Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District Republican primary on September 9 features a tight contest between physician Stephen Skoly and businessman Victor Mellor, with trader consensus reflecting a narrow edge for Skoly. Skoly secured the state party endorsement at the June convention, providing institutional support ahead of early voting that began in August. Mellor counters with a substantial fundraising lead exceeding $2.8 million compared to Skoly's roughly $141,000, alongside visibility from a Marine veteran background and external endorsements. The scheduled September 4 debate offers a key late catalyst that could shift momentum in this low-turnout primary where personal networks and issue positioning on topics like border security and taxes remain central.