republican Party

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Ashley Kalus | 17,188 | 83.68% |
| | Republican | Jonathan Riccitelli | 3,351 | 16.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,539 | 100.0% |

## 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 | Solid D | March 4, 2022 |
| Inside Elections | Solid D | March 4, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely D | January 26, 2022 |
| Politico | Likely D | April 1, 2022 |
| RCP | Likely D | January 10, 2022 |
| Fox News | Likely D | May 12, 2022 |
| 538 | Solid D | June 30, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Likely D | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Individuals
* Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States
State legislators
* Matt Smith, former Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives (Democratic)
Local officials
* Dick Fossa, former mayor of North Providence, Rhode Island (Democratic)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Dan McKee (D) | Ashley Kalus (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Suffolk University | October 1–4, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 36% | 4% | 14% |
| Fleming & Associates | September 29 – October 2, 2022 | 402 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 45% | 32% | 7% | 15% |
| Echelon Insights | August 31 – September 7, 2022 | 373 (LV) | ± 6.1% | 51% | 28% | – | 21% |
Dan McKee vs. Jonathan Riccitelli
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Dan McKee (D) | Jonathan Riccitelli (R) | Undecided |
| Echelon Insights | August 31 – September 7, 2022 | 373 (LV) | ± 6.1% | 53% | 25% | 22% |

### Debates

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial general election debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | | |
| Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Key: P Participant | Dan McKee | Ashley Kalus |
| 1 | October 11, 2022 | WPRI-TV | Ted Nesi Tim White | YouTube | P | P |
| 1 | November 3, 2022 | WJAR-TV | Gene Valicenti | C-SPAN | p | p |

### Results

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Dan McKee (incumbent) | 207,166 | 57.92% | +5.28% |
| | Republican | Ashley Kalus | 139,001 | 38.86% | +1.68% |
| | Independent | Zachary Hurwitz | 4,512 | 1.26% | N/A |
| | Independent | Paul Rianna Jr. | 3,123 | 0.87% | N/A |
| | Libertarian | Elijah Gizzarelli | 2,811 | 0.79% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,057 | 0.30% | −0.03% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 357,670 | 100.0% | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | % | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Kent (largest municipality: Warwick)

#### By congressional district

McKee won both congressional districts.
| District | McKee | Kalus | Representative |
| 1st | 62% | 35% | David Cicilline |
| 2nd | 55% | 42% | James Langevin (117th Congress) |
| 2nd | 55% | 42% | Seth Magaziner (118th Congress) |