Dan McKee
McKee in 2022
76th Governor of Rhode Island
Assumed office
March 2, 2021
LieutenantSabina Matos
Preceded byGina Raimondo
69th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
In office
January 6, 2015 – March 2, 2021
GovernorGina Raimondo
Preceded byElizabeth Roberts
Succeeded bySabina Matos
Mayor of Cumberland
In office
January 7, 2007 – January 6, 2015
Preceded byDavid Iwuc
Succeeded byWilliam Murray
In office
January 2001 – January 2005
Preceded byFrank Gaschen
Succeeded byDavid Iwuc
Member of the Cumberland Town Council
In office
1992–1998
Personal details
Born
Daniel James McKee

(1951-06-16) June 16, 1951
Cumberland, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseSusan McGill
Children2
EducationAssumption University (BA)
Harvard University (MPA)
WebsiteGovernment website

Daniel James McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since March 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.[1] 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.[2] He was elected to a full term in 2022.

Early life

McKee's family has owned and operated small businesses in northern Rhode Island for over 100 years. 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.[3]

Early career

McKee was an officer of McKee Brothers, a heating, air conditioning, and home heating oil delivery business his grandfather founded.[4] He also ran a health and fitness business for more than 30 years.[4]

During his time on the Cumberland, Rhode Island Town Council (1992–1998), McKee was also a basketball coach, coaching groups of boys and girls at all levels, culminating in two State AAU Basketball Champions in 1998 and 2000.

McKee served six terms as Cumberland's mayor. He worked with state and federal officials in the aftermath of Cumberland's spring flooding to minimize damage and steered Cumberland through an economic downturn.

In 2008, McKee worked with mayors across the state to pass a law allowing the creation of new, regional, mayor-governed and highly autonomous public schools known as “Mayoral Academies.” In 2009 and 2010, he again helped organize mayors and education advocates to enact a new education funding policy.

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.[5]

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.[6] In the general election, he defeated Republican Catherine Terry Taylor, a legislative aide and speechwriter for U.S. Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee,[7] with 54.3% of the vote. He was reelected in 2018.[8]

On January 7, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden selected Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce. Since McKee was next in line of succession, he would become governor once Raimondo was confirmed by the United States Senate. She was confirmed on March 2, 2021, and submitted her resignation as governor shortly after.[9]

In February 2021, McKee began to form a COVID-19 advisory board.[10] He had criticized the Raimondo administration over a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout.[11]

Governor of Rhode Island

McKee and wife Susan at the 2021 Bristol Fourth of July Parade
McKee with Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in 2023

McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021.[12] On February 22, 2022, McKee announced that he was running for reelection to a full four-year term.[13] He won the September 13 Democratic primary, defeating four challengers in a close race. He defeated Republican nominee Ashley Kalus in the general election.[14]

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2022)

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, McKee said his main priority was to advance COVID-19 vaccine rollout and contain the outbreak.[15] By July 4, Rhode Island had fully vaccinated over 633,000 people, 70% of its eligible adult population.[16] It was the fifth state to reach that milestone.[16] 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.[17]

McKee speaks at an event in November 2021

On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.

Statewide reclassification of drug possession charges

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.[18]

Gun control

Mckee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.[19]

Personal life

McKee is married to Susan McGill; the couple has two children and one granddaughter.

Electoral history

Mayor of Cumberland

2000 Cumberland mayoral election[20][21]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee 4,390 61.48
Democratic Francis Gaschen 2,750 38.52
Total votes 7,140 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee 11,625 100.00
Total votes 11,625 100
2002 Cumberland mayoral election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 9,131 81.94
Independent Julian Pytka 2,012 18.06
Total votes 11,143 100
2004 Cumberland mayoral election[23]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Iwuc 2,666 54.98
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 2,183 45.02
Total votes 4,849 100
2006 Cumberland mayoral election[24][25]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee 4,331 62.33
Democratic David Iwuc (incumbent) 2,666 37.67
Total votes 6,997 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee 10,612 100.00
Total votes 10,612 100
2008 Cumberland mayoral election[26][27]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 3,871 64.40
Democratic David Iwuc 2,140 35.60
Total votes 6,011 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 12,650 100.00
Total votes 12,650 100
2010 Cumberland mayoral election[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 8,091 63.95
Independent David Iwuc 4,562 36.05
Total votes 12,653 100
2012 Cumberland mayoral election[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 12,667 96.55
Write-in 452 3.45
Total votes 13,119 100

Lieutenant governor

2014 Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election[30][31]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee 48,634 43.47
Democratic Ralph Mollis 40,208 35.94
Democratic Frank Ferri 23,029 20.59
Total votes 111,871 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee 169,078 54.29
Republican Catherine Terry Taylor 105,305 33.81
Moderate William H. Gilbert 25,951 8.33
Libertarian Tony Jones 10,221 3.28
Write-in 906 0.29
Total votes 311,461 100
2018 Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election[32][33]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 57,983 51.09
Democratic Aaron Regunberg 55,517 48.91
Total votes 133,500 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 226,528 61.87
Republican Paul Pence 106,505 29.09
Moderate Joel Hellmann 11,332 3.10
Independent Jonathan J. Riccitelli 9,866 2.70
Independent Ross K. McCurdy 9,408 2.57
Write-in 2,513 0.69
Total votes 366,152 100

Governor

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 37,288 32.8
Democratic Helena Foulkes 33,931 29.9
Democratic Nellie Gorbea 29,811 26.2
Democratic Matt Brown 9,021 7.9
Democratic Luis Daniel Muñoz 3,547 3.1
Total votes 113,598 100
General election
Democratic Dan McKee (incumbent) 207,166 57.9
Republican Ashley Kalus 139,001 38.9
Independent Zachary Hurwitz 4,512 1.3
Independent Paul Rianna 3,123 0.9
Libertarian Elijah Gizzarelli 2,811 0.8
Write-in 1,057 0.3
Total votes 357,670 100

References

  1. ↑ Edgar, Randal. "Cumberland Mayor McKee announces bid for R.I. lieutenant governor". providencejournal.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Katherine Gregg and Patrick. "Raimondo resigns after winning Senate confirmation as U.S. commerce secretary; McKee sworn in as RI governor". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Dan McKee's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Edgar, Randal (August 24, 2014). "Democrats in R.I. lieutenant governor race put economy first". The Providence Journal. Providence, RI.
  5. ↑ "Daniel McKee's file". @politifact. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ ChrisS. "FirstWorks Names Taylor President of Board". GoLocalProv. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Lt. Gov. McKee wins re-election". WPRI.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ↑ Wang, Hansi Lo (March 2, 2021). "Biden's Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, Confirmed By Senate". NPR.org. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "McKee names COVID advisory board". Boston Globe. February 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ "McKee criticizes Raimondo administration over vaccine rollout". WPRI. February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  12. ↑ Gregg, Katherine; Anderson, Patrick. "Raimondo resigns after winning Senate confirmation as U.S. commerce secretary; McKee sworn in as RI governor". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Gov. McKee launches campaign for a full term, flanked by mayors". WPRI.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  14. ↑ Ulloa, Jazmine (September 14, 2022). "McKee, Rhode Island's Appointed Governor, Wins Democratic Nomination to Run for Seat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  15. ↑ "RI Lt. Gov. Says Speeding Up Vaccine Distribution Is His 'Top Priority'". NECN. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Rhode Island reaches 70% COVID vaccination rate". MassLive. Associated Press. July 3, 2021. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  17. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (July 9, 2021). "Governor McKee extends emergency, 3 additional cases of delta variant in RI". The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Governor McKee signs legislation reclassifying certain drug possession charges". ABC6. September 28, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Assault weapons ban, safe storage bills held for further study by R.I. Judiciary Committee". Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ "State Democratic Primary". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ↑ "2000 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  22. ↑ "2002 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Summary Results - Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Summary Results - Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Summary Results by Community: Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  26. ↑ "2008 Statewide Primary". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  27. ↑ "2008 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  28. ↑ "2010 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  29. ↑ "2012 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  30. ↑ "RI Lt. Governor - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  31. ↑ "RI Lt. Governor". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  32. ↑ "RI Lt. Governor - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  33. ↑ "RI Lt. Governor". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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