Gov. McKee staffs up for 2026 reelection bid
McKee's political operation announced that he has hired a new campaign manager, Rob Silverstein, and a new finance director, Neil Spencer, to pilot his 2026 reelection effort. It follows a campaign launch video that McKee released back in March.
'Nobody will outwork us on the trail, and Rob and Neil embody that ethos,' McKee said in a statement. 'With their experiences on highly competitive races and excellent track records of success in state campaigns, I am confident that we are well-positioned to continue delivering results for Rhode Island for years to come.'
McKee, a Democrat who turns 74 later this month, took office in 2021 when his predecessor Gina Raimondo stepped down to become U.S. commerce secretary. Those first two years in office don't count toward the state's term limit rules, so McKee is eligible to run again in 2026.
Still, the governor has faced persistent speculation that he might not be on the ballot as his poll numbers remain weak. In recent months, his job approval rating has ranged from 43% in a Morning Consult survey over the winter to 19% in a UNH Survey Center poll last week.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, McKee called the UNH finding 'an outlying poll.'
'The most important thing for us to do is to do the work we're doing and continue to show the progress that we're showing in the state,' he said, citing a newly released WalletHub analysis of the best state economies in which Rhode Island rose 12 spots, to rank 33rd.
McKee is facing a rematch against former CVS executive Helena Foulkes, who nearly wrested the Democratic nomination from him in 2022. Foulkes has not made her candidacy official yet, but she already had over $1.5 million in cash on hand as of March 31, while McKee had about $750,000.
The governor's new campaign hires are both newcomers to Rhode Island politics.
Silverstein served as deputy campaign manager on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2022 campaign, and has served as her political director since then. He is a New York City native who attended Georgetown University and Columbia University.
In a statement distributed by McKee's campaign, Hochul praised Silverstein for 'bringing sharp political instincts, tireless commitment, and a deep understanding of what it takes to win tough races.'
'Governor McKee is gaining a skilled and strategic leader, and I'm proud to call Rob a trusted former member of my team,' said Hochul, who like McKee was a lieutenant governor when she became governor unexpectedly in 2021, in her case after the resignation of Andrew Cuomo.
Spencer has worked for the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee for the last eight years, raising money for state legislative candidates in the Sunshine State, according to the McKee campaign. Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell called Spencer 'an outstanding choice' by McKee.
Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesi's Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Bluesky and Facebook.
Hannah Cotter contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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