Gov. Dan McKee To Face Ashley Kalus In RI General Election

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has won his Democratic primary and will square off against Republican Ashley Kalus in November's general election.

With 98 percent of precincts reported, McKee leads over former CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes 36,229-33,190, according to unofficial results, leading to WPRI declaring the incumbent the winner.

The race was tight throughout the night, with Foulkes leading early in the evening. But as more results trickled in, McKee made up the difference and surpassed her.

Earlier Tuesday night, McKee called for Foulkes to concede when about 91 percent of precincts reported their results, but she refused, wanting to wait for more results to come in.

Published on Twitter by WPRI's Ted Nesi, Foulke's statement read:

"Democratic primary voters cast their ballots in a critical election that will decide the future of our state — thousands of those votes have yet to be counted. This election is still too close to call, and we owe it to voters to ensure that every single ballot is counted."

Then, when Foulkes called McKee to concede, the governor wouldn't accept her call. McKee was on stage when he received the call and told a staffer to hang up on her.

"I am so honored to stand here before you tonight," McKee said in his victory speech. "Not just as your governor, but as the Democratic nominee for Governor of Rhode Island."

On the Republican side, the Associated Press has called the race in favor of Doctors Test Centers executive Ashley Kalus has a big lead over Jonathan Riccitelli. She leads 16,947-3,308, according to unofficial results.

Riccitelli unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor as an independent in 2018. According to a Boston Globe report, Riccitelli has been arrested dozens of times under a different name and admitted to charges ranging from assault to obstructing police officers.

In other key races, Seth Magaziner won the Democratic Primary for U.S. Congress Tuesday.

With 98 percent of precincts counted, Magaziner led with 29,295 votes, with David Segal in a distant second with 8,718 votes. Magaziner will face off against former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung in the General election.

Unofficial Rhode Island Primary Results

98 percent of precincts in.

STATEWIDE DEMOCRATS

U.S. Congress

• Seth Magaziner: 29,295
• David Segal: 8,718
• Omar Bah: 2,511
• Sarah Morgenthau: 6,527
• Joy Fox: 5,941
• Spencer Dickinson: 1,296

Governor

• Dan McKee (inc.): 36,229
• Helena Buonanno Foulkes: 33,190
• Matthew Brown: 8,744
• Nellie Gorbea: 28,812
• Luis Daniel Munoz: 3,422

Lieutenant Governor

• Sabina Matos (inc.): 49,116
• Cynthia Mendes: 20,672
• Deborah Ruggiero: 34,763

Secretary of State

• Gregg Amore: 63,336
• Stephanie Beaute: 35,308

General Treasurer

• James Diossa: 56,597
• Stefan Pryor: 45,417

STATEWIDE REPUBLICANS

Governor

• Ashley Marie Kalus: 16,947
• Jonathan Riccitelli: 3,308

Lieutenant Governor

• Aaron Guckian: 13,259
• Paul Pence: 6,291