Seth Michael Magaziner ( ; born July 22, 1983) is an American investment professional and politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 31st general treasurer of Rhode Island from 2015 until 2023. Magaziner won the November 2022 election to succeed retiring representative James Langevin.
Early life and education Seth Magaziner was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, on July 22, 1983, to Suzanne and Ira Magaziner. Ira is a policy advisor for politicians, governments, and non-governmental organizations.Donnis, Ian. "Seth Magaziner considering a run for Treasurer in 2014", RIPR, May 16, 2013. His mother is Catholic and his father is Jewish. Seth is the oldest of three children.
Magaziner graduated from Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts, in 2002."Class of 2002 10th Reunion" , Milton Academy, accessed January 29, 2014. 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.Jones, Brian C. "Young voters on the move" , The Providence Phoenix, October 29 – November 4, 2004. Magaziner graduated from Brown with a Bachelor of Arts in history in 2006. He received a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management in 2010.Lamb, Katherine. "Magaziner '06 to run for R.I. general treasurer", The Brown Daily Herald, October 24, 2014.
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. In 2009, he worked as an associate at Point Judith Capital, a Rhode Island–based venture capital firm.
After graduate school, Magaziner worked at Trillium Asset Management as a vice president. He was active in the successful campaign for same-sex marriage in Rhode Island. He served as a board member of Marriage Equality Rhode Island.Jones, Brian C. "The campaign to legalize same-sex marriage in RI", Providence Journal.
Magaziner serves on the board of directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, a homeless service organization."Board of Directors", Crossroads Rhode Island, accessed January 28, 2014. He previously served on the board of directors of Common Cause Rhode Island.
General Treasurer of Rhode Island
On October 22, 2013, Magaziner announced his candidacy for Rhode Island general treasurer. He won the Democratic nomination in the September 9 primary election, defeating former treasurer Frank Caprio.Kuffner, Alex. "Magaziner ends Caprio’s comeback for general treasurer", The Providence Journal, Providence, September 9, 2014. Magaziner was elected in the November 2014 general election, defeating Independent candidate Ernest A. Almonte.Parker, Paul Edward. "Political newcomer Magaziner defeats Almonte to be next R.I. general treasurer", The Providence Journal, Providence, November 5, 2014.
In his first months in office, Magaziner developed a plan to establish the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) to finance green infrastructure projects.
In June 2015, Magaziner launched a transparency initiative for the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI). In 2015, the treasurer's office announced it was pursuing two class-action lawsuits against fossil fuel industry companies BP and Plains All American 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.
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.Seth Magaziner announces run for governor, slamming 'old-time politicians' Providence Journal, Katherine Gregg, September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
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. 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. 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 50% to 47%.
2024
On November 5, 2024, Magaziner won re-election to his house seat, defeating Republican Steve Corvi 58% to 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.
On February 1, 2023, Magaziner voted against a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.
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.
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.
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.
Donald Trump Magaziner voted yes on H.Res. 1367 on July 24, 2024, which created a task force on the attempted assassination of then-former president Donald Trump.
On February 8, 2025, Magaziner called Elon Musk, "an unelected, unvetted, unconfirmed man-child billionaire".
Congressional Stock Trading Magaziner was one of the original 16 cosponsors of the Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R.5106), introduced on September 3rd, 2025, by Republican Chip Roy of Texas. The act, a bipartisan effort to ban members of Congress and their spouses and dependents from owning and trading stocks, had 119 cosponsors as of December, 2025.
Opposition to deportation of U.S. veterans Magaziner questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem December 12, 2025 and asked her how many U.S. veterans had been deported by DHS. She replied “Sir, we have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans.” He then showed, via Zoom, Purple Heart recipient and green-card holder Sae Joon Park, who had been forced to self-deport under her administration.
Park legally immigrated to the United States from South Korea when he was 7, grew up in Los Angeles and California's San Fernando Valley, and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks in 1988.. He was deployed to Panama in 1989 during Operation Just Cause and was wounded by enemy gunfire. After leaving the Army Park suffered from PTSD and his family's business was burned to the ground in 1992 during the L.A. Riots. He moved to Hawaii and was arrested for attempting to buy cocaine in 2009. He was given deferred action allowed to stay in the U.S. by federal authorities as long as he made regular check-ins, which he did until June 2025, when he was given the choice to self-deport, or be deported by DHS officials. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said Park had an “extensive criminal history” and had been given a final removal order, with the option to self-deport.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) has since called for Noem to resign or be impeached due to her statements to Congress and wants a Congressional investigation into possible violations.
Committee assignments For the 119th Congress: Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence (Ranking Member) Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
Caucus memberships Congressional Equality Caucus New Democrat Coalition Congressional Ukraine Caucus Labor Caucus Future Forum Congressional Arts Caucus
Electoral history Rhode Island General Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2014PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticSeth Magaziner80,37866.5DemocraticFrank Caprio40,40233.5 Rhode Island General Treasurer election, 2014PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticSeth Magaziner175,90257.1IndependentErnest Almonte131,42342.7Write-insWrite-ins5880.2 Rhode Island General Treasurer Democratic primary election, 2018PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticSeth Magaziner93,967 100.0 Rhode Island General Treasurer election, 2018PartyCandidateVotes%DemocraticSeth Magaziner237,57564.9RepublicanMichael Riley127,944 35.0Write-insWrite-ins5390.1
Personal life Magaziner married Julia McDowell in 2018. The couple has a son and a daughter.
References
External links
Congressman Seth Magaziner official U.S. House website Seth Magaziner for Congress campaign website