NEE-see. Politics editor + investigative reporter at WPRI 12 (CBS) in RI/MA. Contributor on RI PBS Weekly. Adjunct at Wheaton. #GirlDad and lucky husband.
JUST IN: Gov McKee's campaign raised about $250,000 during Q2, less than ⅓ the over $900,000 that the Foulkes campaign reported Growing financial gap in the race evidenced on TV - Foulkes is outspending McKee 6-to-1 on the airwaves this week alone www.wpri.com/news/electio...
McKee lags Foulkes in latest fundraising quarterThe governor’s campaign insisted he can harness grassroots support to overcome his challenger’s significant cash advantage.www.wpri.comTARGET 12: Four JNC members who provided key votes Tuesday to advance Shekarchi's judgeship bid have given him $30,000+ in campaign donations One of the four says he saw no reason to disclose or recuse John Marion and Steve Frias among those crying foul www.wpri.com/target-12/sh...
Shekarchi got over $30,000 from commission members who voted for his judge candidacyThe head of a good-government group said failing to disclose the donations “reflects a profound lack of judgement” by the four JNC members.www.wpri.comNEW: One of RI's most prominent companies has been sold Taco Group, the Cranston-based HVAC firm owned by well-known businessman John Hazen White Jr., announced a $1.4 billion deal today to be acquired by Pentair of London/Minnesota www.wpri.com/business-new...
John Hazen White Jr.’s Taco sold to London firm in $1.4 billion dealOne of Rhode Island’s most prominent companies is pledging to keep a strong presence in Cranston under foreign ownership.www.wpri.comNEW: McKee set to get more labor support this week Mike Sabitoni's Building & Construction Trades Council - made up of 16 private-sector unions - has begun publicizing a rally in support of the gov's reelection campaign Thursday night at IBEW Local 99 www.wpri.com/news/electio...
Building trades unions poised to endorse McKee at rally ThursdayIndividual labor organizations are making their choices after the Rhode Island AFL-CIO declined to choose between McKee and Helena Foulkes.www.wpri.comGood history point by @iandonnis.bsky.social "Buy yourself a beer if you predicted back in 2014 that the two candidates in the GOP primary for governor – Ken Block and Allan Fung – would run as independents (Block for governor, and Fung for state rep) 12 years later"
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for July 24, 2026Can downtown PVD overcome the pandemic’s hangover?www.oceanstatemedia.orgNEW: Seth backs Seth Rep. Magaziner today endorsed Rep. Moulton - who was the first House member to back Magaziner in 2022 - in his US Senate primary challenge against Ed Markey www.wpri.com/news/electio...
Magaziner backs Moulton in primary challenge against Sen. MarkeyMoulton was the first member of the House to endorse Magaziner in his successful 2022 bid to succeed Jim Langevin.www.wpri.comWho needs Claude when you have Steve Frias? He nailed down the last time the AFL-CIO declined to endorse an incumbent Dem governor: John Notte Jr. in 1962 (apparently over, among other issues, night horse racing!) www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/tgi...
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for July 17, 2026Gov. McKee faces an increasingly steep slopewww.oceanstatemedia.orgNEW: While focus is on the campaign, the wheels of government grind on at the State House The 5-member panel that will identify RI's first-ever inspector general has set its first meeting for Tuesday, with a 90-day clock ticking to send Gov their picks www.wpri.com/news/politic...
New panel searching for RI’s first inspector general set to hold first meetingThree of the state’s general officers will review candidates for the new watchdog position and forward names to the governor.www.wpri.comBREAKING: *No* endorsement for governor by AFL-CIO - another significant blow to McKee campaign. No consensus on McKee vs Foulkes, says prez Pat Crowley www.wpri.com/news/electio...
AFL-CIO won’t endorse for governor, dealing fresh blow to McKeeMcKee has cultivated close ties to organized labor as governor and is banking on union support to win the Sept. 9 primary.www.wpri.comNEW: Auchincloss campaign not sweating the summer's progressive surge Memo say his internal polling has him up 47 points over #MA04 primary challenger Poulos, with 71% support in Bristol Co. Auchincloss has 9th-most cash in the entire US House, topping $7 million www.wpri.com/news/electio...
Auchincloss poll shows big lead over primary challenger PoulosThe 4th District congressman’s survey suggested his support is strongest in the Bristol County portion of his district.www.wpri.comSens. Reed and Whitehouse both released warm remembrances of Sen. Graham despite their profound disagreements with him Whitehouse, "stunned," calls him "a giant in the Senate" and "a dearly cherished friend" Reed recalls his bipartisanship on judges and his intellect www.wpri.com/news/us-and-...
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after a brief and unexpected illness, his office saysSen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a “brief and sudde…www.wpri.comNEW: Busy day in RI gov race New McKee ad hits Foulkes hard on CVS and opioids - Foulkes responds in her own new ad calling him "desperate" CEO group Partnership for RI wants McKee to lay off attacking state's biggest company Plus: mayor vs ex-mayor www.wpri.com/news/electio...
Cumberland mayor endorses Foulkes amid war of words over CVSThe Democratic primary for governor continues to heat up as incumbent Dan McKee deals with another rebuke from his hometown and stands by his TV attack ads.www.wpri.comNEW: RI has slipped even closer to the bottom of the annual @cnbc.com Best States for Business list RI fell 2 spots to 48th out of 50 - hurt in part by CNBC's decision to weight infrastructure bigger than any other factor MA rose to 15th and CT rose to 23rd www.wpri.com/business-new...
RI falls to 48th in CNBC’s annual business friendliness rankings; Mass. is 15thRhode Island’s poor infrastructure was a key reason it dropped even lower on the TV network’s yearly list.www.wpri.comNEW: Even @whitehouse.senate.gov is abandoning Graham Platner Whitehouse donated $10,000 to the Maine Dem and called last month's NYT report on women's allegations against him "a lot of nothing." But after Politico/CNN stories he now says Platner should withdraw www.wpri.com/news/electio...
Whitehouse yanks endorsement for embattled Platner after $10,000 donationRhode Island’s junior senator had previously called women’s allegations against the Maine Democrat “a lot of nothing.”www.wpri.comEmployees at RI's PBS/NPR affiliate Ocean State Media have voted to unionize, per @iandonnis.bsky.social www.oceanstatemedia.org/tgif-ian-don...
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 26, 2026Is the General Assembly set to change this election year?www.oceanstatemedia.orgNEW: One of RI's most prominent CEOs will step down Care New England chief Dr. Michael Wagner tells me he'll hand off to a new CEO early next year, after 4+ years leading the state's No. 2 hospital group (but will stay on as board chairman) Our interview www.wpri.com/business-new...
Care New England CEO Wagner to retire, join boardThe head of the state’s No. 2 hospital group said the time was right to begin a leadership transition.www.wpri.comNEW: Lots of challengers filed for Congress in RI by Weds deadline Senator Reed drew 2 Dems (Burbrige and Muñoz) plus GOP's McKay + indy Bahry Rep. Amo drew GOP's Keenan + indy DeSouza Rep. Magaziner drew Dem Spencer Dickinson + GOP's Skoly & Mellor www.wpri.com/news/electio...
RI congressional delegation draws 9 challengers at filing deadlineU.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Congressmen Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner will face a set of Democrats, Republicans and independents.www.wpri.com