Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1988/US Senate/Rhode Island
      1988·US Senate·Rhode Island

      Rhode Island US Senate

      Winner
      REP
      John H. Chafee
      54.6%217,273 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Richard A Licht
      45.4%180,717 votes
      Margin
      R+9.2
      397,990 total votes
      2 candidates397,990 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      John H. ChafeeREP✓
      		REP217,27354.6%
      Richard A LichtDEM
      		DEM180,71745.4%

      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
      1984
      Claiborne PellDEM
      D+45.1
      1982
      John H. ChafeeREP
      R+2.4
      View all US Senate history for Rhode Island →

      Candidates

      John H. ChafeeREP
      Record7W-2L
      Avg MarginR+10.6
      Career1962-1994
      US Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      Richard A LichtDEM
      Record4W-1L
      Avg MarginD+64.8
      Career1974-1988
      US Senate / State Senate
      Full profile →

      Also in Rhode Island, 1988

      President1 contest →US House2 contests →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1988 US Senate races1988 overviewRhode Island profileAll elections