Rhode Island's 2nd District: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Election

Rhode Island's 2nd District: A Nonpartisan Guide to the Nov. 3 Election

How to use this guide

1. Pick the issues you care about. Choose the two or three that matter most to you.
2. Find which office handles them. The U.S. House votes on every federal law and the federal budget, and all bills that raise revenue must start there. The U.S. Senate votes on every federal law and the budget, confirms presidential nominees including federal judges, and approves treaties. Ballot measures on this ballot change state law.
3. Compare the candidates. Read where each candidate stands on your top issues, then check the candidates' own words, endorsements, and funding.

The 2026 general election uses Rhode Island's congressional map enacted in 2022, the same map used in 2024, with no redistricting litigation reported for this cycle, according to the American Redistricting Project. No official 2026 ballot order was published by the Rhode Island Department of State; candidates appear below in alphabetical order by last name.

***

The U.S. House race

What this office does

House members serve two-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. Local coverage of the 2nd District has focused on federal funding for health care, particularly Medicaid, and on Navy shipbuilding funding and its effect on shipyard workers, suppliers, veterans, and defense-related businesses. The race is rated Solid Democratic by the 270towin consensus, and the incumbent is running for re-election.

Candidates in Brief

| | Seth Magaziner (D) | Victor Mellor (R) |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Party | Democratic | Republican |
| Incumbent? | Yes | No |
| Background | Represented RI-2 since 2023; served as Rhode Island general treasurer 2015–2023; former public school teacher | U.S. Marine Corps veteran; Warwick business owner specializing in concrete fabrication; first-time candidate |
| Top priorities | Lowering costs, creating economic opportunity, defending democracy, fighting government corruption, protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act, protecting Social Security and Medicare | Strong jobs climate including boat-building and manufacturing; parental authority over children's health; reducing health-care costs and improving quality |
| Campaign website | sethmagaziner.com | vicmellor.com |

Where They Stand

| Issue | Seth Magaziner (D) | Victor Mellor (R) |
| ----------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Cost of living | Proposes lowering prescription-drug costs through Medicare negotiation, reducing gas prices, and making education and childcare more affordable | Proposes domestic energy production, cutting wasteful spending, balanced budgets, and small-business tax and regulatory relief |
| Health care | Supports protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act and allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription-drug prices | Supports expanding health savings accounts, favored-nation drug pricing, billing transparency, greater patient choice, and reduced bureaucracy |
| Housing | Says he is working to lower the cost of housing in Rhode Island | Proposes streamlining permitting, expanding apprenticeships, prioritizing veteran homeownership programs, and opposing policies favoring corporate home speculators |
| Immigration | Said he does not think ICE, as currently constituted, has the culture necessary to enforce the law while upholding civil rights and liberties | Not found |
| Abortion | Supports a woman's right to choose and says he will support codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law | Not found |
| Climate and energy | Supports expanding affordable clean energy and reducing energy costs | Supports restoring fossil-fuel production and use, says renewable sources are intermittent and expensive, and calls for a new natural-gas pipeline |
| Foreign policy | Says the bar should be high for deploying U.S. service members overseas; supports continued humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine | Not found |
| Elections | Supports voting-rights legislation including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks | Supports mandatory photo ID for voters and federal standards for voter ID |
| Federal funding for health care | Calls Medicaid essential for RI-02 and says he will fight to restore and expand federal funding for the program | Did not state a position on federal health-care funding; described funding Navy shipbuilding as important |
| Navy shipbuilding | Not found | Says he will fight to protect and significantly expand Navy shipbuilding funding and bring related jobs, contracts, and infrastructure investment to the district |

In Their Own Words

Seth Magaziner, in the Rhode Island Current voter guide (date not stated):

"It is important for members of Congress to have a deep understanding of the needs of the people they represent, and a willingness to fight for them."

Victor Mellor, in the Rhode Island Current voter guide (date not stated):

"I will fight to protect and significantly expand funding for Navy shipbuilding."

Questionnaires and Debates

Seth Magaziner responded to the Rhode Island Current voter guide but did not respond to Vote411 or complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Victor Mellor responded to the Rhode Island Current voter guide and completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey but did not respond to Vote411. Both candidates took part in a debate hosted by WPRI 12 on Oct. 9.

Endorsements

| Candidate | Endorser | Category | Source |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Seth Magaziner | Rhode Island Democratic Party | Political parties | Rhode Island Current, June 22, 2026 |
| Seth Magaziner | National Education Association Rhode Island | Labor unions | NEARI, July 29, 2026 |
| Seth Magaziner | AIPAC | Organizations | AIPAC PAC |
| Seth Magaziner | J Street | Organizations | J Street PAC |
| Seth Magaziner | Planned Parenthood Action Fund | Organizations | Planned Parenthood Action Fund |
| Victor Mellor | Michael Flynn | Federal officials | Providence Journal, Feb. 18, 2026 |

Who is Funding Them

These figures come from FEC filings for Seth Magaziner and Victor Mellor for the 2026 cycle through Oct. 14.

| | Seth Magaziner (D) | Victor Mellor (R) |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------ | ------------------ |
| Total raised | $1.6 million | $3.9 million |
| Small donors (under $200) | 8% | 6% |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 55% | 2% |
| PACs and other committees | 37% | 0% |
| Self-funding | $0 | $2.8 million (73%) |
| Cash on hand | $1.6 million | $44,000 |
| Outside spending for / against | None reported | $0 / $0 |

Top PACs for Seth Magaziner: Abundance PAC $10,000; American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees P E O P L E $10,000; Bank of America Corporation Federal PAC $10,000; Carpenters Legislative Improvement Committee $10,000; D.R.I.V.E. (Teamsters PAC) $10,000. Top PAC for Victor Mellor: The Guardian Fund $5,000.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings. Smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors' names are not public.

The Incumbent's Record

Votes listed here were selected by one rule applied to every incumbent: final passage of each spending, budget, or defense bill that became law, every vote on a war powers resolution, and every vote against the majority of the member's own party, from the official House and Senate roll calls.

Committees and Caucuses

Seth Magaziner serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee in the 119th Congress, and is ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee's Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee. Magaziner also serves on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and belongs to more than 75 caucuses, including the Congressional Submarine Caucus, the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, the House Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Stock Trading Ban Working Group.

Key Votes Since June 2026

| Date | Measure | Question | Magaziner's vote | Outcome | Broke with party? |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------- | ----------------- |
| June 3, 2026 | War Powers — Iran | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Agriculture Appropriations Act, 2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | War Powers — Lebanon | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 10, 2026 | No Aid for Ghost Students Act | On Passage | Yes | Passed | Yes |
| June 30, 2026 | War Powers — Lebanon (second) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Failed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | Continuing Appropriations FY2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | National Defense Authorization Act FY2027 | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| July 23, 2026 | War Powers — Iran (second) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| July 22, 2026 | Amendment to H.R. 8800 (roll call 258) | On Agreeing to the Amendment | No | Passed | Yes |
| Sept. 1, 2026 | North Atlantic Right Whale regulations | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| Sept. 16, 2026 | War Powers — Iran (third) | On Agreeing to the Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| Sept. 16, 2026 | Early Childhood Educator Expense Deduction | On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendments | Yes | Passed | Yes |

Party Breaks

Seth Magaziner voted against the majority of the Democratic Party on three roll-call votes since June 2026. The three breaks were: June 10 — Yes on the No Aid for Ghost Students Act; July 22 — No on an amendment to H.R. 8800 (roll call 258); Sept. 16 — Yes on concurring in Senate amendments to the early childhood educator expense deduction act.

Magaziner missed zero of 123 roll-call votes recorded since June 2026. Voters can check the full Congress record at app.legis1.com.

Bills Sponsored

In the 119th Congress, Magaziner sponsored 27 bills or resolutions: 20 remain at introduction and seven are in committee. No Magaziner-sponsored bill has advanced beyond committee. Magaziner has cosponsored 534 bills.

Contested Claims

In the Oct. 16 debate, Magaziner said he was fighting in Congress to end the Iran war and tariffs and restore health-care funding. No independent fact-check was found, according to WJAR/NBC 10.

In the Oct. 9 debate, Mellor accused Magaziner of voting against a stock-trading ban Magaziner had proposed. News From The States reported that Magaziner voted against a Republican-led bill that combined stock-trading legislation with unrelated voter-identification provisions.

Also in the Oct. 9 debate, Mellor said Magaziner wanted to abolish ICE. News From The States reported that Magaziner said ICE lacked the culture to enforce the law while upholding civil rights; when directly asked whether he supported abolishing ICE, Magaziner did not say yes.

Challengers' Records

Victor Mellor has not held elected or appointed public office. News From The States reported that Mellor was running for office for the first time.

***

The U.S. Senate Race

What This Office Does

U.S. senators serve six-year terms and vote on every federal law and the federal budget. The Senate also confirms presidential nominees, including federal judges, and approves treaties.

Local coverage has focused on federal funding for health care and Navy shipbuilding, issues that affect hospitals, shipyard workers, and defense-related businesses across Rhode Island. The race is rated Solid Democratic by the 270towin consensus, and the incumbent is running for re-election.

Candidates in Brief

| | Michael Bahry (I) | Raymond McKay (R) | Jack Reed (D) |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Party | Independent | Republican | Democratic |
| Incumbent? | No | No | Yes |
| Background | Career included work as a laborer, carpenter, construction executive, and business owner; founded Providence nonprofit Fifty-Three: Five in 2014; teaches theology at Salve Regina University | Born in Providence; lives in Warwick; father of four and grandfather of 13; lost a 1998 Rhode Island State Senate bid | U.S. senator since 1997, seeking a sixth term; served eight years on active duty in the U.S. Army, qualified as a U.S. Army Ranger, commanded paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne; raised in Cranston |
| Top priorities | Peace and ending wars; term limits; religious liberty; dignity of life; economic justice | American energy independence including nuclear and fossil fuels; securing Social Security and Medicare by cutting programs and reducing waste; responsible immigration enforcement | Lowering the cost of living and supporting working families; strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act; investments in housing, education, health care, and the environment |
| Campaign website | michaelbahry.com | mckayforsenate.com | jackreed.com |

Where They Stand

| Issue | Michael Bahry (I) | Raymond McKay (R) | Jack Reed (D) |
| ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Cost of living | Says ending wars would free resources for infrastructure, innovation, education, and economic growth | Wants to stem inflation through energy independence and efficient use of green energy | Says the federal government should end the Iran war, stop tariffs, invest in affordable housing, restore enhanced ACA tax credits, and increase access to cost-effective Medicare plans |
| Health care | Not found | Says he would secure Medicare by cutting programs, reducing waste, and pursuing fraud enforcement; no specific general health-care proposal stated | Says he would strengthen and expand the ACA, protect Medicaid and Medicare from cuts, and increase support for mental-health programs |
| Housing | Not found | Identifies housing challenges but does not state a specific housing policy | Says he supports building more affordable homes through the Housing Trust Fund, HOME, and the Capital Magnet Fund |
| Immigration | Says immigration policy should combine border security to stop trafficking with a fair, compassionate solution for people seeking a better life | Says he supports responsible immigration and enforcement policies that consider the interests of Rhode Islanders and Americans | Says he opposed funding immigration raids and is fighting to rein in ICE |
| Abortion | Says he is pro-life and supports assistance for mothers and babies | Not found | Says he supports protecting and restoring reproductive rights for all Americans |
| Climate and energy | Says peace would enable nations to cooperate on climate solutions and clean energy | Supports American energy independence, long-term strength for nuclear and fossil fuels, and efficient use of green-energy solutions | Says he worked to reverse stop-work orders on Revolution Wind, protect the environment, and lower energy bills |
| Foreign policy | Says the United States should end wars, prioritize diplomacy, and withdraw from NATO | Not found | Says the Iran war should end and diplomacy with allies should be used to achieve lasting solutions |
| Elections | Says congressional term limits would reduce incumbency advantages and make elections more competitive | Not found | Not found |
| Federal funding for health care | Not found | Says he would seek to secure Medicare by cutting programs, reducing wasteful spending, and pursuing fraud enforcement; does not state a position on Medicaid funding | Says he is fighting to reverse Medicaid cuts and protect and boost Medicaid and Medicare |
| Navy shipbuilding | Says military spending is not a sustainable jobs program and that resources should be redirected from wars to domestic priorities | Not found | Discussed what a recent Electric Boat grant could mean for the local economy; the source does not state a specific position on Navy shipbuilding funding levels |

In Their Own Words

Michael Bahry, on the campaign platform immigration section (date not stated):

"It's time to end the political fighting and fix our immigration system - with fairness for citizens and mercy for those seeking a better life."

No quote was found for Raymond McKay in the sources reviewed.

Jack Reed, in the Rhode Island Current voter-guide response on cost of living (date not stated):

"First, we need to end Trump's unauthorized war in Iran, which is driving up prices at the gas pump and for the fertilizer our farmers need to grow food."

Questionnaires and Debates

Jack Reed responded to the Rhode Island Current voter guide but did not respond to Vote411 or complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Raymond McKay and Michael Bahry did not respond to the Rhode Island Current voter guide, Vote411, or Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. No debates were found for the Senate race.

Endorsements

| Candidate | Endorser | Category | Source |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------ |
| Jack Reed | Association of Flight Attendants | Labor unions | AFA-CWA |
| Jack Reed | Giffords | Organizations | Giffords, April 25, 2026 |
| Jack Reed | AIPAC | Organizations | AIPAC PAC |
| Jack Reed | League of Conservation Voters | Organizations | League of Conservation Voters |
| Jack Reed | Planned Parenthood Action Fund | Organizations | Planned Parenthood Action Fund |

No endorsements were found for Raymond McKay or Michael Bahry in the sources reviewed.

Who is Funding Them

These figures come from FEC filings for Jack Reed, Raymond McKay, and Michael Bahry for the 2026 cycle through Oct. 14.

| | Jack Reed (D) | Raymond McKay (R) | Michael Bahry (I) |
| ------------------------------ | ------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- |
| Total raised | $4.8 million | $207,000 | $125,000 |
| Small donors (under $200) | −19% | 53% | 100% |
| Larger donors (over $200) | 87% | 46% | 0% |
| PACs and other committees | 32% | 1% | 0% |
| Self-funding | $0 | $1 (0%) | $5,050 (4%) |
| Cash on hand | $1.9 million | $8,357 | $93,000 |
| Outside spending for / against | $10,000 / $0 | None reported | None reported |

Top PACs for Jack Reed: A New Direction PAC $10,000; Advancing Democracy and Mobilization PAC $10,000; Air Line Pilots Association PAC $10,000; Allison Transmission Inc. PAC $10,000; ALSOPAC $10,000. Top PACs for Raymond McKay: Fighting for New England PAC $1,000; Rhode Island Republican State Central Committee $1,000. Top PACs for Michael Bahry: none reported. Largest outside spender: Sierra Club Independent Action reported $10,000 in support of Jack Reed.

Donors who give more than $200 in a cycle are listed by name in FEC filings. Smaller gifts are reported only as a lump total, so small donors' names are not public.

The Incumbent's Record

Committees and Caucuses

Jack Reed serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee (as ranking member), and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in the 119th Congress.

Reed is also the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee's Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee and serves on its Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Labor-HHS-Education, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Transportation-HUD subcommittees.

Reed belongs to 30 caucuses, including the Senate Climate Change Task Force, the Senate Oceans Caucus, the Congressional Military Veterans Caucus, and the Hidden Heroes Caucus for Military and Veteran Caregivers.

Key Votes Since June 2026

| Date | Measure | Question | Reed's vote | Outcome | Broke with party? |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ----------- | ------- | ----------------- |
| June 3, 2026 | Motion to Proceed to S. 2 | On the Motion to Proceed | No | Passed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Schumer Motion to Commit S. 2 | On the Motion | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 4, 2026 | Ossoff Motion to Commit S. 2 | On the Motion | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 5, 2026 | Warnock Motion to Commit S. 2 | On the Motion | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 5, 2026 | S. 2, As Amended | On Passage | No | Passed | No |
| June 5, 2026 | Wyden Motion to Commit S. 2 | On the Motion | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 16, 2026 | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 172 | On the Motion to Discharge | Yes | Failed | No |
| June 23, 2026 | H. Con. Res. 86 (War Powers — Iran) | On the Concurrent Resolution | Yes | Passed | No |
| June 25, 2026 | Motion to Proceed to S.J.Res. 185 | On the Motion to Proceed | Yes | Failed | No |
| July 23, 2026 | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 180 | On the Motion to Discharge | Yes | Failed | No |
| July 30, 2026 | Motion to Discharge S.J.Res. 181 | On the Motion to Discharge | Yes | Failed | No |
| Aug. 8, 2026 | H.R. 6500, as amended | On Passage | Yes | Passed | No |
| Sept. 24, 2026 | H. Con. Res. 89 (War Powers — Iran) | On the Concurrent Resolution | Yes | Failed | No |

Party Breaks

Jack Reed voted against the majority of the Democratic Party on zero roll-call votes since June 2026.

Attendance

Reed missed zero of 124 roll-call votes recorded since June 2026. Voters can check the full Congress record at Reed's page on app.legis1.com.

Bills Sponsored

In the 119th Congress, Reed sponsored 42 bills or resolutions: 31 remain at introduction, six have been agreed to, four are at floor consideration, and one has passed the Senate. Bills that advanced beyond introduction include: S.1467, Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act — passed the Senate; S.J.Res.132, disapproving a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule on servicemember examinations — at floor consideration; S.J.Res.134, disapproving a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule on Buy Now, Pay Later loans — at floor consideration; S.4109, Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2026 — at floor consideration; S.4110, EMPOWER for Health Act — at floor consideration. Reed has cosponsored 289 bills in the 119th Congress.

Contested Claims

Reed's 2026 campaign says he voted against the Iraq War and opposes the Iran war, and describes him as working in the Senate to stop it. No independent fact-check was found in the sources reviewed.

Reed's 2026 campaign says he has secured more than $300 million for affordable-housing construction in Rhode Island since 2020. No independent fact-check was found in the sources reviewed.

During the Democratic primary, challenger Connor Burbridge said Reed's vote on funding for the Trump administration's Department of Justice and FBI enabled their use against political opponents. Burbridge also said Reed had taken millions from the "war industry," AIPAC and AIPAC-aligned groups. No fact-check was found, according to Rhode Island Current.

Challengers' Records

Raymond McKay has not held elected office. Smarter.Vote reports McKay lost a 1998 Rhode Island State Senate bid. Michael Bahry has not held public office, according to Ballotpedia.

***

Scorecards Readers Can Check

Several interest groups publish scorecards rating members on their voting records. For Seth Magaziner, scorecards are available from the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index (118th Congress, first session), Heritage Action for America (119th Congress), the AFL-CIO (2025), the League of Conservation Voters (2025), and the National Taxpayers Union (118th Congress, second session). For Jack Reed, scorecards are available from the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index (118th Congress, first session), Heritage Action for America (119th Congress), the AFL-CIO (2025), the League of Conservation Voters (2025), and the National Taxpayers Union (118th Congress, second session). Each group selects a different set of votes, so their ratings measure different things.

***

Also On Your Ballot

Rhode Island voters in the 2nd District will see five statewide bond questions on the Nov. 3 ballot. All five were placed on the ballot by the General Assembly as part of Chapter 084, Public Laws 2026. A Yes vote on any question authorizes the state to issue the bond; a No vote does not.

| Question | Topic | What a Yes vote does | What a No vote does |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Question 1 | Higher education facilities | Authorizes $275 million in bonds for URI, Rhode Island College, and CCRI capital projects | Does not authorize the bonds |
| Question 2 | Housing and homeownership | Authorizes $120 million in bonds for affordable and accessible housing | Does not authorize the bonds |
| Question 3 | Economic development | Authorizes $100 million in bonds for site development and growth-industry infrastructure | Does not authorize the bonds |
| Question 4 | Cultural economy | Authorizes $50 million in bonds for a State History Center and preservation grants | Does not authorize the bonds |
| Question 5 | Green economy | Authorizes $55 million in bonds for environmental and recreational purposes | Does not authorize the bonds |

Question 1 — Higher Education Facilities, $275 million

A Yes vote authorizes $275 million for capital improvements at three public colleges: $165 million for a University of Rhode Island Integrated Health Building, $50 million for Rhode Island College Adams Library renovations, and $60 million for a Community College of Rhode Island Workforce Innovation Center in Warwick.

The Rhode Island Department of State handbook estimates total costs of $441,333,250, including $166,333,250 in interest over 20 years at 5 percent. Rhode Island College President Jack Warner argued the library and career-readiness project would help prepare students for employment, according to Rhode Island Current. No organized opposition was found.

Question 2 — Housing and Homeownership, $120 million

A Yes vote authorizes $120 million for affordable and accessible housing through redevelopment, new construction, property acquisition, and infrastructure improvements. At least $25 million must go toward homeownership housing and up to $10 million may support public housing development. The handbook estimates total costs of $192,586,000, including $72,586,000 in interest over 20 years at 5 percent. State housing officials cited nearly 3,800 housing permits issued statewide over the previous year in support. The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council argued that the state's prior housing bond had produced limited housing relative to its cost, according to Rhode Island Current.

Question 3 — Economic Development, $100 million

A Yes vote authorizes $100 million for economic development: $55 million for site development and $45 million for growth-industry infrastructure, including ocean, defense, life sciences, and data analytics and cybersecurity industries. The handbook estimates total costs of $160,483,750, including $60,483,750 in interest over 20 years at 5 percent. No named arguments for or against were found in the sources reviewed.

Question 4 — Cultural Economy, $50 million

A Yes vote authorizes $50 million for a Rhode Island State History Center in Providence ($45 million) and the State Preservation Grants Program, which funds grants to cities, towns, and nonprofits to preserve and improve historic sites and cultural facilities ($5 million). The handbook estimates total costs of $80,242,500, including $30,242,500 in interest over 20 years at 5 percent. No named arguments for or against were found in the sources reviewed.

Question 5 — Green Economy Bonds, $55 million

A Yes vote authorizes $55 million for environmental and recreational purposes, including $25 million for the Resilient Rhody Infrastructure Fund for local water infrastructure, $12 million for recreational facility improvements, $7 million for Narragansett Bay and state watershed restoration, and smaller amounts for brownfield remediation, agricultural land preservation, open space, local recreation, and marine infrastructure.

The handbook estimates total costs of $88,267,500, including $33,267,500 in interest over 20 years at 5 percent. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management describes the bond as supporting environmental protection, recreation, and infrastructure investments. No organized opposition was found.

Local ballot measures depend on where you live within the district. The Rhode Island Department of State's voter guide says local questions can be found by previewing a sample ballot or contacting your local board of canvassers at vote.sos.ri.gov.

***

Before You Go

Early voting: In-person early voting ran Oct. 14 through Nov. 2. Locations and hours are listed in the Rhode Island Board of Elections 2026 early voting PDF.
Election Day hours: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide on Nov. 3; New Shoreham opens at 9 a.m. Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections, General Election Polling Place Hours.
Photo ID: Voters must present valid photo ID: a Rhode Island driver's license or permit, Rhode Island Voter ID card, U.S. passport, U.S. educational-institution ID, U.S. military ID, U.S. or Rhode Island government ID, government-issued medical card, or tribal ID. A voter without acceptable ID may cast a provisional ballot. Free voter ID cards are available through the Secretary of State's office. Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections, Voter ID.
In the booth: Sample ballots are posted outside polling places and available on the Secretary of State's website. Whether voters may bring notes into the booth was not stated on the pages reviewed. Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections, At The Polling Place.
Registration deadline: The deadline to register was Oct. 4, 2026. Rhode Island allows same-day registration only for presidential elections. Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections, Upcoming Elections.
Mail ballots: A completed mail ballot must be received by the State Board of Elections by 8 p.m. on Election Day. It may be returned by mail or deposited in an official drop box. Source: Rhode Island Board of Elections, Mail Ballot.
Polling-place lookup: Rhode Island polling-place lookup.
Hotlines: Rhode Island Board of Elections: 401-222-2345. Election Protection: call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Source: 866ourvote.org.

***

Sources

Official Records

Rhode Island Department of State — A Guide to State Referenda and Voting Procedures in Rhode Island (2026)
Rhode Island Board of Elections — 2026 General Election Early Voting Hours and Locations (PDF)
Rhode Island Board of Elections — General Election Polling Place Hours
Rhode Island Board of Elections — Voter ID
Rhode Island Board of Elections — At The Polling Place
Rhode Island Board of Elections — Upcoming Elections
Rhode Island Board of Elections — Mail Ballot
Rhode Island Department of State — Vote on Election Day / Polling Place Lookup
American Redistricting Project — Rhode Island

Campaign Finance