Home Economy Ken Block enters governor’s race, again

Ken Block enters governor’s race, again

By

Christopher Allen

-

04/02/2026

Ken Block / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY — BARRINGTON BUSINESSMAN KEN BLOCK has declared his candidacy for governor. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

PROVIDENCE – Barrington businessman Ken Block on Thursday declared his candidacy for governor, marking his third attempt at the state’s highest office and his first as an Independent. Block, an outspoken critic of government waste and abuse, is founder of nonprofit Watchdog RI and has made two previous gubernatorial runs – as a Republican in

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PROVIDENCE – Barrington businessman Ken Block on Thursday declared his candidacy for governor, marking his third attempt at the state's highest office and his first as an Independent. Block, an outspoken critic of government waste and abuse, is founder of nonprofit Watchdog RI and has made two previous gubernatorial runs – as a Republican in 2014 and with the Moderate Party in 2010, which he also founded. In his announcement Block said he entered the race because he “could no longer tolerate” what he perceives as significant dysfunction and waste within the state government, citing “the warped priorities” and the size of the state budget of approximately $15 billion, equating to nearly $15,000 per resident annually. “Why does it feel like we aren’t getting what we are paying for? Because we are not,” he said. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Block founded Simpatico Software Systems Inc. in 2001, where he currently serves as president. Additionally, he authored the 2024 book “Disproven: My Unbiased Search for Voter Fraud for the Trump Campaign,” where he examines the 2020 presidential election and offers recommendations to improve the electoral process. In a 2024 interview with Providence Business News, Block criticized the state government's handling of various crises and programs, including the Unified Health Infrastructure Project and the state’s handling of the Washington Bridge failure and it’s subsequent rebuild. “I have seen no obvious improvement in how our state government operates,” he said. “Our government works hard to make it difficult for the media and public to get information." Two candidates have registered as Democrats to challenge incumbent Gov. Daniel J. McKee: former CVS executive Helena Foulkes and restaurant owner Gregory Stevens. The Republican primary so far will include Aaron Guckian, an aide to former Gov. Don Carcieri; Robert Raimondo; and Elaine Pelino. Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.