Helena Foulkes

Liberal

Democrat

N/A

Rhode Island

Current Position: Former CVS Executive

Running For: Governor

Policy Positions

For a $1 billion Rhode Home Program revolving loan fund to construct over 20,000 affordable homes and apartments
For financing that fund with a new 3% millionaire's tax bracket on incomes over $1,000,000
For expanding Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) financing
For restoring and reforming the state's Historic Tax Credit
For incentivizing modular and prefabricated home construction and recruiting modular manufacturers to Rhode Island
For a constitutional amendment permanently dedicating housing fund revenue to housing
For a Tenant Bill of Rights guaranteeing renters' rights, including access to legal counsel and eviction limits
For directing 5% of Rhode Home Program funds toward direct rent relief for four years
Against Trump administration tariffs on building materials, which the candidate says raise home construction costs
For auditing Rhode Island Energy's spending and rate increases and requiring efficient use of ratepayer dollars
For expanding state childcare tax credits
For a $15 million first-year appropriation for RIPTA job-access transit routes connecting workers to major employment centers

For bringing engineering expertise in-house at RIDOT rather than relying solely on outside contractors
For auditing all existing major DOT contracts
For streamlining permitting and converting idle state and commercial land into housing
For greater state oversight of institutional buyers of residential real estate, including disclosure requirements and banning bad actors
For requiring large energy users such as AI data centers to pay their own infrastructure costs
For a $40 million program helping individuals and small businesses install solar and battery storage
For installing solar and battery systems on 250 public schools and municipal buildings
For a Rhode Island employer-matched childcare fund, starting with a $20 million pilot
For establishing local fishermen's cooperatives and seafood-processing infrastructure
For a transparent, enforceable clawback mechanism on economic-development incentive agreements when companies fail to meet commitments
For a single-portal state "business navigator" to streamline business licensing and permitting
For a dedicated fund to revitalize small-town Main Streets

For raising Medicaid reimbursement rates to narrow the gap with neighboring states
For a state-funded ACA-style navigator program to reduce Medicaid coverage gaps
For expanding loan forgiveness programs, such as the Wavemaker Fellowship, for healthcare providers who practice in Rhode Island
For community-based chronic disease screening and early detection programs, particularly for diabetes
For expanding school-based behavioral and mental health services in partnership with Bradley Hospital

For a $100 million bond to fund career and technical education (CTE) facilities statewide
For partnering with Rhode Island businesses to align CTE curriculum with workforce needs
For expanding adult CTE credential programs at the Community College of Rhode Island and New England Institute of Technology
For universal pre-Kindergarten access by the end of a second term
For an Ocean Economy Jobs-to-Careers Compact linking schools and employers
For universal school breakfast and lunch regardless of income
For expanding dental care access for those on public insurance plans

For addressing the renewable energy grid interconnection backlog at ISO New England, including prioritizing grid-enhancing technologies
For a durable, long-term energy and emissions plan rather than year-to-year policy changes
Against the Trump administration's actions against offshore wind energy
For a $150 million Ocean Economy Investment Fund to expand port infrastructure, marine-technology facilities, aquaculture, and offshore-wind supply chains

For a full investigation into RIDOT's failures surrounding the Washington Bridge closure
For creating a new Office of Safety and Accountability within RIDOT to oversee contractor performance
For banning gifts and campaign donations from registered Rhode Island lobbyists to statewide elected officials, state legislators, and candidates for both, during the week before and throughout the legislative session
For real-time public disclosure of lobbyist meetings and interactions with legislators and legislative staff, filed at least weekly during session with penalties for non-compliance
For lowering lobbyist gift-reporting thresholds to $1, year-round