Tenure Low: McKee at 15% Approval as Bipartisan Majorities Doubt the Washington Bridge Will Open by 2028

What happened

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center’s Ocean State Poll, dated September 24, 2026, finds outgoing Gov. Dan McKee’s job ratings at a new low for his tenure. Only 15% of Rhode Islanders approve of how he is handling the job; 83% disapprove; 2% neither approve nor disapprove or are unsure. UNH puts his net approval at −68.

Party splits are brutal across the board: just 23% of Democrats, 10% of Independents, and 2% of Republicans approve of McKee’s performance. The poll notes approval has continued to fall after he lost the Democratic primary to Helena Foulkes.

On the Washington Bridge—the competence failure that defined the primary—RIDOT’s announced reopen date is November 3, 2028. Asked how likely it is the new bridge will open on time, 33% said very (5%) or somewhat (28%) likely; 64% said not very (35%) or not at all (29%) likely; 3% were unsure. Majorities of Independents (86%), Republicans (74%), and Democrats (53%) say it is not very or not at all likely to open on schedule.

In the general-election horse race among likely voters, Foulkes leads Independent Ken Block 44%–25%, with Republican Aaron Guckian at 17% (other candidates and undecideds fill the rest). Support for Foulkes and Block both rose since August. But the same voters are cool on the Democratic nominee personally: only 24% view Foulkes favorably, 37% unfavorably (net −13), while Block’s net favorability is +12.

Separately, Rhode Islanders largely reject restarting trucking tolls blocked by courts in 2022 and set for reintroduction in 2027: 32% say the state should definitely or probably bring them back; 55% say definitely or probably not.