Summary

Current Position: Governor
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: Lt. Governor from 2015 – 2021; Mayor from 2007 – 2015

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.

McKee was an officer of McKee Brothers, a heating, air conditioning, and home heating oil delivery business his grandfather founded. He also ran a health and fitness business for more than 30 years. 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.

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Q&A with RI Lt. Governor Daniel McKee

OnAir Post: Daniel McKee – RI

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About

Source: Government page

Daniel McKee 1Born in Cumberland, Dan is the son of James and Helen Willa McKee. His parents taught him the importance of working hard and giving back to the community. In particular, Dan is still inspired by his father’s role in starting the local Boys & Girls Club in their town.

Dan graduated from Cumberland High School, where he played basketball and met his wife Susan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and education from Assumption College. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has owned and operated successful small businesses in the Blackstone Valley for three decades.

Dan and Susan have two children, Matthew and Kara. Both children went to public school in Cumberland. For many years, Dan was a youth basketball coach, where he mentored young athletes and won two AAU state championships.

In 2000, McKee was elected Mayor of Cumberland after serving for eight years on the Town Council. He served 12 years as mayor, leaving the office in 2014 when he was elected Lieutenant Governor.

When Dan took office, Cumberland had a “junk bond” credit rating and its finances were close to being taken over by the state. When he left office, Cumberland had a budget surplus and a AA bond rating. He also turned around two failing elementary schools and fixed a high school that was falling apart. Additionally, Dan created the state’s only Mayor’s Office for Children, Youth, and Learning, which has supported thousands of Cumberland students.

Elected Lieutenant Governor in 2014, McKee used the office to stand up for working Rhode Islanders and support small businesses. Together with 26 mayors, Dan sued Big Pharma to hold them accountable for their role in the opiate crisis. He took on the giant electric companies and lowered costs for ratepayers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Dan organized a grassroots small business movement ensuring millions of dollars in federal C.A.R.E.S. Act funds were allocated to support the small business community.

Personal

Full Name: Daniel ‘Dan’ J. McKee

Gender: Male

Family: Wife: Susan; 2 Children: Matt, Kara

Birth Date: 06/16/1951

Birth Place:Cumberland, RI

Home City: Cumberland, RI

Source: Vote Smart

Education

MPA, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2003-2005

BA, Education/Political Science, Assumption College, 1973

Political Experience

Governor, State of Rhode Island, 2021-present

Former Member, Cumberland Town Council

Former Mayor, Town of Cumberland

Candidate, Governor of Rhode Island, 2022

Lieutenant Governor, State of Rhode Island, 2015-2021

Professional Experience

Vice President, McKee Brothers Oil Corporation

Office

Office of the Governor
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 222-2080
Fax: (401) 222-8096

Contact

Email: Government

Web Links

Politics

Source: none

Election Results

To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.

Finances

Source: Open Secrets

New Legislation

More Information

Wikipedia

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

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

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.[citation needed]

McKee served six terms as Cumberland’s mayor.[5]

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.[citation needed]

Lieutenant governor of Rhode Island

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 became governor once Raimondo was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 2021.[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

McKee with Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in 2023

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]

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Rhode Island, 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]
On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.[citation needed]

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]

McKee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.[19]

Electoral history

Mayor of Cumberland

2000 Cumberland mayoral election[20][21]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee 4,390 61.48
DemocraticFrancis Gaschen2,75038.52
Total votes7,140 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee 11,625 100.00
Total votes11,625 100
2002 Cumberland mayoral election[22]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 9,131 81.94
IndependentJulian Pytka2,01218.06
Total votes11,143 100
2004 Cumberland mayoral election[23]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDavid Iwuc 2,666 54.98
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent)2,18345.02
Total votes4,849 100
2006 Cumberland mayoral election[24][25]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee 4,331 62.33
DemocraticDavid Iwuc (incumbent)2,66637.67
Total votes6,997 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee 10,612 100.00
Total votes10,612 100
2008 Cumberland mayoral election[26][27]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 3,871 64.40
DemocraticDavid Iwuc2,14035.60
Total votes6,011 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 12,650 100.00
Total votes12,650 100
2010 Cumberland mayoral election[28]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 8,091 63.95
IndependentDavid Iwuc4,56236.05
Total votes12,653 100
2012 Cumberland mayoral election[29]
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 12,667 96.55
Write-in4523.45
Total votes13,119 100

Lieutenant governor

2014 Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election[30][31]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee 48,634 43.47
DemocraticRalph Mollis40,20835.94
DemocraticFrank Ferri23,02920.59
Total votes111,871 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee 169,078 54.29
RepublicanCatherine Terry Taylor105,30533.81
ModerateWilliam H. Gilbert25,9518.33
LibertarianTony Jones10,2213.28
Write-in9060.29
Total votes311,461 100
2018 Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election[32][33]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 57,983 51.09
DemocraticAaron Regunberg55,51748.91
Total votes133,500 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 226,528 61.87
RepublicanPaul Pence106,50529.09
ModerateJoel Hellmann11,3323.10
IndependentJonathan J. Riccitelli9,8662.70
IndependentRoss K. McCurdy9,4082.57
Write-in2,5130.69
Total votes366,152 100

Governor

2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 37,288 32.8
DemocraticHelena Foulkes33,93129.9
DemocraticNellie Gorbea29,81126.2
DemocraticMatt Brown9,0217.9
DemocraticLuis Daniel Muñoz3,5473.1
Total votes113,598 100
General election
DemocraticDan McKee (incumbent) 207,166 57.9
RepublicanAshley Kalus139,00138.9
IndependentZachary Hurwitz4,5121.3
IndependentPaul Rianna3,1230.9
LibertarianElijah Gizzarelli2,8110.8
Write-in1,0570.3
Total votes357,670 100

References

  1. ^ Edgar, Randal. “Cumberland Mayor McKee announces bid for R.I. lieutenant governor”. providencejournal.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ “Dan McKee’s Biography”. Vote Smart. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Edgar, Randal (August 24, 2014). “Democrats in R.I. lieutenant governor race put economy first”. The Providence Journal. Providence, RI.
  5. ^ “Governor Dan McKee | Governor’s Office, State of Rhode Island”. governor.ri.gov. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  6. ^ “Rhode Island lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. ^ ChrisS. “FirstWorks Names Taylor President of Board”. GoLocalProv. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. ^ “Lt. Gov. McKee wins re-election”. WPRI.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Wang, Hansi Lo (March 2, 2021). “Biden’s Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, Confirmed By Senate”. NPR.org. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  10. ^ “McKee names COVID advisory board”. Boston Globe. February 3, 2021.
  11. ^ “McKee criticizes Raimondo administration over vaccine rollout”. WPRI. February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ “Gov. McKee launches campaign for a full term, flanked by mayors”. WPRI.com. February 22, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ “RI Lt. Gov. Says Speeding Up Vaccine Distribution Is His ‘Top Priority’“. NECN. February 16, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Anderson, Patrick (July 9, 2021). “Governor McKee extends emergency, 3 additional cases of delta variant in RI”. The Providence Journal. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ^ “Governor McKee signs legislation reclassifying certain drug possession charges”. ABC6. September 28, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  19. ^ “Assault weapons ban, safe storage bills held for further study by R.I. Judiciary Committee”. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. ^ “State Democratic Primary”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ^ “2000 General Election”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  22. ^ “2002 General Election”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  23. ^ “Summary Results – Cumberland”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  24. ^ “Summary Results – Cumberland”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  25. ^ “Summary Results by Community: Cumberland”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  26. ^ “2008 Statewide Primary”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  27. ^ “2008 General Election”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  28. ^ “2010 General Election”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  29. ^ “2012 General Election”. State of Rhode Island Board of Elections. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  30. ^ “RI Lt. Governor – D Primary”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  31. ^ “RI Lt. Governor”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  32. ^ “RI Lt. Governor – D Primary”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  33. ^ “RI Lt. Governor”. Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by

 Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
2015–2021		Succeeded by

Preceded by

 Governor of Rhode Island
2021–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by

 Democratic nominee for Governor of Rhode Island
2022		Most recent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

as Vice President

Order of precedence of the United States
Within Rhode Island		Succeeded by

Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by

Otherwise Mike Johnson

as Speaker of the House

Preceded by

as Governor of North Carolina

Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Rhode Island		Succeeded by

as Governor of Vermont


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_McKee