Rhode Island Governor Voter Guide: Foulkes, Guckian, Block, Gotra and Reynolds on Housing, Taxes and Energy Costs
Five candidates are on the ballot for governor of Rhode Island on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democrat Helena Buonanno Foulkes, Republican Aaron Guckian, and independents Ken Block, Jasjit "Jay" Gotra and Christopher "C.D." Reynolds. The winner will succeed Gov. Dan McKee, whom Foulkes defeated in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the five candidates on their top priorities, including housing and taxes, and on energy costs. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own campaign websites and plans, and Rhode Island reporting.
Most of the positions in the video match the answers the candidates gave in Rhode Island Current's general election voter guide, which asked all five the same questions, including their top three first-year priorities and the governor's role on energy affordability. Foulkes, Guckian and Block have never held elected office, The Providence Journal noted, and Gotra is a first-time candidate.
Why Housing, Taxes and Energy Costs Are Issues
Rhode Island ranked last in the country in new housing starts last year, according to Foulkes, and the median home sale price in the state is about $525,000, according to her housing plan. In June, the General Assembly passed and McKee signed a budget with a new 3% income tax surcharge on income over $1 million, phased in over three years, along with an expanded exemption for Social Security income, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and Ernst & Young reported. Rhode Island still taxes Social Security benefits for higher-income retirees.
On energy, Rhode Island got 89% of its electricity from natural gas in 2025, according to federal Energy Information Administration figures cited by both Foulkes and Gotra, and the state's goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2033 has become a campaign issue as utility rates rose this fall. A new state tax on non-owner-occupied homes assessed at more than $1 million, often called the "Taylor Swift tax," took effect July 1, 2026, Uprise RI reported.
Helena Foulkes (Democrat)
Foulkes, 62, of Providence, is a former president of CVS Pharmacy. She ran for governor in 2022 and narrowly lost the Democratic primary to McKee before defeating him this year. At an Oct. 7 debate she said she had received the AFL-CIO's endorsement, Uprise RI reported.
On housing and taxes, the video says Foulkes would build 20,000 affordable homes paid for by a tax on millionaires. Her "Rhode Home" plan calls for "a billion-dollar revolving loan fund that will attract builders and spur the construction of over 20,000 homes and apartments that Rhode Islanders can afford, paid for with a marginal tax increase on the wealthiest among us." The plan proposes "an additional marginal tax bracket of 3% on incomes of $1,000,000 and above," which she says would put $1 billion toward housing over eight years. She told Rhode Island Current that the General Assembly "has passed fifty housing laws in five years—but laws aren't houses." At the same debate, Foulkes said she was open to suspending the state gas tax depending on conditions, and said a sales tax holiday was not a priority, Uprise RI reported.
On energy costs, the video says Foulkes points out that the state relies on natural gas for 89% of its electricity and says there is no plan to meet climate goals. Her energy plan says "our state got 89% of its electricity from natural gas" in 2025 and that McKee "had no plan to actually meet the goals" he set. She rejects "a false choice between lower energy bills and policies that address climate change," and her plan calls for auditing Rhode Island Energy, connecting renewable projects to the grid faster, a $40 million program for homes and small businesses to install solar and batteries and pay for them from their savings, and solar-and-battery installations on 250 schools and municipal buildings.
Aaron Guckian (Republican)
Guckian, 50, of East Greenwich, has worked in government, banking, education and nonprofits, according to his campaign, and ran for lieutenant governor in 2022. The Rhode Island Republican Party endorsed him for governor.
On housing and taxes, the video says Guckian would cut taxes and fees, lower energy costs and speed up housing permits. "My first priority is making Rhode Island more affordable. That means reducing unnecessary taxes and fees, lowering energy costs where possible, and making government stop treating taxpayers like a source of revenue," Guckian told Rhode Island Current. He said he would tackle the housing shortage by "streamlining permitting where appropriate" and through a Turnkey Housing Initiative for veterans. At the Oct. 7 debate he proposed a "Veterans Village" of modular or mobile homes with support services and possibly a "Patriots Village" for nurses, teachers and tradespeople, Uprise RI reported. He has backed a 30-day suspension of the state's gas tax followed by a review, supports a sales tax holiday and opposes the "Taylor Swift tax" on second homes. He also calls for a "Rhode Island Works Smarter" initiative to cut waste in state government.
On energy costs, the video says Guckian would review every policy that adds to utility bills, including climate mandates and fees. "I support reviewing every policy that contributes to rising utility costs, including climate-related mandates and fees, to ensure we're achieving meaningful environmental results in the most cost-effective way possible," Guckian told Rhode Island Current. He has proposed an advanced energy commission to study fusion and small modular reactors, has advocated for a natural gas pipeline and supports offshore, geothermal and advanced wind technology.
Ken Block (Independent)
Block, 60, of Barrington, is a software engineer, business owner and author who ran for governor in 2010 and 2014. He says he is running with "no party labels" and "no political insiders."
On housing and taxes, the video says Block would fix schools and bring new leadership and transparency to the state transportation agency. Block listed economic growth, including "addressing our underperforming public schools," and fixing the Department of Transportation after the Washington Bridge closure as top priorities in Rhode Island Current's guide, along with health care access. His "Cost of Living Relief Plan" targets "hidden and regressive taxes, fees, and government-imposed costs," including cutting taxes and fees on cell phone bills, stopping the return of truck tolls and a one-year trial of free RIPTA bus fares. On housing, his campaign says his administration "will review state-owned land and buildings for affordable housing opportunities" and that all legislation should include a "Housing Note" on its effect on housing supply.
On energy costs, the video says Block wants to repeal the 4% gross sales tax on energy bills and give the state more time on green goals. Block told Rhode Island Current that the state "places a 4% 'gross sales' tax on our energy bills," which he called "an incredibly regressive tax," and that "we need to get the government's fingers out of our tax bills." His campaign plan calls for "eliminating unnecessary government-imposed costs and moving appropriate and necessary taxation from electric bills to other, fairer mechanisms." His Oct. 1 energy plan would move the state's 100% renewable electricity deadline from 2033 to 2040, NBC 10 reported. "If we don't slow down the process of converting to renewable energy, we're going to drive up energy costs so high that they damage our economy," Block said.
Jay Gotra (Independent)
Gotra, 44, of East Greenwich, is an entrepreneur and the former CEO of a solar sales company. He is a first-time candidate. The Rhode Island Attorney General's office has a pending civil lawsuit, filed in June 2023, against Gotra and his former company, Smart Green Solar, alleging deceptive sales practices; the company closed in late 2024, Rhode Island Current reported.
On housing and taxes, the video says Gotra would end the state income tax on Social Security and review the budget from zero. "Rhode Island is one of only eight states that still taxes Social Security income... That ends immediately," Gotra told Rhode Island Current, adding that his "first 90 days will include a zero-based budget review — every dollar justified, every program evaluated, no sacred cows." His campaign website says he would eliminate the Social Security tax "completely" within his first two years and publish a state profit-and-loss statement, with "no new taxes." On housing, his website says: "Build 20,000 units in 4 years. Cut zoning barriers."
On energy costs, the video says Gotra would use solar, battery storage and grid upgrades and rethink current energy contracts. He told Rhode Island Current he wants "expanding distributed solar, incentivizing battery storage, investing in grid modernization, and being honest about what is and isn't working in our current contracts." His "POWER RI 2040" plan sets a goal of cutting the state's energy costs by 30% in four years, putting solar farms on closed landfills and brownfields, and having the state own or co-own 40% of in-state power generation by 2040.
C.D. Reynolds (Independent)
Reynolds, 59, of Providence, works at The Capital Grille and appears on the ballot as C.D. Reynolds. Since 2010 he has run for U.S. Senate, Providence City Council, Congress and governor, according to Rhode Island Current.
On housing and taxes, the video says Reynolds proposes a $1,000 monthly dividend to every resident. His campaign website describes "The Pursuit of Happiness Dividend," a "permanent, unconditional direct cash payment" of "$1,000 every month to Rhode Island residents," which it says would total $3.2 billion, or 20% of the state's projected $16 billion budget. His website compares Rhode Island's spending per resident with New Hampshire and Delaware, which it says spend less than half as much. His campaign website does not list a separate position on housing.
On energy costs, the video says Reynolds would modernize the grid, hold utilities accountable and keep environmental protections. "Our administration will advocate for grid modernization, strict utility company accountability, and federal clean energy grants rather than rolling back established environmental protections," Reynolds told Rhode Island Current.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Helena Foulkes: @HelenaBFoulkes on X and @helenabfoulkes on Instagram. Aaron Guckian: @GuckianRI on X and @aaronguckian on Instagram. Ken Block: @KenBlockRI on X, @kenblock_ri on Instagram and @kenblockri on TikTok. Jay Gotra: @governorgotra on X, Instagram and TikTok. C.D. Reynolds: no campaign X or Instagram account could be found; his campaign website is cdreynolds.com.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, Voter Guide: 2026 General, Governor of Rhode Island: https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-general-governor/ ; Helena Foulkes campaign, "The Rhode Home Program": http://helenafoulkes.com/rhodehome ; Helena Foulkes campaign, "No False Choices" energy plan: https://helenafoulkes.com/nofalsechoices ; Aaron Guckian campaign: https://www.aaronforri.com/ ; Ken Block campaign, Issues: https://www.blockforgovernor.com/issues.php ; Jay Gotra campaign: https://governorgotra.com/ ; Jay Gotra campaign, Policies: https://governorgotra.com/plans ; C.D. Reynolds campaign: https://www.cdreynolds.com/ ; Uprise RI, "Governor Debate Recap: Housing, Power Bills and Taxes" (Oct. 8, 2026): https://upriseri.com/article/governor-debate-recap-housing-power-bills-and-taxes/ ; NBC 10 (WJAR), "Ken Block proposes delaying 100% renewable target to 2040 as RI rates rise" (Oct. 1, 2026): https://turnto10.com/news/local/story/independent-gubernatorial-candidate-to-discuss-energy-policy-plan-for-rhode-island-oct-1-2026 ; Rhode Island Current, "Former solar sales CEO being sued by AG launches Rhode Island gubernatorial campaign" (May 12, 2026): https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/05/12/former-solar-sales-ceo-being-sued-by-ag-launches-rhode-island-gubernatorial-campaign/ ; Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, "Rhode Island Budget Bets on Tax Fairness with Millionaires' Tax and New Child Tax Credit" (June 12, 2026): https://itep.org/rhode-island-budget-millionaires-tax-ctc-social-security-conformity/ ; The Providence Journal, "RI voter guide 2026: The real differences between each candidate" (Oct. 20, 2026): https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/government/2026/10/20/ri-voter-guide-2026-the-real-differences-between-helena-foulkes-ken-block-aaron-guckian/91824215007/ ; Ernst & Young Tax News, "Rhode Island law imposes a personal income tax surtax on income exceeding $1 million": https://taxnews.ey.com/news/2026-1486-rhode-island-law-imposes-a-personal-income-tax-surtax-on-income-exceeding-1-million
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