Ray McKay
Republican
U.S. Army veteran and former City of Warwick network manager; past president of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly
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U.S. Senate · Nov 3, 2026
U.S. Senate race in Rhode Island
Incumbent: Jack Reed, running for re-election.
The 3 candidates
Jack Reed
DemocraticIncumbentU.S. Senator from Rhode Island since 1997; former U.S. Representative
Michael Bahry
IndependentFormer construction company owner and theology instructor; founder of a Providence nonprofit that serves families and homeless people
Where they stand
What each candidate says they support or would do, on the issues they campaign on. Summaries use the same neutral words for everyone and link to the candidate’s own words.
AI verified
Researched with AI and confirmed by a second, independent AI check. Our editors haven’t reviewed it yet. How we verify
Immigration
RepublicanRay McKay
Supports immigration and enforcement policies that he says put the interests of Rhode Islanders and Americans first.
DemocraticJack Reed
Says he voted against funding the administration's immigration raids and is working to limit ICE actions he calls unlawful.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Opposes spending on mass deportations, supports securing the border against human and drug trafficking, and supports fixing the legal immigration system.
Energy
RepublicanRay McKay
Supports American energy independence and the long-term strength of the nuclear and fossil fuel industries along with use of green energy. Criticizes energy policies Senator Reed has supported, saying they raised utility bills and hurt fishing.
DemocraticJack Reed
Opposed the administration's effort to stop the Revolution Wind offshore wind project and says he helped reverse its stop-work orders. Supports protecting LIHEAP heating aid and weatherization funding.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Civil rights
RepublicanRay McKay
Supports repealing laws he says threaten personal and parental freedoms and free markets, and says he would oppose or seek to rescind bills he considers unconstitutional.
DemocraticJack Reed
No published position found.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Opposes transgender girls and women competing in girls' and women's sports and says minors should not undergo irreversible gender transition procedures.
Abortion
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Supports protecting and restoring reproductive rights.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Opposes abortion and supports pregnancy support groups that provide ultrasounds, diapers and other help to mothers.
Foreign policy
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Opposes the war with Iran and says he is working to stop costly, unnecessary military operations. Notes that he voted against the Iraq War.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Says he would make ending wars and international conflicts his focus, and supports U.S. withdrawal from NATO. Says Europe should make peace with Russia.
Social Security & Medicare
RepublicanRay McKay
Says he would secure Social Security and Medicare by cutting other federal programs, reducing wasteful spending by federal agencies, stopping fraud and seeking prison time for people who steal from taxpayers.
DemocraticJack Reed
No published position found.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Budget
RepublicanRay McKay
Supports ending federal deficit spending and balancing the budget.
DemocraticJack Reed
No published position found.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Health care
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Supports reversing what he calls President Trump's $1 trillion Medicaid cut, strengthening and expanding the Affordable Care Act, protecting Medicare and Medicaid from further cuts, and funding mental health programs such as the 988 crisis line.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Taxes
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Says billionaires should pay their share and the tax system should be changed to help Rhode Island families. Says he offered more than twenty Senate floor amendments against the Republican tax law, which he says favored billionaires.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Trade
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Says President Trump's tariffs drive up costs for working families, and says he is working to return tariff money he says was taken illegally.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Housing
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
Cites more than $300 million he secured for affordable housing since 2020, and supports redirecting a $62 billion ICE funding package toward building new affordable homes.
IndependentMichael Bahry
No published position found.
Defense
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
No published position found.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Opposes renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War and says military spending is not a jobs program. Supports diplomacy over military action.
Elections & democracy
RepublicanRay McKay
No published position found.
DemocraticJack Reed
No published position found.
IndependentMichael Bahry
Supports term limits for members of Congress, which he says would reduce incumbency advantages and the influence of lobbyists and donors.
Who’s on the ballot: sources
- ListRhode Island Department of State: Candidates for SENATOR IN CONGRESS(opens in a new tab)
- ListFox News: Veteran Dem senator cruises past far-left primary challengers in bid for sixth term(opens in a new tab)
- ListThe Green Papers: Rhode Island 2026 General Election(opens in a new tab)
- ListWikipedia: 2026 United States Senate election in Rhode Island(opens in a new tab)