Seth Magaziner no longer running for governor, now planning Congressional run
Magaziner: "We can't mess around, and we have to hold this seat."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)-
A political pivot for now-congressional candidate Seth Magaziner, dropping out of the race for Governor to run instead for Congress.
Magaziner will target the seat for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional district. The seat is currently held by Jim Langevin, who announced last week that he will not be running for re-election in the fall after 22 years representing the district.
“The fight to preserve our democracy is the most sacred obligation of this generation and this is why I’ve decided to seek to represent the people of Rhode Island’s second congressional district in the United States House of Representatives,” said Magaziner. “After a long week of deliberating on it, I’ve come to the conclusion that the way that I can deliver best for the people of Rhode Island is as a member of congress in the second congressional district.”
Elected Treasurer in 2014, Magaziner also served as the Chair of the Financial Literacy Committee for the National Association of State Treasurers.
While he and his family do not currently live in the district he is running to represent, Magaziner made a public commitment to relocate. “I live one mile away from the district. And yes, we are committed to moving to the second district,” he said in a press conference at William Hall Library in Cranston Wednesday afternoon. “I fully expect that we will win this race because the voters of the second district know me.”
One of Magaziner’s now former challengers in the democratic primary for governor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, issued a statement in support of his run:
“Seth Magaziner has served Rhode Island ably as Treasurer and will bring his ideas for how to innovate in the areas of infrastructure, education and climate to the congressional race.”
The Treasurer now joins two other democrats who’ve announced they’re running for the District 2 seat, Ed Pacheco and Omar Bah. On the republican side, Bob Lancia had already committed to the race before the Langevin announcement. State Senator Jessica de la Cruz also announced over the weekend she’s going to run.
“We need to hold this seat in democratic hands, and we need a candidate in the democratic ticket who has run in the district, won in the district, represented the district for the last seven years as I have as State Treasurer,” said Magaziner.
ABC6 News did reach out to Governor McKee for comment on Magaziner’s decision to hop out of the race for Governor, no statement has been made at this time.
