Stephen Skoly holds a strong lead in the Rhode Island Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District, scheduled for September 9, 2026, driven by the state GOP's June endorsement after its nominating committee recommended him over Victor Mellor. Skoly, a longtime East Greenwich oral surgeon with local ties, benefits from party support that grants ballot placement advantages and backing from state legislators and groups like the Fraternal Order of Police. Mellor, a self-funded challenger who recently returned from Florida and participated in the January 6 Capitol events, has raised substantially more through personal contributions but faces headwinds from his outsider status and reported foreign agent registration. A September 4 debate highlighted policy overlaps on border security and economic issues without major shifts, leaving trader consensus aligned with Skoly's institutional and geographic edges heading into early voting.