Seth Magaziner

Seth Magaziner
Born	Seth Michael Magaziner 22 07, 1983
Birthplace	Bristol, Rhode Island, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Known for	U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district; 31st General Treasurer of Rhode Island
Education	Brown University (BA) Yale University (MBA)
Children	2
Website	[sethmagaziner.com Official site]

Seth Michael Magaziner (Template:IPAc-en; born July 22, 1983) is an American politician and former investment professional serving as the U.S. representative for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Magaziner previously served as the 31st General Treasurer of Rhode Island from 2015 to 2023, a post he won at the age of 31, making him one of the youngest statewide officeholders in the country at the time. Before entering politics, Magaziner worked in the investment field with a focus on socially responsible finance. He is the son of Ira Magaziner, a policy adviser who served in the Clinton administration. Magaziner won election to Congress in November 2022, succeeding retiring representative James Langevin. In Congress, he has focused on issues including financial transparency, health care affordability, immigration policy, and labor protections. His legislative efforts have included bipartisan proposals to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks and measures to combat wage theft.

Early Life

Seth Michael Magaziner was born on July 22, 1983, in Bristol, Rhode Island. He is the son of Ira Magaziner, a prominent policy adviser who played a central role in President Bill Clinton's health care reform efforts during the 1990s. The elder Magaziner was himself a Brown University graduate and had been a well-known figure in Rhode Island public life and business consulting before entering the Clinton White House.

Magaziner grew up in Rhode Island and attended Milton Academy, a private preparatory school in Milton, Massachusetts. His upbringing in a politically active family exposed him to public policy discussions from an early age. Rhode Island remained his home base throughout his formative years, and his deep roots in the state would later become a central theme in his political campaigns.

As a young adult, Magaziner was active in civic causes in Rhode Island. He was involved in advocacy for same-sex marriage legalization in the state, a movement that culminated in Rhode Island becoming the last New England state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2013. He also served on the board of directors of Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization focused on addressing homelessness in the state.

Education

Magaziner attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006. Brown was also the alma mater of his father, Ira Magaziner. Following his undergraduate studies, Magaziner pursued graduate education in business, enrolling at the Yale School of Management at Yale University, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His dual background in the liberal arts and business administration informed his later career in investment management and public finance. At Brown, Magaziner was engaged in campus and community activities, and his time at the university established lasting connections to Providence and the broader Rhode Island community that would prove significant in his subsequent political career.

Career

Early Career in Investment and Finance

Before entering electoral politics, Magaziner worked as an investment professional. His career in finance focused on areas of socially responsible investment and impact finance, which seeks to generate both financial returns and positive social or environmental outcomes. This professional background positioned Magaziner as a candidate with expertise in financial management when he later sought statewide office.

Rhode Island General Treasurer (2015–2023)

2014 Campaign for General Treasurer

In October 2013, Magaziner announced his candidacy for General Treasurer of Rhode Island, seeking to succeed Gina Raimondo, who was running for governor. Magaziner, then 30 years old, entered a Democratic primary field that included Frank Caprio, a former general treasurer who was seeking a political comeback. In the September 2014 Democratic primary, Magaziner defeated Caprio, ending the former treasurer's attempt to return to the office.

In the November 2014 general election, Magaziner, described by the media as a "political newcomer," defeated Republican candidate Ernest Almonte to win the treasurer's office. At 31, Magaziner became one of the youngest general treasurers in Rhode Island history. He took office on January 6, 2015, succeeding Raimondo, who had been elected governor.

Tenure as General Treasurer

During his time as general treasurer, Magaziner oversaw the state's investment portfolio and pension fund. He pursued several notable policy initiatives during his tenure.

Transparency Reforms: Magaziner took steps to increase the transparency of Rhode Island's public investment practices. Under his leadership, Rhode Island was recognized for bringing a new level of openness to its state investment operations.

Class-Action Litigation: In 2015, the Rhode Island Employees' Retirement System, under Magaziner's oversight, was involved in leading class-action lawsuits against companies including BP and Plains All American, seeking to recover losses for pension fund investors.

Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank: Magaziner was involved in the development of innovative financing mechanisms for infrastructure in Rhode Island, including the establishment of the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, which used creative financial tools to fund public infrastructure projects across the state.

Financial Literacy: Magaziner promoted financial literacy efforts, working to expand financial education programs not only in Rhode Island but at the national level as well.

Magaziner served under Governors Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee during his two terms as general treasurer. He held the position until January 3, 2023, when he was succeeded by James Diossa.

2021 Campaign for Governor

In September 2021, Magaziner announced his candidacy for Governor of Rhode Island in the 2022 election cycle. However, he subsequently shifted his focus and instead announced a campaign for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district after incumbent representative James Langevin announced his retirement.

U.S. House of Representatives (2023–present)

2022 Congressional Campaign

Following Langevin's retirement announcement, Magaziner entered the race for Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district. He won the Democratic primary and subsequently prevailed in the November 2022 general election, succeeding Langevin in the seat. Magaziner took office on January 3, 2023.

Legislative Priorities and Activities

In Congress, Magaziner has focused on several key legislative areas, including government ethics, labor rights, health care, and immigration policy.

Congressional Stock Trading Ban: One of Magaziner's signature legislative efforts has been a push to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. In September 2025, Magaziner and Republican Representative Chip Roy of Texas introduced a comprehensive bipartisan bill to prohibit congressional stock trading, a measure aimed at addressing potential conflicts of interest among lawmakers who vote on legislation that can affect the value of publicly traded companies. Magaziner continued to advocate for the legislation, providing testimony and statements at a House Administration Committee hearing on stock trading in November 2025, where he spoke as the Democratic co-lead of the proposal.

Wage Theft Legislation: In August 2025, Magaziner reintroduced legislation aimed at combating wage theft. He held a press conference in Warwick, Rhode Island, to announce the bill, titled the "Don't Stand for Taking Employed" Act, which sought to strengthen legal protections for workers against employers who fail to pay owed wages.

Health Care Affordability: Magaziner has been active on health care issues, particularly the affordability of medical care. In October 2025, he joined Rhode Island health care workers in Providence to discuss what he characterized as an emerging health care affordability crisis. The event also addressed the potential impact of a government shutdown on health care services and access.

Immigration and Detention Oversight: Magaziner has engaged with immigration policy, including direct oversight of detention conditions. In February 2026, he made an unannounced visit to the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees are held. Following the visit, Magaziner reported his observations about the conditions and circumstances of detainees held at the facility. Magaziner provided details about his conversations with detainees, noting that many of them appeared to be individuals who had been living in the community prior to their detention. The visit drew attention as part of broader congressional interest in the treatment of individuals held in immigration detention.

In a separate immigration-related matter, Magaziner engaged in a public exchange with Vice President JD Vance over the legal status of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, a case that received national media coverage.

Department of Homeland Security Use of Force Policy: In 2025, Magaziner co-led legislation with Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois to codify use of force policy for the Department of Homeland Security. The bill sought to establish statutory guidelines governing when and how DHS agents may use force in carrying out their duties.

Personal Life

Seth Magaziner was born and raised in Bristol, Rhode Island, and has maintained his ties to the state throughout his career. He is the son of Ira Magaziner, who served as a senior policy adviser to President Bill Clinton, particularly on health care reform. The Magaziner family has deep roots in Rhode Island's civic and political life.

Magaziner has two children. He has been a resident of Rhode Island throughout his adult life, aside from periods spent pursuing his education. His official campaign website is sethmagaziner.com.

Magaziner's public profile in Rhode Island extends beyond his elected positions. Prior to running for office, he was involved in community organizations, including service on the board of Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit focused on addressing homelessness.

Recognition

Magaziner's tenure as Rhode Island General Treasurer drew recognition from financial industry publications for his transparency and governance reforms. Pensions & Investments, a national publication covering institutional investment, highlighted Rhode Island's move to increase transparency in its public investment practices under Magaziner's leadership, noting that the state had taken transparency "to a new level."

In Congress, Magaziner has received national media attention for his legislative efforts on congressional stock trading reform, with coverage in outlets including The Hill. His bipartisan collaboration with Representative Chip Roy on the stock trading ban has been noted as an example of cross-party cooperation on government ethics issues.

His unannounced visit to the Wyatt Detention Facility in February 2026 generated coverage in Rhode Island media and raised questions about congressional oversight of immigration detention facilities, with the Rhode Island Current reporting on the visit and its implications.