Rhode Island Senate Voter Guide: Reed, McKay and Bahry on Top Priorities and Social Security
Three candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Rhode Island on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, who is seeking a sixth term; Republican Raymond "Ray" McKay; and independent Michael Bahry.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three candidates on their top priorities and on Social Security. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own words and Rhode Island reporting.
Why Top Priorities and Social Security Are Issues
The three candidates are running on very different main issues. Reed's campaign has focused on health care and costs, McKay's on energy, spending and the border, and Bahry's on ending wars and term limits.
Social Security is also on the ballot in a practical sense. The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects that the combined retirement and disability trust funds can pay full benefits until 2034, after which they could pay about 83% of scheduled benefits if Congress does not act, according to a KeyBank summary of the report.
Jack Reed (Democrat, Incumbent)
Reed, 76, of Jamestown, has represented Rhode Island in the U.S. Senate since 1997. He is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and also serves on the Appropriations, Banking and Intelligence committees, according to Rhode Island Current. He won the Sept. 9 Democratic primary with 76.8% of the vote over Connor Burbridge and Luis Daniel Muñoz.
On top priorities, the video says Reed wants health care that is affordable and accessible to all. His Senate website says he "believes that health care should be affordable and accessible to all" and is "committed to preserving and protecting Medicare and Medicaid." In Rhode Island Current's primary voter guide, Reed said Congress should "reinstate the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits to help more people purchase insurance and eliminate the devastating cuts to Medicaid and SNAP under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act." He also called for building more affordable homes through programs like the Housing Trust Fund and ending tariffs and the war in Iran, which he said are driving up prices.
On Social Security, the video says Reed supports protecting Social Security and Medicare. On Oct. 2, he posted on X about "safeguarding Social Security, restoring and expanding Medicare & Medicaid" after meeting with the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island. His Senate website lists his work to help pass the law ending the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, which had reduced Social Security benefits for some state and local workers and their spouses, and his support for giving the Social Security Administration the resources to reduce claims backlogs.
Ray McKay (Republican)
McKay, of Warwick, served 11 years in the U.S. Army, from 1981 to 1992, and worked for 26 years as the network and telecommunications manager for the City of Warwick, according to his campaign. He led the Rhode Island Republican Assembly from 2005 to 2014 and ran unopposed in the Sept. 9 Republican primary.
On top priorities, the video says McKay proposes energy independence by strengthening the nuclear and fossil fuel industries. His campaign website says he "is committed to American energy independence getting colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together for long-term strength and stability of our nuclear and fossil fuel industries and efficiently utilizing green energy solutions." His platform also calls for balancing the federal budget, repealing laws he says threaten personal and parental freedoms, and immigration enforcement policies that put "Rhode Islanders and Americans First."
On Social Security, the video says McKay would secure the program by reducing wasteful spending and tackling fraud. His campaign website says he "is committed to securing the health of Social Security and Medicare by cutting 'well-intentioned' programs, slashing wasteful, redundant spending by unaccountable, unelected government departments and agencies, going after and stopping fraud, and by seeking prison time for those who steal from you, the taxpayer." The site also says the government "has been running a deficit in Social Security since 2009."
Michael Bahry (Independent)
Bahry is a Rhode Island native who worked as a laborer, carpenter and construction executive and owned a commercial construction company, according to his campaign. In 2014 he founded Fifty-Three: Five, a Providence nonprofit that supports families and homeless people. He holds two master's degrees from Providence College and teaches theology at Salve Regina University.
On top priorities, the video says Bahry's platform is built on peace, term limits and economic justice. His campaign website describes "a platform rooted in peace, term limits, religious liberty, the dignity of life, and economic justice for all Rhode Islanders." "If elected, Michael will make ending war and international conflicts his focus," the site says. It also argues that term limits would reduce the influence of special interest groups, and that as an independent he could "vote issue-by-issue based purely on what is right for Rhode Island."
On Social Security, the video says Bahry has no published position in the sources reviewed. The Digital Free Press did not find a Social Security position on his campaign website.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Jack Reed: @SenJackReed on X and @reedforri on Instagram. Ray McKay: @McKay_Senate on X and @mckay_senate on Instagram. Michael Bahry: @bahryforSenate on X and @michaelbahryforsenate on Instagram.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Rhode Island Current, "U.S. Senator | Voter Guide: 2026 Primary Sept. 9": https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-primary-u-s-senate/ ; Rhode Island Current, "Voter Guide: 2026 General Nov. 3": https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/voter-guides/2026-general-nov-3/ ; Senator Jack Reed, "Health Care": https://www.reed.senate.gov/issues/health-care ; Senator Jack Reed, "Older Americans": https://www.reed.senate.gov/issues/seniors ; Sen. Jack Reed on X (Oct. 2, 2026): https://x.com/SenJackReed/status/2106116495659147359 ; McKay for U.S. Senate, "Right Direction": https://www.mckayforussenate.com/right-direction/ ; McKay for U.S. Senate, "Meet Ray McKay": https://www.mckayforussenate.com/meet-ray-mckay/ ; Michael Bahry for U.S. Senate: https://bahryforsenate.com/ ; KeyBank, "2026 Social Security Trustees Report": https://www.key.com/wealth/our-insights/articles/2026-social-security-trustees-report.html ; Wikipedia, 2026 United States Senate election in Rhode Island: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Rhode_Island ; Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2026: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Rhode_Island,_2026
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