The Anchor’s cheat sheet to the 2026 RI midterms: who’s running and how do they stand?

Tim Yean

Managing Editor

As of the publication of this article, Election Day in Rhode Island stands just a day away on Tues. Nov. 3. With a young population such as Rhode Island College’s, for some students, it may be their very first time or second time voting in an election. With it comes the obvious questions: where do I vote? Who’s running? What are their stances?

The Anchor is pleased to provide a quick rundown of each candidate of some of the key races here in Rhode Island, as well as how to vote in general.

How to vote

Rhode Island residents who wish to vote in Nov. 3’s general election must have been registered 30 days prior to election day. If you are not a registered voter, you are not allowed to vote.

To find your polling place come Election Day, go to vote.ri.gov, where voters can find their polling place and even view a sample ballot, as long as you enter the correct address.

The site also allows you to update your voter record, register to vote, request mail ballots and view the officials that represent the area code.

Alongside statewide and even mayoral races, local races in particular hold great influence in what happens every day on residents’ front porches. Races for city/town council and school committees play a great role in everyday life, from what is being done about a pothole to the resources available in an elementary school.

Now to the candidates.

Candidates for governor

The Governor of Rhode Island is the leader of the state, pushing toward certain policies and plans for the state moving forward.

Helena Foulkes

Helena Foulkes stands as the Democratic nominee for the governor’s race, having defeated incumbent governor Dan McKee in Sept. 9’s primary election after having lost to McKee in 2022’s primary.

Foulkes is the former CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company and president of CVS Pharmacy, Inc. for which she spent 25 years with the company.

Some key policies of the Foulkes’ campaign is the investment and development of Career and Technical Education facilities, making healthcare more affordable and accessible and utilizing the “Millionaire’s Tax” revenue to create new housing.

Foulkes appeared on an episode of Anchor TV Interviews, which can be watched here.

Aaron Guckian

Aaron Guckian is the Republican nominee for the governor’s race, previously having ran for lieutenant governor in 2022 and losing with 43.1% of the vote.

An East Greenwich native, Guckian spent two terms as Special Assistant to Governor Don Carcieri, Rhode Island’s last Republican governor. He attended Rhode Island College, receiving an M.A., and has most recently served as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Dental Association.

Key focus points of his campaign include working with the Trump administration to obtain federal funding, turning Rhode Island into a hub for naval defense and creating a “veteran’s village” intended to be affordable housing for U.S. military vets.

Ken Block

Ken Block serves as the major independent in this year’s race, having run two times prior in 2010 as a member of the Moderate Party and in 2014 as a Republican.

Block is the founder of Simpatico Software Systems, a company that tracks waste and fraud. In his political career, Block spent his time in the Moderate Party pushing for easier access on the ballot for third parties and the elimination of the “master lever,” a voting option on ballots that gave voters the single option of voting for all of a party’s candidates.

Block’s top stances are for a breakaway from the two-party system, arguing an independent voice brings better results, finding and eliminating “wasteful spending” in the state’s budget and establishing with other New England Governors a regional health insurance plan.

Block joined Anchor TV Interviews for an episode, which can be watched here.

Lieutenant governor

The office of the lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor’s race, and would be next in line to take the governorship if, for any reason, the standing governor is unable to continue their duties.

Sabina Matos

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos looks to obtain a second term in office as the Democratic nominee.

Matos immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 20, obtained a bachelor’s degree at Rhode Island College, and, prior to becoming lieutenant governor, served as the City Council President for Providence.

The major policy for Matos is increasing the number of grocery stores in Rhode Island in an effort to lower the cost of said groceries.

John Loughlin

John Loughlin looks to unseat Matos and become the first Republican lieutenant governor to be elected in nearly 60 years.

Loughlin is a military veteran who joined in 1978 and “mobilized during his military career for tours in Bosnia, Fort Bragg, and Iraq.”

Loughlin’s main focus is to lower energy costs for Rhode Islanders and have the lieutenant governor’s office be more responsive and influential in state policy.

Federal delegation

For Senate and the House of Representatives, both are the national voices for the state, heading to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to lobby and pass bills beneficial to the Ocean State. Senators are re-elected every six years, while representatives must run every two years a.k.a. every election cycle.

Senate

For the Senate, incumbent Jack Reed looks to earn a sixth term in office, having first joined the chamber in 1997. He faces off against Republican Raymond McKay, an army veteran who was the network and telecommunications manager and administrator for the City of Warwick for 26 years. There is also Michael Bahry, an independent candidate who “spanned roles as a laborer, carpenter, construction executive, and business owner.”

House of Representatives

Rhode Island’s first congressional district represents much of Eastern Rhode Island, including Providence and Newport. Incumbent Gabe Amo, who worked under the Biden administration and was first elected in 2023, is running against Republican Kellie Keenan, a public health professional.

Rhode Island’s second congressional district is the larger area-wise of the state’s two districts, encompassing Cranston and much of western Rhode Island. Incumbent Seth Magaziner, the former general treasurer for Rhode Island from 2015-23, looks to win over Republican Vic Mellor, a Marine Corps. Veteran and businessman from Woonsocket.

Question One

Included in the voting ballot are questions related to funding and bonds to certain projects. Question One asks voters if bonds should be issued to funding each of Rhode Island’s three public higher institutions.

For Rhode Island College, the passage of Question One would grant the campus $50 million towards the renovation of Adams Library, helping to transform the library into a career readiness center and centralizing academic offices to the library. If voted no, then the funding would be withheld and no bond would be issued to the college.

Read more about Question One in editor-in-chief Kelcy Conroy’s article on anchorweb.org. 

The other statewide races

Attorney General

The attorney general is the state’s top legal advisor and oversees the Department of Law for Rhode Island. Democrat Kim Ahern, the first-ever Chairperson of the RI Cannabis Control Commission, and Republican Alan Gordon, a lawyer, look to succeed term-limited AG Peter Neronha.

General Treasurer

The general treasurer ensures the state’s finances are well-positioned. Incumbent James Diossa, first elected in 2022, faces off against Republican Micholas Credle, a retired Army officer.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State of Rhode Island is responsible for ensuring fair elections in the state and keeping public records for the state. Incumbent Gregg Amore, a Democrat, is running unopposed on the ballot.

In closing

The Anchor thanks its readers for viewing this article and potentially participating in the democratic process on Election Day. Follow up on political coverage and campus coverage on anchorweb.org.