The Rhode Island Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District, scheduled for September 9, 2026, with early voting underway, centers on local oral surgeon Stephen Skoly and businessman Victor Mellor. Skoly secured the state GOP endorsement at the June convention, granting top ballot placement and party support after Mellor declined to seek it. Mellor, a Marine veteran and recent Florida resident who participated in the January 6 Capitol events, has raised and largely self-funded over $2.8 million—far outpacing Skoly’s roughly $140,000—potentially aiding visibility in a low-turnout primary. A recent Embold poll showed Skoly ahead among likely primary voters amid high undecideds, while a scheduled September 4 debate could highlight contrasts on issues like medical freedom, border security, and state policy. These dynamics, including structural advantages versus financial resources, sustain the tight trader consensus reflected in current market pricing.