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United States · Election results history · 1978 Senate · Rhode Island
Election 1978 Results

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1978 US Senate election in Rhode Island

Claiborne Pell (Democrat) beat James Reynolds (Republican) in Rhode Island in 1978, 75.1% to 24.9%, a margin of 50.2 points and 153,496 votes.

The Democratic hold continued from 1972, when Claiborne Pell also won.

Democrats led in 5 of the 5 counties as they stood then. The largest, Providence, cast 187,203 votes and went to the Democrat by 55.5 points. The closest was Bristol, where 5,295 votes separated the two parties.

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Early projection, based on early and incomplete polling: the likely matchups, each weighted by the betting markets' odds of both nominations, not a result. Each county is its 2024 presidential margin moved by its state's projected swing; set a national vote and every state, district and county moves by the same amount from our projection. Colours run in 100 steps from a safe Republican to a safe Democratic margin. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

Senate

CandidatePartyVotesShare
Claiborne Pell won Democratic 229,557 75.1%
James Reynolds Republican 76,061 24.9%
Total305,618

Every county

CountyDemocratRepublicanOthersTotalMargin
Providence 145,543 77.7% 41,660 22.3% 187,203 D+55.5
Kent 38,173 73.3% 13,885 26.7% 52,058 D+46.7
Washington 18,759 68.6% 8,601 31.4% 27,360 D+37.1
Newport 16,595 71.2% 6,723 28.8% 23,318 D+42.3
Bristol 10,487 66.9% 5,192 33.1% 15,679 D+33.8

Counties as they stood in 1978; some have since been split, merged or renamed. Margin: the Democrat's share of all votes minus the Republican's. Sources and how the results were checked.

Rhode Island Senate elections we hold

YearWinnerMargin
2024 Sheldon Whitehouse (D) D+20.0
2020 John F Reed (D) D+33.0
2018 Sheldon Whitehouse (D) D+23.1
2014 Jack Reed (D) D+41.3
2012 Sheldon Whitehouse (D) D+29.8
2008 Jack Reed (D) D+46.6
2006 Sheldon Whitehouse (D) D+7.0
2002 Jack Reed (D) D+56.9
2000 Lincoln D. Chafee (R) R+15.7
1996 Jack Reed (D) D+28.4
1994 John H. Chafee (R) R+29.0
1990 Claiborne Pell (D) D+23.7
1988 John Chafee (R) R+9.2
1984 Claiborne Deb. Pell (D) D+45.3
1982 John H. Chafee (R) R+2.4
1978 Claiborne Pell (D) D+50.2
1976 John H. Chafee (R) R+15.7
1972 Claiborne Pell (D) D+8.0
1970 John O. Pastore (D) D+36.1
1966 Claiborne Pell (D) D+35.3
1964 John O. Pastore (D) D+65.5
1960 Claiborne Pell (D) D+37.8
1958 John O. Pastore (D) D+29.0
1954 Theodore F. Green (D) D+18.6
1952 John O. Pastore (D) D+9.6
1948 Theodore F. Green (D) D+18.6
1946 J. Howard McGrath (D) D+10.2
1942 Theodore F. Green (D) D+15.9
1940 Peter G. Gerry (D) D+10.3
1936 Theodore F. Green (D) D+4.2
1934 Peter G. Gerry (D) D+14.3
1930 Jesse H. Metcalf (R) R+1.1
1928 Felix Hebert (R) R+1.3
1924 Jesse H. Metcalf (R) R+15.8
1922 Peter G. Gerry (D) D+8.8
1918 LeBaron B. Colt (R) R+5.5
1916 Peter G. Gerry (D) D+8.8