Gov. McKee faces tough road ahead in 2026

 PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Gov. Dan McKee’s approval ratings remain underwater as he heads toward a reelection bid in 2026, according to a new University of Rhode Island/YouGov poll.

The survey conducted Aug. 1–18 with about 500 Rhode Islanders, found just 29% approve of the Democratic governor’s job performance, while most respondents said they disapprove. Among Democrats, approval rose to 43%, but still fell short of majority support. The poll’s margin of error is about 6 percentage points.

In a hypothetical four-way Democratic primary, McKee led with 18.5%, followed by Attorney General Peter Neronha at 15%, Helena Buonanno Foulkes at 14.3%, and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi at 7.3%. But the largest share of respondents, about 41% said they were undecided.

Analysts say McKee’s numbers reflect ongoing frustration over the state’s handling of the Washington Bridge reconstruction, which has been plagued by delays and rising costs. Voters also pointed to economic pressures, particularly high housing costs, as key concerns. In the same survey, 93% of Rhode Islanders said housing affordability is a serious problem.

The results underscore McKee’s vulnerability in a Democratic-leaning state where incumbents typically hold an advantage. With a large number of voters still undecided, the Democratic field remains unsettled more than a year out from the primary.