Ahead Of 2022 Race, A History Of RI's 2nd Congressional District

PROVIDENCE, RI — With Jim Langevin stepping down from his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, there's been a flurry of speculation about who will run to fill his seat. So far, just a few hats have officially been thrown into the ring.

As District Two voters consider who will be its next representative in Congress, it's interesting to take a look back at who has held the seat in the past.

The history of District Two

For many younger voters, Jim Langevin was the only Representative they have ever known. He was first elected to his seat in 2000, and has held the seat ever since. He was the first quadriplegic to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Throughout the 20th Century, Rhode Island's second district was almost exclusively represented by a Democrat, especially in the latter half. The district's history is, overall, a homogenous one of white men from the Democratic Party. From 1950 to 1999, there was only one Republican representative, Claudine Shneider. She also holds the distinction of being the only woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island, including the first district. No people of color have ever been elected to either district.

Schneider represented the second district from 1981 to 1991, before stepping down to run for the U.S. Senate. She was succeeded by now-Sen. Jack Reed, who held the seat until 1997, when he successfully launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate.

After Reed came Robert Weygand, who represented the district until 2001. He, too, stepped back to run for U.S. Senate. He ultimately lost the election to incumbent Republican Lincoln Chafee.

The future: Who's running in 2022?

On Wednesday, Rhode Island General Treasurer announced his candidacy for Congress, an about-face from his previous campaign for governor.

Also this week, Ed Pacheco announced he, too, will be running for the seat. A former state representative and chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, Pacheco focused on struggling families in his campaign announcement.

"Together we can work to lift millions of children out of poverty; establish universal pre-k; help
younger generations escape crushing debt through loan forgiveness; create good paying jobs
by supporting the blue and green economy; fight for social justice; and support every
American’s right to vote," Pacheco said.

In their campaign announcements, both Magaziner and Pacheco focused on what they called the existential threats to democracy posed by the Republican Party.

Pacheco said that "Every day it feels as though we are being pulled further apart and the very fabric of our democracy is under attack," criticizing national lawmakers who focus on "political gamesmanship" more than the needs of their constituents.

Magaziner, meanwhile, said that "Republicans in Washington demonstrate they care more about doing ... Trump's bidding than they do about defending the constitution or delivering results for working families."

With the election still months away, the field of candidates is only expected to widen. Stay tuned for Patch's in-depth candidate coverage all the way through to Election Night.

Read more:

• RI Rep. Jim Langevin Won't Seek Re-Election
• Seth Magaziner Changes Direction, Announces Run For U.S. Congress