A new poll shows Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee with lowly approval ratings as the 2026 election year approaches.
McKee registered a 25% approval rating, while 64% of respondents disapproved of his job performance.
The poll on a wide variety of issues from Salve Regina University’s Pell Center, conducted in mid-June, surveyed 840 registered Rhode Island voters who voted in the 2024 presidential election.
It has a margin of error of 3.6%.
Fifty-four percent of those polled support an assault weapons ban.
Lawmakers passed, and McKee signed, a compromise ban last month.
There is little confidence that the new westbound Washington Bridge will be built within the new timeline and budget announced in June.
The bridge was suddenly shutdown in December 2023 due to a structural problem.
Last month, McKee and RIDOT announced the awarding of the contract to build the new bridge at an estimated cost of up to $427 million (not including demolition) with a completion date of November 2028.
That’s two years later and about double the cost of estimates given in March 2024 when McKee announced a new bridge needed to be built.
The Pell Center poll shows only 2% of those surveyed believe it is very likely the new bridge will be built on time and on budget, with another 11% believing it is somewhat likely the goals will be met.
