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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1972/US Senate/Rhode Island
      1972·US Senate·Rhode Island

      Rhode Island US Senate

      Winner
      DEM
      Claiborne Pell
      53.7%221,942 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      John H. Chafee
      45.7%188,990 votes
      Margin
      D+8.0
      413,432 total votes
      3 candidates413,432 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Claiborne PellDEM✓
      		DEM221,94253.7%
      John H. ChafeeREP
      		REP188,99045.7%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH2,5000.6%

      Seat History

      US Senate in Rhode Island(Class II)

      2024
      Sheldon WhitehouseDEM
      D+19.9
      2020
      John F ReedDEM
      D+33.0
      2018
      Sheldon WhitehouseDEM
      D+23.1
      2014
      John F ReedDEM
      D+41.3
      2012
      Sheldon WhitehouseDEM
      D+29.8
      2008
      John F ReedDEM
      D+46.6
      2006
      Sheldon WhitehouseDEM
      D+7.0
      2002
      John F ReedDEM
      D+56.8
      2000
      Lincoln ChafeeREP
      R+15.7
      1996
      John F ReedDEM
      D+28.4
      1994
      John H. ChafeeREP
      R+29.1
      1990
      Claiborne PellDEM
      D+23.7
      1988
      John H. ChafeeREP
      R+9.2
      1984
      Claiborne PellDEM
      D+45.1
      1982
      John H. ChafeeREP
      R+2.4
      View all US Senate history for Rhode Island →

      Candidates

      Claiborne PellDEM
      Record6W-0L
      Avg MarginD+33.4
      Career1960-1990
      US Senate
      Full profile →
      John H. ChafeeREP
      Record7W-2L
      Avg MarginR+10.6
      Career1962-1994
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Rhode Island, 1972

      President1 contest →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1972 US Senate races1972 overviewRhode Island profileAll elections