<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1656620463211,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-00b6-db7d-abfd-7cb766d10000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1656620463211,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"0000017d-00b6-db7d-abfd-7cb766d10000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_56431912", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1042366"} }); ","_id":"00000181-b646-da7c-a7c7-f76630060000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedOutgoing Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) threw his weight behind Seth Magaziner for the Democratic nod to replace him following a shock poll earlier in the week showing the likely Republican nominee edging out the Democratic contenders.
Langevin, who held the seat for roughly 22 years and announced his retirement in January, reportedly declared that it was time for the party to “unite behind the strongest candidate in the race,” alluding to widespread polling that pegs Magaziner, the current state treasurer, as the front-runner in the crowded primary.
REPUBLICAN ALLAN FUNG LEADS OPEN-SEAT HOUSE RACE IN DEEP-BLUE RHODE ISLAND: POLL
“There is simply no doubt that Seth is the strongest candidate to keep the seat in Democratic control and fight back against dangerous and divisive leaders like Kevin McCarthy and Donald Trump, who are undermining democracy and threatening working Rhode Islanders,” Langevin proclaimed, according to the Boston Globe.
Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District has historically leaned Democratic. It last went for a Republican in 1990.
In a Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll, leading Republican hopeful Allan Fung bested Magaziner 45% to 39% and held double-digit leads over all the other Democratic primary contenders for the 2nd District. The poll sampled 423 voters from June 19-22 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points. The poll prompted Cook Political Report to designate the race as a “toss-up.”
Like Magaziner, Fung still has to clear a primary but holds a commanding lead. As the former mayor of the state’s second-largest city, Cranston, Fung has significant name recognition and previously ran unsuccessfully for governor on two occasions.
Both Magaziner and Langevin described Fung as a “nice guy,” but Magaziner stressed the importance of keeping the seat under Democratic control after the recent reversal of Roe v. Wade.
“With Washington Republicans poised to overturn the Affordable Care Act, cut Social Security, and end a woman’s right to choose, there is so much at stake in this election and we must keep the 2nd District in Democratic control,” Magaziner warned, according to the outlet.
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Fung blasted Magaziner for his eagerness to rubber-stamp House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “radical agenda” in response to the endorsement.
“Seth Magaziner, who has advocated for increasing taxes on gasoline, championed drivers permits for those in the undocumented community, and supports those who want to defund the police, certainly does not have a good pulse on the priorities of CD2,” he said.
“Putting politics aside, I would like to thank Congressman Langevin for saying I was a nice guy. When I was mayor, I enjoyed working with him to help the people of Cranston. If I am elected I will certainly work on a bipartisan basis to help the people living in the second congressional district,” he added.
