Democrat · Rhode Island governor · 2026
Helena Foulkes
Foulkes spent 25 years climbing the ranks at CVS, eventually running its pharmacy business, before leading retailer Hudson’s Bay.
Biography
Helena Foulkes grew up in Providence as the oldest of five children, then had four children of her own within four and a half years.1 She and her husband, Bill, raised their family in Rhode Island, and she is now a grandmother.23
Foulkes graduated from Harvard College in 1986 and earned her Harvard MBA in 1992.4 Her early jobs included Goldman Sachs and Tiffany before a career at CVS that included work on its customer loyalty program and service as president of CVS Pharmacy from 2014 to 2018.5 She later led Hudson's Bay Company as chief executive from 2018 to 2020.5
While leading CVS Pharmacy, Foulkes helped carry out its decision to stop selling tobacco products, a change the company implemented nationally in 2014.65 She has also worked with Central Falls' mayor on improving public schools.2 After narrowly losing the Democratic primary for governor in 2022, she defeated incumbent Dan McKee in their September 2026 rematch.3
Foulkes faces Republican Aaron Guckian and other candidates, including independent Ken Block, as voters choose McKee's successor.7 She proposes using a millionaire tax to finance 20,000 homes and apartments, alongside a $100 million career and technical education plan and proposals addressing healthcare, childcare and energy costs.89
Record and controversies
Contribution limits and CVS settlement
The Rhode Island Board of Elections' September review identified $11,645 in contributions above annual limits, while finding that another roughly $10,000 had been misattributed but was legal.10 Foulkes' campaign said it was returning excess donations and correcting errors involving shared donor names, married couples and refunds.10 The board described an opportunity to cure overages; the article did not report an imposed fine or criminal finding.10
In October 2026, CVS agreed to pay $315 million to settle federal allegations about unlawful opioid dispensing and related reimbursement claims during a period partly overlapping Foulkes' presidency of CVS Pharmacy.1112 The agreement resolved allegations against CVS corporate entities without a determination of liability, rather than establishing personal liability for Foulkes.11 She defended her record by citing efforts to stop filling prescriptions from problematic doctors and other measures to reduce opioid misuse.12