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Governor · Rhode Island · open seat

Rhode Island Governor

Helena Foulkes vs Ken Block

ForecastD +10.0
Democrat96%
Republican4%
RatingSafe D
Full forecast
Brief me as

Neutral view. Pick a side and the War Room briefs you as that campaign's operative.

Vital signs

Campaign health, 0 to 100, from public money, outside spending, ballots and activity
DemocratHelena FoulkesStrained
510100
  • Cash weight 2045

    $215K in the bank against $264K for Ken Block.

  • Early vote weight 1578

    Registered Democrats cast 46% of the 60,740 ballots in Rhode Island so far, against 9% for the other party. That is 8.2 points worse for Democrats than the forecast expected by now. Counts registration, not votes.

  • Activity weight 1025

    2 campaign stops by the candidate or surrogates in 30 days.

RepublicanKen BlockStrained
410100
  • Cash weight 2055

    $264K in the bank against $215K for Helena Foulkes.

  • Early vote weight 1522

    Registered Republicans cast 9% of the 60,740 ballots in Rhode Island so far, against 46% for the other party. That is 8.2 points better for Republicans than the forecast expected by now. Counts registration, not votes.

How each side wins

From the forecast, the polls, the county map, voter groups, money and ballots
If you work for Helena Foulkes
  1. Protect the lead

    Helena Foulkes leads by 10.0 in the forecast and wins 96% of simulations. The cushion is about 42,627 votes; a one point swing is about 2,129 voters changing sides.

  2. The range

    In 8 of 10 simulations the result lands between D +3.2 and D +16.5. Only an unusual polling error changes the winner.

  3. The polls

    The polls page average is D +8.6. Your best recent poll is University of New Hampshire at D +19.2; your worst is Emerson College/WPRI at D +9.7. 5 polls in the last 30 days.

  4. Turn out the base

    The biggest vote banks for Democrats: Providence, a projected net 27,883 votes; Newport, a projected net 6,547 votes; Bristol, a projected net 5,715 votes. Every point of extra turnout here is worth more than persuasion anywhere else.

  5. Win the battlegrounds

    The large counties within 12 points: Kent, R +2.8, 18.0% of the vote; Washington, D +7.1, 15.2% of the vote.

  6. Where you run behind the 2024 map

    Against the 2024 presidential vote, Helena Foulkes runs furthest behind in Newport, Washington. That is where the forecast sees voters who backed your side two years ago and have not come back yet.

  7. The coalition levers

    Groups big enough to move the race: White voters, 80% of voters, 46 to 39, where a 5 point gain is worth 3.98 points; Women, 54% of voters, 55 to 32, where a 5 point gain is worth 2.71 points; Voters without a degree, 53% of voters, 50 to 36, where a 5 point gain is worth 2.63 points.

  8. Where you lose ground

    The forecast's worst groups for Helena Foulkes: Immigration voters 29 to 47, 2024 nonvoters and third party voters 46 to 40, Men 45 to 39. Cutting the loss here is often cheaper than winning new groups.

  9. The money

    $215K cash against $264K. Roughly even money; the air war will be decided by outside groups and earned media.

  10. The early vote

    Registered Democrats cast 46% of the 60,740 ballots in Rhode Island so far, against 9% for the other party. That is 8.2 points worse for Democrats than the forecast expected by now.

  11. What the ballots so far say

    The early vote has moved this forecast 1.7 points away from Helena Foulkes. Election Day has to make it up: the remaining vote must break harder your way than the forecast expects.

  12. Ken Block's strongest asset

    Cash: $264K in the bank against $215K for Helena Foulkes.

If you work for Ken Block
  1. Close the gap

    Ken Block trails by 10.0 and wins 4% of simulations. Closing it takes about 21,314 voters switching sides, or 42,627 more net votes from new turnout.

  2. The range

    In 8 of 10 simulations the result lands between D +16.5 and D +3.2. Only an unusual polling error changes the winner.

  3. The polls

    The polls page average is D +8.6. Your best recent poll is Emerson College/WPRI at D +9.7; your worst is University of New Hampshire at D +19.2. 5 polls in the last 30 days.

  4. Turn out the base

    The biggest vote banks for Republicans: Kent, a projected net 2,110 votes. Every point of extra turnout here is worth more than persuasion anywhere else.

  5. Win the battlegrounds

    The large counties within 12 points: Kent, R +2.8, 18.0% of the vote; Washington, D +7.1, 15.2% of the vote.

  6. Where you run behind the 2024 map

    Against the 2024 presidential vote, Ken Block runs furthest behind in Providence, Bristol. That is where the forecast sees voters who backed your side two years ago and have not come back yet.

  7. The coalition levers

    Groups big enough to move the race: White voters, 80% of voters, 39 to 46, where a 5 point gain is worth 3.98 points; Women, 54% of voters, 32 to 55, where a 5 point gain is worth 2.71 points; Voters without a degree, 53% of voters, 36 to 50, where a 5 point gain is worth 2.63 points.

  8. Where you lose ground

    The forecast's worst groups for Ken Block: Black voters 11 to 80, Asian and other voters 19 to 70, Health care and Social Security voters 12 to 62. Cutting the loss here is often cheaper than winning new groups.

  9. The money

    $264K cash against $215K. Roughly even money; the air war will be decided by outside groups and earned media.

  10. The early vote

    Registered Republicans cast 9% of the 60,740 ballots in Rhode Island so far, against 46% for the other party. That is 8.2 points better for Republicans than the forecast expected by now.

  11. What the ballots so far say

    The early vote has moved this forecast 1.7 points toward Ken Block. Bank it: chase the remaining mail ballots and low propensity voters who have not voted.

  12. Helena Foulkes's strongest asset

    Early vote: Registered Democrats cast 46% of the 60,740 ballots in Rhode Island so far, against 9% for the other party.

The map for Foulkes

County projections from the forecast
Vote banksWhere the biggest net margins come from
CountyForecastVote shareNet D
ProvidenceD +12.552.4%+27,883
NewportD +17.38.9%+6,547
BristolD +24.35.5%+5,715
WashingtonD +7.115.2%+4,600
BattlegroundsLarge counties within 12 points
CountyForecastVote shareNet D
KentR +2.818%-2,110
WashingtonD +7.115.2%+4,600
Behind the 2024 mapRunning furthest behind the last presidential vote
CountyForecastVote shareNet D
NewportD +17.38.9%+6,547
WashingtonD +7.115.2%+4,600

The coalition

Foulkes against Block among the groups that can move it, from the forecast's voter group estimates
Swing groups
  • White voters80% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 4.0
    4639
  • Women54% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 2.7
    5532
  • Voters without a degree53% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 2.6
    5036
  • Large counties52% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 2.6
    5235
Weakest groups
  • Immigration voters10% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 0.5
    2947
  • 2024 nonvoters and third party voters8% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 0.4
    4641
  • Men46% of voters · a 5 point gain is worth 2.3
    4539
FoulkesBlock

Scouting report

From the Watchdog people files, each line with its source
Helena Foulkes

No researched file yet; this candidate is queued for the next people file batch.

Ken Block

No researched file yet; this candidate is queued for the next people file batch.

The forecast

Margin over recent runs
R +2.0D +20.421 runs agonow
Now
D +10.0
8 in 10 land between
D +16.5 and D +3.2
Polling average
D +8.6
Partisan lean
D +15.7
Early vote effect
R +1.7

Recent polls

Last 45 days
PollsterDays agoSampleResult
Emerson College/WPRI4800 LVD +9.7
Emerson College for WPRI 12 News4800 LVD +9.7
Salve Regina Pell Center/Embold Research7815 LVD +11.0
Opinion Diagnostics (D)20800 LVD +16.3
University of New Hampshire24598 LVD +19.2

Money and the air war

Latest reports
FoulkesBlock
Raisedn/an/a
Spentn/an/a
Cash on hand$215K$264K
Outside money forn/an/a
Google adsn/an/a
Follow the money

The early vote

Rhode Island, through 2026-10-24
Ballots cast
60,740
Party data
Reported by the state
Ballot margin
D +37.0
Forecast expected
D +45.3
Against expectation
8.2 points better for Republicans

Party registration of who has voted, not how they voted.

Open the early vote tracker

Media watch

Who is putting this race in front of an audience

Nothing logged yet for this race.

Media watch

On the trail

Rallies and events, newest first
  • 2026-10-28
    Ken Block announced in Warren

    East Bay Chamber of Commerce gubernatorial forum; the campaign page lists it as Mon Oct 28 although that date is a Wednesday. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-25
    Ken Block announced in Warren

    Warren Walkabout street festival. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-25
    Ken Block announced in Narragansett

    Conversation with Ken at George's of Galilee. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-24
    Ken Block announced in North Smithfield

    Artisan Fair at the Beef Barn. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-24
    Ken Block announced in Providence

    Latin Expo 2026 at Farm Fresh RI. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-22
    Ken Block event in Providence

    Meet the Candidates at John Hope Settlement House hosted by the Providence Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-22
    Ken Block event in Warwick

    Conversation with Ken at Brewed Awakenings. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-20
    Helena Foulkes debate in Providence

    Final televised debate at Rhode Island College hosted by WPRI, with Republican Aaron Guckian also on stage. Source

  • 2026-10-20
    Ken Block debate in Providence

    Final televised debate at Rhode Island College hosted by WPRI, with Republican Aaron Guckian also on stage. Source

  • 2026-10-18
    Ken Block event in East Providence

    Ice Cream with Ken at Sacred Cow Scoop Shop. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-13
    Ken Block event in Portsmouth

    Conversation with Ken at The Valley Inn. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

  • 2026-10-12
    Ken Block event in Woonsocket

    Autumnfest Parade at WWII Veterans Memorial Park. Listed on his campaign appearances page. Source

Races that move with this one

When the polls miss here, they tend to miss there too