--- title: "Magaziner vs. Mellor: 2026 Rhode Island’s 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ri-02" updated: "2026-09-10" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Rhode Island’s 2nd District race: Seth Magaziner (D) vs. Victor Mellor (R) Rating: Safe D · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: September 10, 2026 Incumbent Democratic Representative Seth Magaziner faces Republican nominee Victor Mellor in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District general election on November 3, 2026. The matchup contrasts Magaziner's record on clean energy investment, reproductive rights, and prescription drug cost negotiations against Mellor's platform centered on fossil fuel energy expansion, parental authority in schools, and border enforcement. ## Candidates - **Seth Magaziner** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://sethmagaziner.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) - **Victor Mellor** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://vicmellor.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ## Issues ### Economy and Manufacturing Salience: high Magaziner emphasizes federal support for green infrastructure, union rights, and child tax credits, whereas Mellor focuses on deregulation, bringing back traditional manufacturing, and developing Rhode Island's marine economy. **Seth Magaziner:** Supports domestic manufacturing and labor Magaziner advocates for middle-class economic expansion by restoring domestic manufacturing, extending child tax credits, and protecting union organization rights. He supports expanding career technical training and apprenticeship opportunities to boost local workforce capacity. - Proposes returning big oil company profits to consumers to lower fuel costs. - Supports bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. - Advocates extending the child tax credit and defending worker organization rights. > “bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, and reducing our dependence on foreign supply chains.” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) **Victor Mellor:** Supports tax relief and business deregulation Mellor argues that Rhode Island's economic climate is hostile to business growth and drives graduate outmigration. He proposes cutting regulations, growing state manufacturing and boat-building, and bringing overseas jobs back to the United States. - Focuses on creating high-paying manufacturing jobs to stem youth outmigration. - Advocates reducing business regulations and lowering state utility barriers. - Seeks to expand Rhode Island's boat-building and shipbuilding industries. > “The real path to affordability is bringing those jobs back to the United States.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) > “Rhode Island has the resources and potential to build a strong boat-building sector and reignite manufacturing across the state.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Energy and Environmental Policy Salience: high Magaziner champions offshore wind and solar development to reduce emissions, while Mellor opposes renewable projects and calls for building a natural gas pipeline and increasing fossil fuel output. **Seth Magaziner:** Supports clean energy and climate action Magaziner supports investments in offshore wind and solar infrastructure to combat climate change and lower long-term energy prices. He voted against the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) and advocates holding oil companies accountable for windfall profits. - Assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources. - Voted Nay on H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. - Supports clean energy investments in Rhode Island's offshore wind sector. > “Investing in clean energy infrastructure that will lower energy prices, reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and create thousands of good-paying jobs” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) **Victor Mellor:** Supports fossil fuels and natural gas expansion Mellor advocates restoring reliable fossil fuel production and constructing a new natural gas pipeline in Rhode Island. He opposes solar and wind energy developments, calling renewable projects expensive, unreliable, and damaging to local fishing and tourism. - Proposes constructing a new natural gas pipeline to lower state electric bills. - Calls for ending solar and offshore wind projects in Rhode Island. - Criticizes renewable energy sources as intermittent, costly, and environmentally destructive. > “I also support an energy policy that restores reliable fossil fuel production and use.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) > “make electricity more affordable by building a new natural gas pipeline and ending expensive, destructive solar and wind projects;” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Healthcare and Prescription Drugs Salience: high Magaziner seeks to lower health costs by expanding the Affordable Care Act and empowering Medicare negotiations, whereas Mellor focuses on billing transparency, Most Favored Nation pricing, and medical freedom. **Seth Magaziner:** Supports ACA protection and Medicare drug negotiation Magaziner advocates expanding the Affordable Care Act and granting Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. He proposes extending Medicare-negotiated drug prices to private health insurance policies. - Supports protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act. - Advocates letting Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices for all policyholders. - Proposes student loan forgiveness and tuition support to ease healthcare staffing shortages. > “Protect the Affordable Care Act against Republican attempts to repeal it” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) > “Fight to lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices so all Americans are able to afford life-saving medications” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) **Victor Mellor:** Supports Most Favored Nation drug pricing and transparency As a founding member of the Great American Health Alliance, Mellor supports market-focused healthcare reforms centered on price transparency and medical freedom. He proposes codifying executive orders for Most Favored Nation drug purchases and healthcare billing transparency into federal law. - Co-founded the Great American Health Alliance (GAHA) to push health reforms. - Pledges to codify Most Favored Nation drug pricing and billing transparency into law. - Partners with health officials to promote nutrition and preventative health. > “The President has already issued executive orders establishing Most Favored Nation status for drug purchases and requiring billing transparency for all healthcare facilities. I will work to codify these executive orders into law.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: high Magaziner opposes strict Republican border enforcement and detention measures, whereas Mellor calls for fully securing and sealing the border. **Seth Magaziner:** Opposes restrictive Republican border legislation Magaziner consistently votes against House Republican enforcement legislation on immigration and border security. He opposes mandatory border detention expansion and efforts to impeach executive branch officials over border enforcement policies. - Assigned to the House Committee on Homeland Security. - Voted Nay on H.R. 2 (Secure the Border Act of 2023) and S. 5 (Laken Riley Act). - Voted Nay on H.Res. 863 impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. **Victor Mellor:** Supports sealing the southern border Mellor emphasizes border enforcement as a core campaign priority. He supports fully securing and sealing the southern border to restore national security and legal order. - Pledges to support legislation that secures and seals the U.S. southern border. - Frames border enforcement as vital to community safety and law enforcement support. > “I believe in continuing to secure and seal the border” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Gun Policy Salience: medium Magaziner advocates federal bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, while Mellor opposes new gun restrictions and promises to safeguard Second Amendment access. **Seth Magaziner:** Supports ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines Magaziner supports strict firearm restrictions, including federal bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. As state treasurer, he divested state funds from companies manufacturing assault weapons for non-military use. - Supports federal legislation banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. - Supported state laws establishing gun-free school zones during his tenure as state treasurer. - Named a 'Gun Sense Candidate' by Moms Demand Action and endorsed by Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence. > “Seth supports banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, the weapons of war most often used in mass shootings.” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) **Victor Mellor:** Supports strong Second Amendment protections Mellor emphasizes protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. He opposes new firearm restrictions and supports ensuring firearm access for self-defense and personal safety. - Pledges to defend Second Amendment rights against new gun restrictions. - Endorsed by the Rhode Island Fraternal Order of Police. > “ensuring the Second Amendment remains strong so every law-abiding citizen can access and use firearms.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Education and Parental Rights Salience: medium Magaziner supports universal early education funding and trans-inclusive school policies, whereas Mellor champions parental control over health decisions and opposes school secrecy regarding gender transitions. **Seth Magaziner:** Supports pre-school expansion and gender inclusion in sports Magaziner advocates expanding federal funding for universal pre-school and affordable childcare. He voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 28) to protect trans-inclusive school athletic policies. - Voted Nay on H.R. 28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025). - Advocates free universal pre-school and expanded childcare support. **Victor Mellor:** Supports parental authority over school health decisions Mellor opposes school district interference in students' physical and mental health care, placing supreme decision-making authority with parents. He strongly criticizes transgender policies in schools that conceal medical or social choices from parents. - Advocates parental authority over all student health and mental healthcare decisions. - Criticizes school districts for withholding transgender-related choices from parents. - Supported by Moms for America. > “Ensuring parental control over their children’s physical and mental health is fundamental.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) > “Parents must remain the supreme authority in their child’s life.” > — Victor Mellor, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Victor_Mellor) ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: high **Seth Magaziner:** Supports federal abortion rights protections Magaziner advocates codifying abortion rights into federal law to restore Roe v. Wade protections nationwide. As Rhode Island General Treasurer, he backed the state's Reproductive Privacy Act to safeguard legal access locally. - Supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal statute. - Supported Rhode Island's Reproductive Privacy Act. - Endorsed by the National Organization for Women. > “Seth will continue to fight for a woman’s right to choose and will support codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.” > — Seth Magaziner, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Seth_Magaziner) **Victor Mellor:** No documented position in our sources ### Social Security and Medicare Salience: medium **Seth Magaziner:** Opposes Social Security privatizing or benefit cuts Magaziner promises to defend Social Security and Medicare from benefit reductions, retirement age increases, or privatization efforts. He voted Yea on the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) to reduce pension offsets. - Voted Yea on H.R. 82 (Social Security Fairness Act of 2023). - Opposes privatization of Social Security or raising the eligibility retirement age. - Supports expanding Medicare benefits and prescription cost caps. **Victor Mellor:** No documented position in our sources ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/ri-02-house-election-winner) — RI-02 House Election Winner: Democrats 95.6%, Republicans 4.4% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-RI02-26) — RI-02 House winner?: Seth Magaziner 94.9%, Victor Mellor 5.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXRIPRIMARY-02R26) — RI-02 Republican nominee?: Victor Mellor 99.0%, Stephen Skoly 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-ri-02)