Helena Foulkes Bio, Age, Husband, Kids, Governor, Policies & Net Worth

Who is Helena Foulkes? | Biography

Helena Buonanno Foulkes is an American businesswoman and Democratic politician running for Rhode Island governor in 2026. She previously led CVS Pharmacy and served as chief executive officer of Hudson’s Bay Company. Her career spans retail leadership, healthcare strategy, and public service.

Born July 18, 1964, Foulkes is 62 years old in 2026. She grew up in Rhode Island and attended Lincoln School in Providence. Subsequently, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1986. She later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School in 1992.

Foulkes joined CVS in 1992 and spent approximately 25 years building her career there. Eventually, she served as CVS Pharmacy president from 2014 to 2018. She helped drive the company’s decision to stop selling tobacco products in 2014. Additionally, she helped develop the ExtraCare loyalty program and expand the company’s digital services.

In 2018, Foulkes became CEO of Hudson’s Bay Company, whose retail portfolio included Saks Fifth Avenue. She held that position until 2020. Beyond business, she served as president of Harvard’s Board of Overseers during the 2021–2022 academic year.

Meanwhile, Foulkes entered Rhode Island politics and narrowly lost the 2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary to Dan McKee. She launched her second campaign in September 2025. Her 2026 Rhode Island governor campaign emphasizes affordability, including housing, groceries, and utilities. She faces McKee again in the September 9, 2026, Democratic primary.

Foulkes married William Foulkes in 1989, and they have four children. She also describes herself as a grandmother and cancer survivor. Her family includes former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, her uncle, and former Senator Thomas Dodd, her grandfather. These family connections form another part of her background in business and Rhode Island Democratic politics.

Helena Foulkes Age | How Old is Helena Foulkes?

Helena Foulkes is 62 years old in 2026. Her date of birth is July 18, 1964, and her birthplace is Providence, Rhode Island. She turned 62 on July 18, 2026, ahead of Rhode Island’s September Democratic gubernatorial primary. Previously, she contested the 2022 governor’s race at age 58. Four years later, she seeks the Democratic nomination again with decades of business experience behind her. The former CVS Pharmacy president entered her sixties in July 2024. Meanwhile, her next birthday falls on July 18, 2027, when she turns 63. Her July birthday places her under the Cancer zodiac sign in astrology.

Helena Foulkes Height | How Tall is Helena Foulkes?

Helena Foulkes stands at 5 feet 8 inches tall. The American businesswoman and Rhode Island politician previously served as president of CVS Pharmacy. Later, she became chief executive officer of Hudson’s Bay Company, expanding her leadership experience in the retail industry. Today, she appears at debates, interviews, and community events during her 2026 Rhode Island governor campaign. However, photographs can create different impressions of her height because footwear, posture, and camera angles affect perspective. Her height represents one personal detail within a broader biography covering her business career, education, family, and eventual move into Democratic politics in her home state.

Helena Foulkes Political Party

Helena Foulkes belongs to the Democratic Party and is running for Rhode Island governor in 2026. She challenges incumbent Governor Dan McKee in the September 9 Democratic primary. Previously, Foulkes sought the same nomination in 2022, finishing second behind McKee. However, she returned with a campaign emphasizing affordability, job creation, and stronger state leadership. She also pledges to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies she considers harmful to Rhode Islanders. Meanwhile, Attorney General Peter Neronha has endorsed her candidacy. Her political family includes former Democratic Senators Chris Dodd and Thomas Dodd. Foulkes combines her Democratic affiliation with extensive experience in corporate leadership.

Helena Foulkes Education

Helena Foulkes attended Lincoln School in Providence, Rhode Island, graduating in 1982. She then studied economics at Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude in 1986. Afterward, she worked at Goldman Sachs and Tiffany & Co. before returning to Harvard for graduate studies. She earned her Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1992. Her education combines undergraduate economics with advanced business training. Additionally, Foulkes maintained strong university ties through dedicated alumni service and leadership. She served on Harvard’s Board of Overseers from 2016 to 2022. During the 2021–2022 academic year, she led the board as its president.

Helena Foulkes Religion

Helena Foulkes grew up in a Catholic family with Irish and Italian roots. In a 2024 Deep Purpose interview, she described her upbringing within a traditional Catholic household. She also recalled her mother encouraging her daughters to pursue careers and independence. Meanwhile, Foulkes attended Lincoln School, an all-girls Quaker school in Providence, Rhode Island. Later, she married William Foulkes in 1989 at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Narragansett. These details establish her Catholic background and exposure to Quaker education.

Helena Foulkes Nationality | American Roots and Heritage

Helena Foulkes is American. Her birthplace is Providence, Rhode Island, and her birth date is July 18, 1964. She grew up in the state and later chose to raise her four children there with husband William Foulkes. Additionally, her family background includes Irish and Italian heritage, which she has discussed publicly. Her nationality is American, while those ancestral roots describe her ethnic background. Throughout her career, Foulkes has maintained strong personal connections to Rhode Island through business and community involvement. Today, the former CVS Pharmacy president is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the 2026 Rhode Island gubernatorial election.

Helena Foulkes Husband

Helena Foulkes’ husband is William G. Foulkes, also known as Bill Foulkes. The couple met while studying at Harvard and married in 1989. Their wedding took place at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Together, they have four children and chose to raise their family in Rhode Island. Professionally, Bill works as a strategic planning and marketing consultant and entrepreneur. Additionally, he teaches business and entrepreneurship at the Rhode Island School of Design. He previously directed RISD’s Center for Design and Business from 2006 to 2008, helping connect businesses with the institution’s broader creative community.

Helena Foulkes Children

Helena Foulkes has four adult children with her husband, William “Bill” Foulkes. They include Zoe and Owen, who attended Harvard University. The couple chose Rhode Island as the place to raise their family. Foulkes welcomed all four children within four and a half years, including twins. Meanwhile, she built her career at CVS while managing the demands of motherhood. She has also discussed facing thyroid cancer when her children were young. Today, Foulkes is a grandmother, adding another generation to her family. Her campaign biography highlights motherhood alongside her experience as a business leader and current Rhode Island governor candidate.

Helena Foulkes Family | Parents, Siblings and Dodd Connections

Helena Foulkes’ parents are Bernard “Bernie” Buonanno Jr. and the late Martha Dodd Buonanno. She grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, as the eldest of five children. Her siblings include Bernard Buonanno III, Carolyn Chase, Jody Shue, and Margaret Lynch. Together, the family includes four sisters and one brother. Foulkes describes her upbringing as Irish, Italian, and Catholic. Additionally, her mother encouraged her daughters to pursue careers and independence. Martha died on July 6, 2009, following cancer. Through her mother, Helena is the granddaughter of former Connecticut Senator Thomas Dodd. Meanwhile, former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd is her maternal uncle.

Helena Foulkes for Governor 2026 | Polls, Primary and Results

Helena Foulkes is running for Rhode Island governor in 2026, challenging Dan McKee for the Democratic nomination. Her campaign emphasizes affordable housing, lower living costs, and better government management. Additionally, she criticizes McKee’s handling of the Washington Bridge reconstruction. Attorney General Peter Neronha has endorsed her candidacy.

Meanwhile, an Emerson/WPRI poll conducted August 21–22 showed Foulkes leading McKee 45% to 30%, with 25% undecided. The survey included 528 likely Democratic primary voters, with a credibility interval of ±4.2 percentage points. A separate UNH poll released August 27 placed her ahead 56% to 18%. However, polling leads do not guarantee victory.

Previously, Foulkes lost the 2022 Democratic primary, receiving 29.9% against McKee’s 32.8%. Their rematch takes place September 9, 2026. No 2026 primary results exist yet on September 8. The winner advances to the November 3 statewide general election. Rhode Island voters then choose their next governor for a four-year term.

Helena Foulkes Policies and Political Views

Helena Foulkes’ policies prioritize housing affordability, workforce development, and healthcare access in her 2026 Rhode Island governor campaign. Her Rhode Home Program proposes a millionaire’s tax to help finance 20,000 homes and apartments. Additionally, she wants faster housing approvals and construction on unused state properties. She also proposes a $100 million bond to build and modernize career and technical education facilities throughout Rhode Island.

Meanwhile, Foulkes supports expanding primary care and directing rural healthcare funding toward services in smaller communities. Her political views include support for abortion rights and marriage equality. On energy, she advocates solar installations and battery storage on public buildings, businesses, and homes. Furthermore, she pledges to resist Trump administration policies she considers harmful to Rhode Island families. These proposals emphasize public investment and stronger economic opportunity.

Helena Foulkes Net Worth 2026

Helena Foulkes’ estimated net worth is $20.1 million on Benzinga’s May 2026 financial profile. She built her retail business career over decades at CVS before becoming president of CVS Pharmacy. Later, she led Hudson’s Bay Company as chief executive officer. Additionally, her investment records include shares connected to Home Depot, Costco, and Skillsoft. Her executive roles and corporate board positions form an important part of her financial background.

Biography Summary