Langevin endorses Magaziner to succeed him in RI's 2nd Congressional District

PROVIDENCE — Outgoing U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin has endorsed General Treasurer Seth Magaziner to succeed him in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District. 

"Seth is the strongest candidate in the race, and we should all get behind Seth," Langevin told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. 

The announcement comes as political analysts are warning that Democrats run the risk of losing a congressional seat that they have held for three decades. 

A recent Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll showed former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, the Republican candidate, beating out each of the Democrats in the race. The Cook Political Report, which had previously forecasted that the district would lean Democrat, now rates the race as a "toss-up." 

Magaziner said Thursday that he's been warning since he entered the race that Democrats could face an uphill battle. 

"I told you then and, not everyone believed me at the time, that this was a seat the Republicans were going to target, that they were going to pour a lot of resources in, and that, in a midterm year, in a difficult national environment, we as Democrats could not take this seat for granted," he said. "I think that now, this week, people are finally starting to believe us that this is going to be a competitive race in November and we need to run the strongest possible Democratic campaign."

Magaziner faces a crowded Democratic primary but holds a significant lead over his challengers, including Joy Fox, David Segal and Sarah Morgenthau. He received the Rhode Island Democratic Party's endorsement last weekend, picking up 67 out of the 81 votes cast by delegates. 

Fung easily secured the GOP's nomination on Wednesday night after his remaining rival, Bob Lancia, dropped out of the race at the urging of party officials. That's likely to result in an influx of cash from national groups. State GOP Chairwoman Sue Cienki told The Providence Journal earlier this week that once there is an uncontested primary, "the money starts flowing."

Langevin did not explicitly say that the other Democratic candidates should drop out, but said that it was time for the party to "unite behind the strongest candidate in the race." 

"Just as you’ve trusted me these last 22 years, I’m asking you to trust me now that Seth Magaziner is the best candidate," he said. 

Magaziner, as he has done throughout his campaign, said that Fung's first vote in Congress would be to elect GOP leadership who want to cut Social Security and Medicare and "turn back the clock on fundamental rights."

"The next four months are going to be a lot of fun, because his whole campaign strategy is to hope that people don’t know what his positions are," Magaziner said. "That is not a winning strategy."

"I want to have 20 debates with him," he added. "I bet he wants to have zero."

Fung's campaign said in a statement that Magaziner "is a big fan of Nancy Pelosi and can’t wait to rubber stamp her radical agenda."

"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," the statement said.

It remains to be seen if Langevin's endorsement will clear the field for Magaziner. Immediately after the announcement. Fox, a former Langevin staffer, said she remains in the race. 

"I am proud to have worked with Congressman Langevin for the people of Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District and believe more strongly than ever we need people representing us who, like me, have deep ties to our communities, not more professional politicians," Fox said in a statement. "I appreciate the Congressman’s service, but obviously I find his decision disappointing."

Magaziner does not currently live in the 2nd Congressional District, but has said that he intends to buy a house there. That hasn't happened yet, he confirmed on Thursday: "Still in process." 

Morgenthau also said that she is remaining in the race. "I’m the best candidate to take on Allan Fung, and the only candidate with experience delivering results in Washington," she said in a statement. 

The news release from Morgenthau's campaign claims: "In a head-to-head poll released by the Boston Globe earlier this week, Allan Fung received the least overall support when pitted against Morgenthau compared to any other Democrat seeking the nomination, including Seth Magaziner." 

However, the polling data shows that in head-to-head matchups, Fung had the smallest margin of victory when faced with Magaziner. The number of voters saying they would support Fung was lowest in a matchup with Morgenthau, but that competition had the highest number of undecided voters.

Another rival, Omar Bah, said Democrats should be asking themselves why Magaziner isn't polling better. 

“The endorsement of Treasurer Magaziner by Congressman Langevin – whose diversity committee I have served on for several years and whom I consider a friend – I believe is a mistake," he said in a statement. "I don’t think Mr. Magaziner is the right candidate to face-off against Alan Fung and I do not believe that the Congressman’s endorsement will convince independents or undecided Democrats to vote for him.”