Dan McKee
Dan McKee | |
---|---|
![]() McKee in 2022 | |
76th Governor of Rhode Island | |
Assumed office March 2, 2021 | |
Lieutenant | Sabina Matos |
Preceded by | Gina Raimondo |
69th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island | |
In office January 6, 2015 – March 2, 2021 | |
Governor | Gina Raimondo |
Preceded by | Elizabeth Roberts |
Succeeded by | Sabina Matos |
Mayor of Cumberland | |
In office January 7, 2007 – January 6, 2015 | |
Preceded by | David Iwuc |
Succeeded by | William Murray |
In office January 2001 – January 2005 | |
Preceded by | Frank Gaschen |
Succeeded by | David Iwuc |
Member of the Cumberland Town Council | |
In office 1992–1998 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Daniel J. McKee June 16, 1951 Cumberland, Rhode Island, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Susan McGill |
Children | 2 |
Education | Assumption University (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
Website | Government website |
Daniel J. McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since 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 and education
[edit]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
[edit]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.[citation needed]
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
[edit]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 then 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. Raimondo 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
[edit]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)
[edit]![]() | This section needs to be updated.(January 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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Marty_J._Walsh_and_Dan_Mckee%2C_November_1%2C_2021_%28cropped%2C_McKee%29.jpg/220px-Marty_J._Walsh_and_Dan_Mckee%2C_November_1%2C_2021_%28cropped%2C_McKee%29.jpg)
On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.
Statewide reclassification of drug possession charges
[edit]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
[edit]McKee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.[19]
Personal life
[edit]McKee is married to Susan McGill; the couple has two children and one granddaughter.
Electoral history
[edit]Mayor of Cumberland
[edit]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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan McKee (incumbent) | 9,131 | 81.94 | |
Independent | Julian Pytka | 2,012 | 18.06 | |
Total votes | 11,143 | 100 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan McKee (incumbent) | 8,091 | 63.95 | |
Independent | David Iwuc | 4,562 | 36.05 | |
Total votes | 12,653 | 100 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan McKee (incumbent) | 12,667 | 96.55 | |
Write-in | 452 | 3.45 | ||
Total votes | 13,119 | 100 |
Lieutenant governor
[edit]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 |
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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ Edgar, Randal. "Cumberland Mayor McKee announces bid for R.I. lieutenant governor". providencejournal.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Dan McKee's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Edgar, Randal (August 24, 2014). "Democrats in R.I. lieutenant governor race put economy first". The Providence Journal. Providence, RI.
- ^ "Daniel McKee's file". @politifact. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ ChrisS. "FirstWorks Names Taylor President of Board". GoLocalProv. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ "Lt. Gov. McKee wins re-election". WPRI.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^ Wang, Hansi Lo (March 2, 2021). "Biden's Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, Confirmed By Senate". NPR.org. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "McKee names COVID advisory board". Boston Globe. February 3, 2021.
- ^ "McKee criticizes Raimondo administration over vaccine rollout". WPRI. February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Gov. McKee launches campaign for a full term, flanked by mayors". WPRI.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "RI Lt. Gov. Says Speeding Up Vaccine Distribution Is His 'Top Priority'". NECN. February 16, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Anderson, Patrick (July 9, 2021). "Governor McKee extends emergency, 3 additional cases of delta variant in RI". The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
- ^ "Governor McKee signs legislation reclassifying certain drug possession charges". ABC6. September 28, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Assault weapons ban, safe storage bills held for further study by R.I. Judiciary Committee". Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ "State Democratic Primary". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2000 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2002 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Summary Results - Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Summary Results - Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "Summary Results by Community: Cumberland". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2008 Statewide Primary". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2008 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2010 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "2012 General Election". State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "RI Lt. Governor - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "RI Lt. Governor". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "RI Lt. Governor - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "RI Lt. Governor". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Governor Dan McKee official government website
- McKee for Governor campaign website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1951 births
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- 20th-century American politicians
- 21st-century American politicians
- Assumption University (Worcester) alumni
- Businesspeople from Rhode Island
- Democratic Party governors of Rhode Island
- Harvard Kennedy School alumni
- Lieutenant governors of Rhode Island
- Living people
- Mayors of places in Rhode Island
- People from Cumberland, Rhode Island
- Rhode Island city council members
- 21st-century Roman Catholics