Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Rhode Island on August 30, 2026, to lend her support to Democrat Helena Foulkes in her bid for the governorship. Pelosi, who is not seeking reelection after nearly four decades in Congress, addressed a crowd of Foulkes supporters at Farm Fresh Rhode Island, sharing personal anecdotes and expressing her confidence in the candidate's ability to lead the state.
Pelosi reminisced about her time with Foulkes and her future husband, Paul, during their college days, highlighting the deep-rooted friendship that spans six decades. She praised Foulkes, known as "Helena Grace," for her strong lead in the polls against incumbent Governor Dan McKee, noting that the candidate has a significant 15-point advantage as the election enters its final stretch.
During her speech, Pelosi emphasized the significant challenges governors face during the Trump era, particularly with a compliant GOP-led Congress. She expressed her optimism about the Democrats regaining control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections and called for a renewed focus on protecting elections against ongoing threats.
"I'm here as a former first woman speaker of the House, but I'm a former state [Democratic Party] chair and I know what we have to do to win elections," Pelosi said. "What we have to do is have no wasted time, no underutilized resources and no regrets the day after an election if we've just done a little bit more."
In a powerful message to the crowd, Pelosi highlighted the impact of federal budget cuts on state programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP, which she said were "food out of the mouths of babies" to provide tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. She emphasized the need for a values-based leader like Foulkes to make the tough decisions required in the Trump era.
Helena Foulkes, 62, echoed Pelosi's sentiments, declaring her intention to "crush" the race and send a message that the state needs to work for everyone, not just the powerful few. "This is us taking the state back," she said. "Let's crush this, baby."
The rally began with a rousing chant led by Foulkes' director of volunteers, Elisabeth Wales. Pelosi and Foulkes then led the crowd in a chant of "We are Rhode Island," in response to McKee's declaration during a debate that "I am the state of Rhode Island."
After the rally, Pelosi and her husband planned to have dinner in Providence before heading to Martha's Vineyard for a strategy session on how to protect the election from potential administration interference. Pelosi, who has been a vocal advocate for election integrity, outlined the efforts the Democratic Party has taken to combat election subversion, including litigation, legislation, and public outreach.
"I'm here as a former first woman speaker of the House, but I'm a former state [Democratic Party] chair and I know what we have to do to win elections," Pelosi said. "What we have to do is have no wasted time, no underutilized resources and no regrets the day after an election if we've just done a little bit more."
In her closing remarks, Pelosi emphasized the importance of making sure the public is not afraid to vote, calling it a critical component of protecting elections. "Communicating with elected officials, whether it's governors, secretaries of state and all the rest who have responsibilities in terms of protecting elections so they have the resources intellectually and politically and otherwise to do that," she said.
Pelosi's endorsement of Helena Foulkes is a significant boost for the Democratic candidate's campaign, as the former House Speaker brings with her a wealth of political experience and a strong track record of advocacy for progressive values. With less than a month until Election Day, the race for governor in Rhode Island is heating up, and Foulkes appears to be gaining momentum with the support of one of the most influential figures in American politics.
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