Helena
Buonanno Foulkes

WPRI reported that Foulkes held a double-digit lead in polls, while noting that Block's campaign-commissioned poll suggested a different outcome in a hypothetical two-way race.

Foulkes raised more than $380,000 from Sept. 2 to Oct. 5 and spent more than $545,000, reporting about $214,000 cash on hand. Block had about $263,000 cash on hand. The Democratic Governors Association made a $500,000 independent expenditure supporting Foulkes.

All three gubernatorial candidates debated housing, immigration enforcement, abortion, and transgender athletes. Foulkes defended her 20,000-housing-unit plan and said she supported allowing transgender girls to participate in girls' sports. All three candidates opposed reinstating truck tolls.

A group of Rhode Island General Assembly members, including House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, endorsed Foulkes, citing reproductive rights as a key issue.

Foulkes and Block took part in a candidates' forum focused on issues affecting older Rhode Islanders, people with disabilities, caregivers and people receiving behavioral-health services.

Asked by WJAR, Foulkes said she would vote for and endorse Democratic Socialist David Morales for Providence mayor, while noting she disagreed with his proposed rent-stabilization policy.

At a candidates' forum, Foulkes proposed using revenue from the state's high-income-tax surcharge for a revolving housing fund to produce 20,000 homes over eight years, and pledged solar panels and batteries on 100 state-owned buildings by the end of her first year. Block disputed her housing estimate.

A poll commissioned by the Block campaign showed Foulkes at 41%, Block at 24%, and Guckian at 19% in a three-way race. In a hypothetical two-way matchup, it showed Block leading Foulkes 44% to 39%. Guckian said he would stay in the race.

A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll of likely voters (conducted Sept. 17–21) put Foulkes at 44%, independent Ken Block at 25%, and Republican Aaron Guckian at 17%, with 10% undecided. Margin of error was ±4 percentage points.

Foulkes's campaign said it was refunding $10,500 in contributions that exceeded the annual individual contribution limit. The Rhode Island Board of Elections' review found $11,645 in contributions above the applicable limit since 2022. Rivals criticized the campaign over the issue.

Foulkes defeated incumbent Gov. Dan McKee, taking 62.3% to McKee's 37.7% in unofficial results, securing the Democratic nomination for governor.