Dan McKee

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Daniel J. McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he also served as Rhode Island's 69th lieutenant governor from 2015 to 2021.

Born in Cumberland, Rhode Island, McKee received his undergraduate degree from Assumption College and received his master's degree from the Harvard Kennedy School. He served on the Cumberland town council from 1992 to 1998 and as mayor of Cumberland twice, from 2000 to 2004 and from 2006 until 2014. McKee was elected lieutenant governor in 2014 and reelected in 2018. When Governor Gina Raimondo resigned upon being confirmed as United States Secretary of Commerce in 2021, McKee ascended to the governorship. He was elected to a full term in 2022.

Early life and education

After graduating from Cumberland High School, McKee received a Bachelor of Arts in education and political science from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1973. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2005.

Early career

McKee was an officer of McKee Brothers, a heating, air conditioning, and home heating oil delivery business his grandfather founded. He also ran a health and fitness business for more than 30 years.

During his time on the Cumberland, Rhode Island Town Council (1992–1998), McKee was also a basketball coach.

McKee served six terms as Cumberland's mayor.

McKee has been a member of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland-Lincoln for over 25 years, serving as past president of the executive board and chair of the endowment committee.

Lieutenant governor of Rhode Island

In 2013, McKee announced his candidacy for Rhode island lieutenant governor, defeating Secretary of State of Rhode Island Ralph Mollis and State Representative Frank Ferri in the Democratic primary. In the general election, he defeated Republican Catherine Terry Taylor, a legislative aide and speechwriter for U.S. Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee, with 54.3% of the vote. He was reelected in 2018.

On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden selected then-Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce. Since McKee was next in line of succession, he became governor once Raimondo was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 2021.

In February 2021, McKee began to form a COVID-19 advisory board. He had criticized the Raimondo administration over a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Governor of Rhode Island

File:Sabina Matos and Dan McKee.jpg

McKee with Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in 2023

McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021.

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island, McKee said his main priority was to advance COVID-19 vaccine rollout and contain the outbreak. By July 4, Rhode Island had fully vaccinated over 633,000 people, 70% of its eligible adult population. It was the fifth state to reach that milestone. Also in July, McKee terminated the state mask mandate, but extended the COVID-19 emergency declaration to August 6, citing the prevalence of the highly transmissible Delta variant. On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.

In September 2021, McKee signed legislation that reclassified simple possession of 10 grams or less of certain controlled substances as a misdemeanor rather than a felony. He signed the legislation at Project Weber/RENEW's office.

In September 2021, McKee signed legislation that reclassified simple possession of 10 grams or less of certain controlled substances as a misdemeanor rather than a felony in Rhode Island. He signed the legislation at Project Weber/RENEW's office.

On February 22, 2022, McKee announced that he was running for reelection to a full four-year term. He won the September 13 Democratic primary, defeating four challengers in a close race. He defeated Republican nominee Ashley Kalus in the general election.

McKee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.

Electoral history

Mayor of Cumberland

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 61.48 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Francis Gaschen |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 38.52 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 100.00 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

2002 Cumberland mayoral election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan McKee (incumbent)		81.94
		Julian Pytka		18.06
Total votes				100

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | David Iwuc | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 54.98 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Dan McKee (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 45.02 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 62.33 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| David Iwuc (incumbent) |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 37.67 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 100.00 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 64.40 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| David Iwuc |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 35.60 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 100.00 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

2010 Cumberland mayoral election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan McKee (incumbent)		63.95
		David Iwuc		36.05
Total votes				100

2012 Cumberland mayoral election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Dan McKee (incumbent)		96.55
style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color; width: 2px;" |	Write-in		452	3.45
Total votes				100

Lieutenant governor

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 43.47 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Ralph Mollis |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 35.94 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Frank Ferri |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 20.59 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 54.29 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Catherine Terry Taylor |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 33.81 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| William H. Gilbert |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 8.33 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Tony Jones |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 3.28 |-

|- class="vcard" | style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color; width: 2px;" | | class="org" colspan="2" | Write-in | style="text-align:right;" | 906 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.29 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 51.09 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Aaron Regunberg |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 48.91 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 61.87 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Paul Pence |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 29.09 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Joel Hellmann |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 3.10 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Jonathan J. Riccitelli |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 2.70 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Ross K. McCurdy |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 2.57 |-

|- class="vcard" | style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color; width: 2px;" | | class="org" colspan="2" | Write-in | style="text-align:right;" | 2,513 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.69 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

Governor

Template:Election box open primary begin no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 32.8 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Helena Foulkes |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 29.9 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Nellie Gorbea |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 26.2 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Matt Brown |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 7.9 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Luis Daniel Muñoz |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 3.1 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |- Template:Election box open primary general election no change |- class=vcard | style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:5px" | | class=org style="width:130px" | !scope=row style="text-align:left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn | Dan McKee (incumbent) | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | | style="text-align:right;margin-right:0.5em" | 57.9 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Ashley Kalus |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 38.9 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Zachary Hurwitz |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 1.3 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Paul Rianna |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 0.9 |-

|- class="vcard" |style="color:inherit;background-color:;width:2px" | |class="org" style="width:130px"| !scope=row style="text-align: left; font-weight:normal; color:inherit; background:inherit;" class=fn| Elijah Gizzarelli |style="text-align:right"| |style="text-align:right"| 0.8 |-

|- class="vcard" | style="color:inherit;background-color: Template:Party color; width: 2px;" | | class="org" colspan="2" | Write-in | style="text-align:right;" | 1,057 | style="text-align:right;" | 0.3 |-

|- ! scope=row colspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | Total votes | style="text-align:right;" | | style="text-align:right;" | 100 |-

|}

External links

• Governor Dan McKee official government website
• McKee for Governor campaign website
• Template:C-SPAN

• Profile at Vote Smart