The Forward Party has endorsed independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Block in Rhode Island, making him the third non-major party candidate for governor backed by the party for the 2026 election cycle.
The party announced its endorsement on May 14, praising Block as a reform-minded candidate focused on accountability, political independence, and the modernization of Rhode Island’s state systems. Block is running as an independent candidate for the role, which Democratic Gov. Dan McKee has held since March 2021.
“At a time when so many voters feel politically homeless, Ken Block is offering something increasingly rare in American politics: honesty, independence, and a willingness to tell people the truth even when it’s inconvenient,” said Kayla Berube, the Forward Party’s national political director, in the statement.
Block, a software engineer and government reform advocate, has been active in Rhode Island politics for nearly two decades. He originally founded the Moderate Party of Rhode Island and was its 2010 nominee for governor, receiving 22,146 votes and 6.5 percent of the vote. He later ran for governor as a Republican in 2014, losing the party’s primary to Allan Fung by several thousand votes.
Block announced earlier this spring that he would run for governor again, this time as an independent. In its endorsement, the Forward Party pointed to his work challenging government waste and political dysfunction.
The party also brought attention to Block’s post-2020 work analyzing claims of voter fraud. According to the statement, Block was hired to examine those claims after the presidential election and ultimately concluded there was no evidence of widespread fraud. The Forward Party praised his actions as an example of Block being willing to follow evidence even in the face of partisan pressure.
“Rhode Islanders are tired of watching politics become more about protecting the system than serving the people,” Block said in the party’s announcement. “We need leaders willing to put facts ahead of ideology, accountability ahead of excuses, and results ahead of party loyalty.”
Block is the third gubernatorial candidate endorsed by the Forward Party this election cycle who is running as either an independent or otherwise unaffiliated with any political party. The organization previously endorsed Lauren Pinkston in South Carolina and Rick Bennett in Maine.
The Forward Party said it will announce additional endorsements ahead of the general election later this year.
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