EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The R.I. Democratic Party’s state committee declined to endorse a candidate for governor on Saturday, dealing another blow to incumbent Dan McKee as he trails challenger Helena Foulkes in the polls.
The vote was 82 for McKee, 73 for Foulkes and 11 not to endorse, so no candidate won the required majority for an endorsement. The balloting came after an effort to use electronic voting failed and the party made a frantic switch to paper ballots.
McKee, who turned 75 this week, is facing a formidable challenge from Foulkes, a 61-year-old CVS executive who nearly defeated him in the primary four years ago. Foulkes led McKee by 20 points in last month’s 12 News/Emerson College survey and had over $2 million more in her campaign account as of March…