Federal race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Senate
One of Rhode Island's two U.S. senators, who vote on federal legislation, confirm presidential nominees and ratify treaties.
6-year term. Regular election for the seat held by Sen. Jack Reed (D), who is seeking a sixth term. Three candidates are on the ballot: Republican Raymond T. McKay (ballot position 1), Democrat John Francis Reed (2) and independent Michael Anthony Bahry (3). The Rhode Island Department of State lists the Democratic label as "Democrat." No certified write-in candidates were found.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Michael Bahry
Former theology instructor, Salve Regina UniversityBahry is an independent, a former construction executive and theology instructor at Salve Regina University, making his first run for office. He describes himself as "an Independent man for peace." His campaign centers on ending U.S. involvement in foreign wars, congressional term limits and housing affordability.
Raymond McKay
Retired network and telecommunications manager, City of WarwickMcKay is a Republican, an 11-year Army veteran and a retired City of Warwick network and telecommunications manager who ran unopposed in the GOP primary. He previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2024. His "Right Direction Right Now" campaign focuses on Social Security, taxes, energy, border security and term limits.
Jack Reed
U.S. Senator from Rhode Island (since 1997); Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services CommitteeReed is a Democrat, a former Army paratrooper and lawyer who has represented Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate since 1997 and is seeking a sixth term. He is the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee and also serves on Appropriations. His campaign points to his experience and the federal money he has secured for Rhode Island housing and infrastructure.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Michael Bahry Independent | Raymond McKay Republican | Jack Reed Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy & Jobs | Supports an automatic continuing resolution when budgets are late and withholding congressional pay during shutdowns. | No public position found yet | Opposes the administration's tariffs, which he says hurt American businesses and consumers. |
| Energy & Environment | Supports investing in clean renewable energy instead of weapons manufacturing. | Criticizes the offshore wind projects off Rhode Island, saying they raise electric costs and harm fishing; supports expanding nuclear power and continued use of natural gas and coal; says green energy has a place but not at the cost of forests or farmland. | No public position found yet |
| Foreign Policy | Opposes the U.S. military actions in Iran and Venezuela, saying war-making power belongs to Congress; supports withdrawing the U.S. from NATO. | No public position found yet | Says the U.S. should end the war in Iran and what he calls unauthorized military action in the Caribbean, and rely on diplomacy with allies. |
| Housing | Says he would back projects that help middle- and low-income first-time buyers own single-family homes or condos. | No public position found yet | Supports investing in federal housing programs including the Housing Trust Fund, HOME and the Capital Magnet Fund. |
| Immigration | Supports securing the border against human and drug trafficking; opposes spending on mass deportations and calls for fixing the legal immigration system. | Supports border security and immigration enforcement policies that he says put the interests of Rhode Islanders and Americans first. | No public position found yet |
| Taxes | No public position found yet | Says workers should not be overly taxed by the federal or state government, and says he would speak out against what he calls bad tax policies and spending in Washington and at the General Assembly. | Opposed the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, citing projections that it adds $4.1 trillion to the national debt over a decade. |
| Abortion | Describes himself as Catholic and pro-life and supports pregnancy support organizations. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Agriculture | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Supports the 2025 agriculture appropriations provision that bars unregulated sales of intoxicating hemp-derived products while protecting industrial hemp, and says it could be revisited in the next Farm Bill. |
| Education | No public position found yet | Supports the right of parents to make educational decisions for their children. | No public position found yet |
| Elections & Democracy | Supports a constitutional amendment for congressional term limits; supports keeping the Senate filibuster. | No public position found yet | No public position found yet |
| Guns | No public position found yet | Describes himself as a constitutional conservative who supports the Second Amendment; says the country should strengthen mental health support. | No public position found yet |
| Health Care | No public position found yet | No public position found yet | Supports reinstating the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits and reversing the Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act; wants more access to Medicare-style plans and more primary care providers in Rhode Island. |
| Social Security & Medicare | No public position found yet | Says he would shore up Social Security and Medicare by cutting what he calls wasteful, redundant federal spending and prosecuting fraud. | No public position found yet |
| Transgender Athletes | No public position found yet | Supports limiting women's sports to people born female. | No public position found yet |