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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
McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021.
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. By July 4, Rhode Island had fully vaccinated over 633,000 people, 70% of its eligible adult population. It was the fifth state to reach that milestone. 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.
On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.
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.
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.
On February 22, 2022, McKee announced that he was running for reelection to a full four-year term. He won the September 13 Democratic primary, defeating four challengers in a close race. He defeated Republican nominee Ashley Kalus in the
Governor Dan McKee
official government website
McKee for Governor
campaign website * , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McKee, Daniel 1951 births 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century Rhode Island politicians 21st-century Rhode Island 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
Harvard Kennedy School
The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), is the school of public policy of Harvard University, a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harvard Kennedy School offers master's de ...
. He served on the Cumberland town council
A town council, city council or municipal council is a form of local government for small municipalities.
Usage of the term varies under different jurisdictions.
Republic of Ireland
In 2002, 49 urban district councils and 26 town commissi ...
from 1992 to 1998 and as mayor of Cumberland twice, from 2000 to 2004 and from 2006 until 2014. 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. 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 inWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Massachusetts, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the list of United States cities by population, 113th most populous city in the United States. Named after Worcester ...
in 1973. He earned a Master of Public Administration
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a specialized professional graduate degree in public administration that prepares students for leadership roles, similar or equivalent to a Master of Business Administration but with an emphasis on the ...
from the Harvard Kennedy School
The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), is the school of public policy of Harvard University, a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harvard Kennedy School offers master's de ...
in 2005.
Early career
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. During his time on the Cumberland, Rhode Island Town Council (1992–1998), McKee was also a basketball coach. McKee served six terms as Cumberland's mayor. 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.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. In the general election, he defeated Republican Catherine Terry Taylor, a legislative aide and speechwriter for U.S. Senators John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee, with 54.3% of the vote. He was reelected in 2018. On January 7, 2021, President-electJoe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
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
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
on March 2, 2021.
In February 2021, McKee began to form a COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
advisory board. He had criticized the Raimondo administration over a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Governor of Rhode Island
McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021.
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. By July 4, Rhode Island had fully vaccinated over 633,000 people, 70% of its eligible adult population. It was the fifth state to reach that milestone. 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.
On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.
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.
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.
On February 22, 2022, McKee announced that he was running for reelection to a full four-year term. He won the September 13 Democratic primary, defeating four challengers in a close race. He defeated Republican nominee Ashley Kalus in the general election
A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from By-election, by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. Gener ...
.
McKee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.
Electoral history
Mayor of Cumberland
Lieutenant governor
Governor
References
External links
Governor Dan McKee
official government website
McKee for Governor
campaign website * , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:McKee, Daniel 1951 births 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century Rhode Island politicians 21st-century Rhode Island 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