Super PAC makes late entry into CD2 race; incumbent deletes a social media video

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner had a direct question for the treasurer of a newly formed Maryland super PAC that poured nearly $41,000 into Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District race: Why try to influence an election in a place you have never even visited? The two-term Democratic incumbent put that exact question to Hong Chuan Liang, the group’s treasurer, before posting a recording of their conversation to social media on Tuesday, rhodeislandcurrent.com reported.

That digital encounter sparked an immediate clash over campaign finance, interstate phone laws, and the sudden arrival of out-of-state money in a district historically resistant to outside interference. Within days, however, the videos vanished from Magaziner’s online feeds, leaving an open question about how far campaigns can go when recording and publicizing phone calls across state lines.

The Phone Call, the Law, and the Deleted Videos

The controversy centers on Common Sense America PAC, an independent expenditure group registered in Rockville, Maryland, on October 5. On October 21 and 22, the group dropped $40,600 exclusively to support Republican challenger Vic Mellor, funding advertisements across Google, Roku, Paramount, and Disney.

Annoyed by the late outside spending, Magaziner dialed Liang directly from Rhode Island. Rhode Island law generally permits recording a conversation with the consent of just one party—including the person doing the recording.

Liang told rhodeislandcurrent.com in an interview that he had no idea he was being recorded for campaign material. “When he called me, he didn’t tell me whether he was recording,” Liang said.

By Thursday, the videos were gone. Campaign spokesperson Jess Vaughn told rhodeislandcurrent.com that the posts were taken down “out of an abundance of caution” after reviewing the laws governing recorded calls. Even so, the campaign maintains that the recording complies with legal standards. More importantly, Magaziner insists the deletion does not dilute his core message regarding outside money.

Rhode Islanders should have no patience for an out-of-state super PAC supporting out-of-state candidate Vic Mellor’s campaign to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s agenda in Congress.
— Rep. Seth Magaziner

Mellor’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding the super PAC. On X, however, Mellor defended the group’s backers and accused Magaziner of hypocrisy, pointing to outside spending supporting the Democrat and an $800,000 personal loan Magaziner made to fund his initial 2022 congressional run.

Inside the Out-of-State Super PAC

Liang, 63, described himself to rhodeislandcurrent.com as a nearly retired older individual whose sole responsibility is ensuring federal regulatory compliance. “I don’t own the PAC—I’m not the decision maker,” he said, noting that he previously served as treasurer for a 2024 Maryland super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s reelection.

Federal campaign finance filings show that Common Sense America PAC raised $8,950 through October 14, drawing itemized contributions from six individuals across Maryland, Virginia, and New York. Among them is Peiliang Cui, a Virginia financial adviser previously tied to a group promoting traditional and conservative values, who incurred a federal civil penalty in 2021 for a late year-end filing.

Liang declined to name the individuals who established Common Sense America PAC, stating only that some supporters originated from communist countries and appreciate American freedoms.

Public records show Mellor registered with the U.S. Justice Department in June as a foreign agent for work involving Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mellor later stated that his travel to the island was strictly for humanitarian purposes, during which meetings with Cuban leadership materialized.

Political Realities in the 2nd District

With election day fast approaching, polling suggests the late influx of PAC money is unlikely to dramatically reshape the outcome. A Pell Center at Salve Regina University poll released October 20 showed Magaziner leading with 52% to Mellor’s 39%, mirroring similar margins found in an earlier WPRI/Emerson College survey.

Super PAC makes late entry into CD2 race; incumbent deletes a social media video

Matt Ulricksen, an associate professor of political science at the Community College of Rhode Island, noted that the seat remains an uphill battle for Republicans. The GOP last held the district in 1991. Even in 2022, when former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung ran a competitive race backed by millions in outside spending during a strong Republican midterm climate, Magaziner still secured victory by four points.

“I would be shocked if Mellor gets anything close to that especially in a non-presidential year with Trump’s approval ratings underwater, like significantly underwater,” Ulricksen told rhodeislandcurrent.com.

As the campaign reaches its final stretch, the unanswered questions linger: Who truly bankrolled the Maryland-based PAC behind the scenes, and will voters care about interstate digital footprints when they cast their ballots?