Closest U.S. Senate elections in Rhode Island
The closest U.S. Senate election in Rhode Island history was in 1930, a margin of 1.1 points. Jesse H. Metcalf beat Peter G. Gerry, 112,202 to 109,687. Next closest are 1928 (1.3 points) and 1982 (2.4 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Rhode Island has held, special elections included, see the Rhode Island U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Rhode Island history?
The Rhode Island Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1930, 1.1 points. Jesse H. Metcalf beat Peter G. Gerry, 112,202 to 109,687. The next closest were 1928 (1.3 points) and 1982 (2.4 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Rhode Island’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Rhode Island Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Rhode Island election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1930 | Jesse H. Metcalf R def. Peter G. Gerry D | 112,202 – 109,687 | 1.1 points |
| 2 | 1928 | Felix Hebert R def. Peter G. Gerry D | 119,228 – 116,234 | 1.3 points |
| 3 | 1982 | John H. Chafee R def. Julius C. Michaelson D | 175,495 – 167,283 | 2.4 points |
| 4 | 1936 | Theodore F. Green D def. Jesse H. Metcalf R | 149,146 – 136,149 | 4.2 points |
| 5 | 1918 | Lebaron B. Colt R def. George F. O'Shaunessy D | 42,055 – 37,573 | 5.5 points |
| 6 | 2006 | Sheldon Whitehouse D def. Lincoln D. Chafee R | 206,043 – 178,950 | 7.0 points |
| 7 | 1972 | Claiborne Deb. Pell D def. John H. Chafee R | 221,942 – 188,990 | 8.0 points |
| 8 | 1922 | Peter G. Gerry D def. R. Livingston Beeckman R | 82,889 – 68,930 | 8.8 points |
| 9 | 1916 | Peter G. Gerry D def. Henry F. Lippitt R | 47,048 – 39,211 | 8.8 points |
| 10 | 1988 | John H. Chaffee R def. Richard A. Licht D | 217,273 – 180,717 | 9.2 points |
| 11 | 1952 | John O. Pastore D def. Bayard Ewing R | 225,128 – 185,850 | 9.6 points |
| 12 | 1946 | J. Howard McGrath D def. W. Gurnee Dyer R | 150,748 – 122,780 | 10.2 points |
| 13 | 1940 | Peter G. Gerry D def. James O. McManus R | 173,847 – 141,311 | 10.3 points |
| 14 | 1934 | Peter G. Gerry D def. Felix Herbert R | 140,700 – 105,545 | 14.3 points |
| 15 | 1976 | John H. Chafee R def. Richard P. Lorber D | 230,329 – 167,665 | 15.7 points |
| 16 | 2000 | Lincoln D. Chafee R def. Robert A. Weygand D | 222,588 – 161,023 | 15.7 points |
| 17 | 1924 | Jesse H. Metcalf R def. William S. Flynn D | 120,815 – 87,620 | 15.8 points |
| 18 | 1942 | Theodore F. Green D def. Ira L. Letts R | 138,247 – 100,240 | 15.9 points |
| 19 | 1948 | Theodore F. Green D def. Thomas P. Hazard R | 190,284 – 130,668 | 18.6 points |
| 20 | 1954 | Theodore F. Green D def. Walter I. Sundlun R | 193,654 – 132,970 | 18.6 points |
| 21 | 2024 | Sheldon Whitehouse D def. Patricia Morgan R | 294,665 – 196,039 | 20.0 points |
| 22 | 2018 | Sheldon Whitehouse D def. Robert G. Flanders Jr. R | 231,477 – 144,421 | 23.1 points |
| 23 | 1990 | Claiborne Deb. Pell D def. Claudine Schneider R | 225,105 – 138,947 | 23.7 points |
| 24 | 1996 | Jack Reed D def. Nancy J. Mayer R | 230,676 – 127,368 | 28.4 points |
| 25 | 1958 | John O. Pastore D def. Bayard Ewing R | 222,166 – 122,353 | 29.0 points |