Seth Michael Magaziner (/ˈmæɡəziːnər/ MAG-ə-zee-nər;[2] born July 22, 1983) is an American investment professional and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district since 2023.[3][4] A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 31st general treasurer of Rhode Island from 2015 until 2023.[5] Magaziner won the November 2022 election to succeed retiring representative James Langevin. in 2024, Magaziner won re-election .
Seth Magaziner | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 2nd district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | James Langevin |
| 31st General Treasurer of Rhode Island | |
| In office January 6, 2015 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Governor | Gina Raimondo Dan McKee |
| Preceded by | Gina Raimondo |
| Succeeded by | James Diossa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Seth Michael Magaziner July 22, 1983 Bristol, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Julia McDowell (m. 2018) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Ira Magaziner (father)[1] |
| Education | Brown University (BA) Yale University (MBA) |
| Website | House website |
Early life and education
Seth Magaziner was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, on July 22, 1983, to Suzanne and Ira Magaziner.[6][7] Ira is a policy advisor for politicians, governments, and non-governmental organizations.[8] Suzanne is Catholic and Ira is Jewish.[9][10] Seth is the oldest of three children.[11]
Magaziner graduated from Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, in 2002.[12] He then attended Brown University, where he served as president of the Brown University Democrats, president of the College Democrats of Rhode Island, and as a member of the Brown University Steering Committee on Slavery and Justice.[13][14] Magaziner graduated from Brown with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2006.[15] He received a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management in 2010.[13][16]
Early career
Magaziner worked as a school teacher at Creswell Elementary School in Opelousas, Louisiana, from 2006 to 2008, as a Teach For America member.[5] In 2009, he worked as an associate at Point Judith Capital, a Rhode Island–based venture capital firm.[17]
After graduate school, Magaziner worked at Trillium Asset Management as a vice president.[13] Magaziner was active in the successful campaign for same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. He served as a board member of Marriage Equality Rhode Island.[8][18]
Magaziner serves on the board of directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, a homeless service organization.[19] He previously served on the board of directors of Common Cause Rhode Island.[5]
Rhode Island General Treasurer
On October 22, 2013, Magaziner announced his candidacy for Rhode Island general treasurer.[5] He won the Democratic nomination in the September 9 primary election, defeating former treasurer Frank Caprio.[20] Magaziner was elected in the November 2014 general election, defeating Independent candidate Ernest A. Almonte.[21]
In his first months in office, Magaziner developed a plan to establish the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) to finance green infrastructure projects.[22]
In June 2015, Magaziner launched a transparency initiative for the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI).[23] In 2015, the treasurer's office announced it was pursuing two class-action lawsuits against fossil fuel industry companies BP and Plains All American[24] for oil spills that allegedly harmed investors and the environment.
In February 2016, Magaziner was selected as chair of the Financial Literacy Committee for the National Association of State Treasurers.[25]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
On September 14, 2021, Magaziner announced his candidacy in the 2022 Rhode Island gubernatorial election, focusing on abortion rights, clean energy, reducing gun violence, education, and mandatory coronavirus vaccination for all state and school employees. The incumbent, Dan McKee, had not yet filed for reelection.[26]
On January 26, 2022, Magaziner withdrew from the gubernatorial election and instead announced he would run to represent Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives after longtime incumbent James Langevin announced his retirement.[27] Magaziner was a resident of the 1st congressional district but moved to a rented house in Cranston after his opponents criticized him for not living in the district, though federal law requires a representative only to be a resident of the state.[28] He defeated five other candidates in the September 13 Democratic primary with 54% of the vote. On November 8, 2022, Magaziner won the general election, defeating Republican nominee Allan Fung, a former mayor of Cranston and two-time Republican nominee for governor by a vote of 101,432 (50%) to 93,969 (47%).[29]
2024
On November 5th 2024, Magaziner won re-election to his house seat against Republican Steve Corvi by a vote of 153,439 (58%) to 109,381 (42%).
Tenure
COVID-19 policy
On January 31, 2023, Magaziner voted against H.R.497, also known as the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.[30][31]
On February 1, 2023, Magaziner voted against a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.[32][33]
Foreign policy
In 2023, Magaziner voted against H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[34][35] Later that year, he voted against a ban on cluster munitions to Ukraine.[36][37]
Traffic safety
In 2024, Magaziner introduced the Biking Instruction, Knowledge, and Education (BIKE) Act. The act would ensure that National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants can be used for bicycle education and safety programs.[38]
Voting rights
On February 9, 2023, Magaziner voted against H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, which condemns the District of Columbia's plan to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.[39][40]
Donald Trump
Magaziner voted yes on H.Res. 1367 on July 24, 2024, which created a task force on the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump.[41]
Committee assignments
Electoral history
| Rhode Island General Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner | 80,378 | 66.5 |
| Democratic | Frank Caprio | 40,402 | 33.5 |
| Rhode Island General Treasurer election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner | 175,902 | 57.1 |
| Independent | Ernest Almonte | 131,423 | 42.7 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 588 | 0.2 |
| Rhode Island General Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner | 93,967 | 100.0 |
| Rhode Island General Treasurer election, 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner | 237,575 | 64.9 |
| Republican | Michael Riley | 127,944 | 35.0 |
| Write-ins | Write-ins | 539 | 0.1 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner | 100,919 | 50.4 | ||
| Republican | Allan Fung | 93,637 | 46.8 | ||
| Moderate | William Gilbert | 5,454 | 2.7 | ||
| Write-in | 199 | 0.1 | |||
| Total votes | 200,209 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Seth Magaziner (incumbent) | 153,439 | 58.2% | |
| Republican | Steve Corvi | 109,381 | 41.5% | |
| Write-in | 660 | 0.3% | ||
| Total votes | 263,480 | 100.0% | ||
Personal life
Magaziner married Julia McDowell in 2018. The couple has a son.[43][44] Magaziner's father is Ira Magaziner.[45]
References
External links
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