Seth Magaziner handily wins Rhode Island House primary, setting stage for showdown with Allan Fung

Rhode Island Treasurer Seth Magaziner sailed to victory within the Ocean State’s Democratic main for the 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday, setting the stage for a extremely anticipated showdown with Republican Allan Fung within the fall.

Fung has been broadly seen as one of many fiercest Republican rivals to the Democratic district in many years, threatening to shatter the celebration’s practically three-decade lock on the state’s two congressional seats. Recognizing the menace, Magaziner had already begun shifting gears to sharpen his line of assault in opposition to Fung earlier than clearing his main.

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Each Magaziner and Fung have been front-runners of their respective primaries to seize the seat presently held by outgoing Rep. Jim Langevin (D). Magaziner overcame a crowded discipline of Democrats on Tuesday night time, having fun with sturdy identify recognition relative to the sphere and the backing of Langevin, who held the seat for roughly 22 years.

Magaziner was first elected as Rhode Island basic treasurer in 2014 and succeeded former Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) within the treasurer submit. He launched his bid shortly after Langevin introduced his retirement in an op-ed again in January. Polling constantly pegged Magaziner as the highest contender.

All through his main battle, Magaziner weathered warmth from his contenders, a few of whom sought to caricature him as a carpetbagger. He lived in Windfall, which is positioned within the 1st Congressional District, and rented a home close to Edgewood within the metropolis of Cranston to run within the 2nd District, which covers southern and western Rhode Island.

Fung served as mayor of Cranston, the second-largest metropolis within the state, from 2009-2021. He additionally vied unsuccessfully for Rhode Island governor in 2014 and 2018, working tight races with Raimondo in a closely blue state. Fung has staked out centrist positions on hot-button points equivalent to abortion. He confronted a main battle with former state Rep. Bob Lancia and constantly held a commanding lead over Lancia all through the first.

Picture courtesy of the Fung marketing campaign

Sarcastically, Fung’s political profession bought its begin with a snub from Democrats. Agitated with the fiscal state of affairs in Cranston within the early 2000s, he sought a seat on the Cranston Metropolis Council however was solid apart by the Democrats, who informed him to attend his flip. He swapped events as a substitute and shortly labored his manner up the political ranks.

Now, he represents the GOP’s finest shot of portray some pink within the deep-blue Ocean State. The final Republican to carry the 2nd District was former Rep. Claudine Schneider, from 1981-1991. The final Republican within the state despatched to Washington was Lincoln Chafee, who was ousted by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) within the 2006 blue wave and subsequently grew to become a Democrat.

Some polling has proven Fung edging out Magaziner in a hypothetical basic election matchup. However that polling got here at a time when Republicans have been using excessive on a pink wave of momentum in polling throughout the nation.

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Earlier than the first cemented their collision course, the pair started buying and selling barbs. Magaziner has sought to tie Fung to former President Donald Trump, highlighting a photo of him sporting a winter beanie at Trump’s inauguration in 2017, amongst different strains of assault. Trump is a deeply unpopular determine in Rhode Island.

If Fung ekes out a victory in November, it may echo the political upset his spouse, Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, achieved in 2020 when she bested Democratic Speaker Nick Mattiello in a state Home race, marking the primary time a sitting Rhode Island speaker of the Common Meeting was defeated in over 114 years.