Dan McKee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dan McKee
McKee in 2022
76th Governor of Rhode Island
Incumbent
Assumed office March 2, 2021
Lieutenant	Sabina Matos
Preceded by	Gina Raimondo
69th Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island
In office January 6, 2015 – March 2, 2021
Governor	Gina Raimondo
Preceded by	Elizabeth Roberts
Succeeded by	Sabina Matos
Mayor of Cumberland
In office January 7, 2007 – January 6, 2015
Preceded by	David Iwuc
Succeeded by	William Murray
In office January 2001 – January 2005
Preceded by	Frank Gaschen
Succeeded by	David Iwuc
Member of the Cumberland Town Council
In office 1992–1998
Personal details
Born	Daniel J. McKee (1951-06-16) June 16, 1951 (age 73) Cumberland, Rhode Island, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Susan McGill
Children	2
Education	Assumption University (BA) Harvard University (MPA)
Website	Government website

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 Harvard Kennedy School. He served on the Cumberland town council 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

McKee's family has owned and operated small businesses in northern Rhode Island for over 100 years. After graduating from Cumberland High School, McKee received a Bachelor of Arts in education and political science from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1973. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School 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, coaching groups of boys and girls at all levels, culminating in two State AAU Basketball Champions in 1998 and 2000.

McKee served six terms as Cumberland's mayor. He worked with state and federal officials in the aftermath of Cumberland's spring flooding to minimize damage and steered Cumberland through an economic downturn.

In 2008, McKee worked with mayors across the state to pass a law allowing the creation of new, regional, mayor-governed and highly autonomous public schools known as “Mayoral Academies.” In 2009 and 2010, he again helped organize mayors and education advocates to enact a new education funding policy.

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-elect Joe Biden 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 on March 2, 2021.

In February 2021, McKee began to form a COVID-19 advisory board. He had criticized the Raimondo administration over a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Governor of Rhode Island

McKee and wife Susan at the 2021 Bristol Fourth of July Parade

McKee with Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in 2023

McKee was sworn in as the 76th governor of Rhode Island on March 2, 2021.

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.

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2022)

In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, 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.

McKee speaks at an event in November 2021

On February 8, 2022, McKee announced that Rhode Island would lift mask mandates as the infection rate fell.

Gun control

McKee supports gun control and says he would support an assault weapons ban.

Personal life

McKee is married to Susan McGill; the couple has two children and one granddaughter.

Electoral history

Mayor of Cumberland

Lieutenant governor

Governor

See also

In Spanish: Dan McKee para niños