Republican Allan Fung holds a six-point lead over Democrat Seth Magaziner in the fight for an open seat in Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District, according to a new poll.
The poll by WPRI-TV, Channel 12, shows Fung with 46% of the support, compared with 40% for Magaziner. Moderate Party candidate William Gilbert got 4%, 9% of respondents said they were unsure, and 1% refused to answer.
However, the margin of error in the CD2 race is 6.2 percentage points, meaning the race could be a dead heat. The survey is based on interviews with 254 likely voters.
In the race for governor, incumbent Democrat Dan McKee has a 13-point lead over Republican rival Ashley Kalus, 45% to 32%, with independent Paul Rianna getting 3%, and Liberterian Elijah Gizzarelli and independent Zach Hurwitz 2% each. Fifteen percent of voters were undecided. This race has a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
The poll found that 45% of respondents think the state is going in the wrong direction, compared with 34% for the right direction.
On top issues, 42% cited cost of living, compared with 14% for abortion, and 11% for education.
In a potential presidential matchup, 49% of respondents said they favor Joe Biden, 32% prefer Donald Trump, and 15% were unsure.
Magaziner and Fung have hurled a series of attacks at one another, as they fight for the seat being vacated after 22 years by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin.
A Republican hasn’t been elected in CD2 for more than 30 years.
“Allan isn’t focused on snapshot polls,” Fung spokesman Steven Paiva said in a statement. “Allan is focused on providing relief from the Biden-Pelosi Agenda fully supported by Seth Magaziner that is making powering and heating your homes more expensive this winter.”
Backed by a GOP congressional PAC that has poured $1 million into Rhode Island, Fung’s allies have criticized Magaziner as “Silver Spoon Seth,” saying he’s used his family’s money to build his political career.
Fung remains well-liked in Cranston, where he served as mayor for 12 years, and some Democrats, including Langevin, have described him as likable.
According to Magaziner spokeswoman Patricia Socarras, “The WPRI poll shows a clear path for Magaziner to win this race by reminding voters how out of step Allan Fung is from their values. As Rhode Islanders learn that Allan Fung’s opposed the Affordable Care Act, opposed abortion protections in Rhode Island, and has committed to making Trump-loyalist Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House, voters will realize that we cannot afford to send Fung to Congress.”
Magaziner has repeatedly linked Fung with Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and he points to how congressional Republicans want to cut programs like Medicare and Social Security, and impose additional restrictions on abortion.
The election ends Nov. 8.
Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org
