Governor McKee Reflects on Six Years in Office — and Why He's Not Done Yet

Governor Dan McKee isn't the kind of politician who arrived in office with polished talking points and little else. He grew up in Cumberland, the son of an oil businessman and a mother who raised five kids while his father spent his evenings volunteering at the local boys' club. That club — co-founded by his father and family friend John Pottington in 1956 — became the foundation for everything that followed.
"I grew up in a space where we worked every day," McKee said during a recent interview with the Rhode Island Wave. "In the neighborhood. In the community."
Now serving his sixth year as the 76th Governor of Rhode Island, McKee sat down to reflect on his administration's accomplishments, its challenges, and why he believes continuity of leadership matters more now than ever.


From the Boys' Club to the Corner Office
McKee's path to the governorship was anything but a straight line. He served on the Cumberland Town Council, became mayor, and later lieutenant governor — a role he held when the COVID-19 pandemic first struck. When then-Governor Gina Raimondo departed for Washington as Commerce Secretary, McKee stepped into the top job during perhaps the most turbulent public health crisis in a generation.
"We had 90,000 doses of vaccine sitting in the refrigerator when I showed up," he recalled. By the end of his first term, Rhode Island had become one of the most vaccinated states in the country. That achievement, he argues, allowed the state to reopen its economy significantly faster than projected.


A State Being Built Back Up
McKee's tenure has been marked by an ambitious infrastructure push. The Washington Bridge closure — a decision he made to ensure public safety — is now well into its reconstruction phase, with steel deliveries underway and concrete footings already in place. Securing over $220 million in federal funding from both the Biden and Trump administrations was no small feat.
"I had to go to the Biden administration and the Trump administration," he said. "And we got that money."
Beyond bridges, the governor points to more than 1,300 local road projects completed through the state's Road Restore program — totaling over $140 million in local improvements. For residents frustrated by potholes, McKee has a simple message: call 511.
"If it's a state road, someone will respond within 24 to 48 hours," he said. "You can actually go to a site and track the call."


Jobs, Housing, and Education
Since taking office, McKee says the state has added nearly 38,000 private sector jobs — a pace he describes as twice that of any prior administration. Economic development efforts have extended beyond traditional industries, with a new life sciences hub in the I-195 district, a soccer stadium in Pawtucket, and over 3,000 new jobs created at Quonset, where maritime defense companies like Saab and Regent Air have set up operations.
"There was no maritime defense focus when I showed up," he said. "Now we've got companies opening up. It's an expanding industry paying very well."
On housing — a crisis facing communities across the country — McKee points to the creation of a dedicated Office of Housing, a secretary of housing, and more than 7,000 units either started or completed during his tenure. A $120 million housing bond passed in 2024, with another expected on the ballot this year.
Education has also been a centerpiece of his agenda. McKee set a goal of reaching Massachusetts-level academic performance by 2030, and says the gap has already narrowed by roughly 40% in reading and 30% in math. He also championed the Hope Scholarship, which covers tuition for junior and senior year at Rhode Island state colleges for students who complete the first two years on a four-year path — a program he made permanent.
"I was at a cookout on Sunday," he said, "and a young woman came up and told me: 'I finished my degree because of the Hope Scholarship. Now I'm doing my master's.'"


Managing Washington's Pressures
McKee didn't shy away from the political tensions created by the current federal administration. Cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP have placed significant pressure on the state budget.
"The current administration used food as a political pawn," he said bluntly. "I made sure that every single person entitled to a SNAP benefit received it."
He also signed an emergency order directing $28 million to offset a projected 15% increase in electricity costs this winter, and introduced Rhode Island's first child tax credit. With potential Medicaid cuts looming in Washington, McKee has allocated funds to keep an estimated 20,000 residents insured.


Looking Ahead
With a primary on September 9th — notably, Rhode Island is the only state holding its primary on a Wednesday — McKee is asking voters for four more years to see his plans through.
"It's a really good time to have a governor for 10 years," he said, "because now you can start something, get it done, and then hand it off to the next leader with a 2040 plan already in motion."
He's also asking Rhode Islanders to support a $600 million bond on the November ballot, covering housing, commerce infrastructure at Quonset, and continued university investment — including a proposed medical school at URI, for which he has already committed seed funding.
For McKee, the case for re-election is straightforward: experience matters, and the work isn't finished.
"I meet challenges head on," he said. "Whether it's COVID, the Washington Bridge, or the biggest snowstorm in state history. I know how to get the work done."


Registered Democrats can vote in the primary on Wednesday, September 9th. Early voting begins August 20th. For more information on Governor McKee's campaign, visit https://www.governordanmckee.com/
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