Dan McKee

Dan McKee
McKee in 2022
Dan McKee
Born	Daniel J. McKee 16 6, 1951
Birthplace	Cumberland, Rhode Island, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	76th Governor of Rhode Island
Education	Assumption College (BA) Harvard Kennedy School (MPA)
Spouse(s)	Susan McGill
Children	2
Website	[https://governor.ri.gov/ Official site]

Daniel J. McKee (born June 16, 1951) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 76th governor of Rhode Island since March 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, McKee ascended to the governorship when his predecessor, Gina Raimondo, resigned to become United States Secretary of Commerce in the Biden administration. McKee had previously served as the 69th lieutenant governor of Rhode Island from 2015 to 2021, and before entering statewide office, he built a lengthy record in local government in his hometown of Cumberland, Rhode Island, where he served on the town council from 1992 to 1998 and as mayor during two separate tenures spanning from 2000 to 2004 and from 2006 to 2014. Educated at Assumption College and the Harvard Kennedy School, McKee brought experience in both public service and business to the governor's office. He was elected to a full term as governor in 2022. As governor, McKee has overseen Rhode Island's continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, managed the state's vaccination campaign, and responded to a range of emergencies including severe weather events.

Early Life

Daniel J. McKee was born on June 16, 1951, in Cumberland, Rhode Island, a suburban community located in the northeastern corner of the state along the Massachusetts border. He grew up in Cumberland, a town that would remain central to both his personal and political life for decades. McKee's roots in the community informed his later career in local politics, and he maintained his residence in Cumberland throughout his tenure in public office.

Details regarding McKee's parents and childhood upbringing are not extensively documented in available public sources. What is known is that he remained closely tied to his hometown, eventually entering public service there and building a career that would span local, regional, and statewide government over the course of more than three decades.

Education

McKee attended Assumption College (now Assumption University) in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later pursued graduate studies at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA). The Harvard Kennedy School is known for training public leaders, and McKee's graduate education there provided him with a policy-oriented academic foundation that complemented his practical experience in local government and business.

Career

Cumberland Town Council (1992–1998)

McKee's career in elected office began in 1992 when he won a seat on the Cumberland Town Council. He served on the council for six years, from 1992 to 1998, gaining experience in municipal governance and local policy matters. His time on the town council gave him direct involvement in the issues facing Cumberland's residents and provided a stepping stone to higher local office.

Mayor of Cumberland (2000–2004, 2006–2014)

Following his tenure on the town council, McKee ran for mayor of Cumberland. He won the Democratic primary and subsequently the general election, beginning his first term as mayor in January 2001. He succeeded Frank Gaschen as mayor and served his first stint in the office until January 2005.

McKee was succeeded as mayor by David Iwuc in 2005, but he returned to the office in January 2007 after winning election again, succeeding Iwuc. His second tenure as mayor lasted significantly longer, running from January 2007 until January 2015, when he departed to assume the office of lieutenant governor. Over his combined years as mayor, McKee served approximately twelve years leading Cumberland's municipal government.

During his time as mayor, McKee was active in regional civic organizations. He was involved with FirstWorks, a Providence-based nonprofit arts organization, serving in a leadership capacity on its board.

In 2013, during his second tenure as mayor, McKee announced his intention to run for lieutenant governor in the 2014 election cycle, signaling his ambition to move from municipal to statewide office.

Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island (2015–2021)

McKee entered the 2014 race for lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. He competed in the Democratic primary, which featured a contested field of candidates. McKee secured the Democratic nomination and went on to win the general election in November 2014, succeeding Elizabeth Roberts as the 69th lieutenant governor of Rhode Island. He took office on January 6, 2015, serving alongside Governor Gina Raimondo.

In 2016, McKee was elected as the 57th Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA), a position he held from 2016 to 2017. In this role, he succeeded Kim Reynolds of Iowa and was succeeded by Matt Michels of South Dakota. The chairmanship gave McKee a national platform and connected him with lieutenant governors from across the United States.

McKee won reelection as lieutenant governor in 2018, defeating his Republican challenger and securing a second term. He continued serving alongside Governor Raimondo during her second term.

As lieutenant governor, McKee's responsibilities included presiding over various state commissions and serving as a key liaison between the governor's office and local communities across Rhode Island. His long experience in municipal government informed his approach to statewide issues, and he maintained a focus on economic development and small business concerns.

Transition to Governor (2021)

In late 2020 and early 2021, Governor Gina Raimondo was nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as United States Secretary of Commerce. Her nomination set in motion the constitutional process by which McKee, as lieutenant governor, would ascend to the governorship upon Raimondo's resignation.

On March 2, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce, and she resigned as governor of Rhode Island that same day. McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island, completing the succession mandated by the Rhode Island Constitution. Upon McKee's elevation to governor, Sabina Matos, then president of the Providence City Council, was appointed to serve as lieutenant governor, filling the vacancy left by McKee.

Governor of Rhode Island (2021–present)

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

McKee assumed the governorship at a critical juncture in Rhode Island's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state was in the midst of its vaccination campaign, and the rollout of vaccines to the general public was a central challenge facing the new governor.

Even before formally taking office as governor, McKee had begun preparing for the challenges ahead. In February 2021, while still serving as lieutenant governor, he named a COVID-19 advisory group to assist with the transition and to help accelerate the state's pandemic response efforts.

McKee was publicly critical of certain aspects of the Raimondo administration's handling of the vaccine rollout, stating that the distribution process needed to be improved and accelerated. Upon becoming governor, he made speeding up vaccine distribution his stated top priority.

Under McKee's leadership, Rhode Island made significant progress in its vaccination efforts. By July 2021, the state reached a 70 percent COVID-19 vaccination rate, a milestone that placed it among the leading states in the national vaccination campaign. Despite this progress, McKee continued to manage the ongoing pandemic, extending emergency orders as new variants, including the Delta variant, posed fresh challenges to the state's public health infrastructure.

2022 Election

Having assumed the governorship through succession rather than election, McKee sought a full term in the 2022 gubernatorial election. He ran in the Democratic primary, which was competitive, and secured the nomination before going on to win the general election. The victory gave McKee a mandate from Rhode Island voters and a full four-year term as governor.

Emergency Management

As governor, McKee has been called upon to respond to various emergencies affecting Rhode Island. In February 2026, ahead of a major blizzard expected to bring severe conditions to the state, McKee declared a state of emergency and issued a travel ban to protect Rhode Island residents. In the days preceding the storm, McKee provided public updates on state preparations, coordinating with emergency management agencies and urging residents to take precautions. The blizzard proved to be a record-setting event, with parts of Rhode Island receiving up to three feet of snow and travel bans remaining in effect as the state worked to clear roads and restore normalcy.

Personal Life

Dan McKee is married to Susan McGill. The couple has two children. McKee has resided in Cumberland, Rhode Island, throughout his career in public office, maintaining close ties to the community where he was born and raised. His long residence in Cumberland — spanning his time on the town council, as mayor, as lieutenant governor, and as governor — reflects a deep connection to the town.

In addition to his political career, McKee has been involved in business activities in Rhode Island, though specific details of his business ventures are not extensively documented in available public sources.

Recognition

McKee's election as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association in 2016 represented national recognition from his peers in state government. The position placed him at the head of an organization representing lieutenant governors from across the United States, and he served in the role from 2016 to 2017.

His long tenure in public service — encompassing roles on the Cumberland Town Council, as mayor of Cumberland, as lieutenant governor, and as governor — represents one of the more extensive careers in Rhode Island local and state politics. McKee's path from town council member to governor illustrates a progression through multiple levels of government that is relatively uncommon in modern American politics.

Legacy

As of 2026, Dan McKee continues to serve as governor of Rhode Island, and an assessment of his full legacy remains ongoing. His governorship has been defined in significant part by the circumstances under which he assumed office — inheriting the state's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the acceleration of the vaccination campaign. Rhode Island's achievement of a 70 percent vaccination rate by July 2021 marked a notable milestone in the state's pandemic response.

McKee's career trajectory — from local town council member to mayor to lieutenant governor to governor — represents a path rooted in grassroots municipal politics. His combined twelve years as mayor of Cumberland, followed by six years as lieutenant governor and his ongoing service as governor, have given him one of the longest continuous records of public service among recent Rhode Island political figures.

His transition from lieutenant governor to governor, triggered by Raimondo's departure for the federal cabinet, marked the first time since 2003 that a Rhode Island lieutenant governor had ascended to the governorship through succession. McKee's subsequent election to a full term in 2022 confirmed his standing with the state's electorate.