2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

The 2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was on November 6, 2012, alongside the presidential election, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.

In the 2006 Senate election, former Attorney General of Rhode Island Sheldon Whitehouse defeated one-term Republican incumbent Lincoln Chafee. Chafee had been appointed to the Senate in 1999 when his father, the incumbent senator John Chafee died. He then won election to a first term in 2000. Whitehouse won 53.52% of the vote in 2006.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was reelected to a second term in a landslide by a 30-point margin of 65% - 35%. This election was the first time since 1970 that the election for Rhode Island's Class 1 Senate seat did not feature a member of the Chafee family.

Democratic primary Candidates

Declared Sheldon Whitehouse, incumbent U.S. Senator

Unsuccessful Todd Giroux, contractor and Independent candidate for governor in 2010

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared Barry Hinckley, president and co-founder of software company Bullhorn

Declined Joseph Almond, Lincoln town administrator Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick Donald Carcieri, former Governor of Rhode Island Giovanni Cicione, former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party Brendan Doherty, former Rhode Island state police superintendent (running for a U.S. House seat) Leo Fontaine, Mayor of Woonsocket Allan Fung, Mayor of Cranston John Robitaille, businessman and nominee for Governor in 2010

Polling Poll source ScottAvedisian DonaldCarcieri BuddyCianci GiovanniCicione AllanFung JohnLoughlin JohnRobitaille CatherineTaylor Other/UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 250 ±6.2% 12% 44% 12% 0% 6% 12% 12% 2% —

Results

Independent

Candidates

Declined Alan Hassenfeld, former Hasbro CEO

General election

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Debates Complete video of debate, October 24, 2012 - YouTube

Polling Poll source Sheldon BarryHinckley (R) Other UndecidedFleming & AssociatesFleming & Associates February 20–23, 2012 511 ±4.38% 50% 28% — 20%Fleming & AssociatesFleming & Associates September 26–29, 2012 501 ±4.38% 56% 30% — 11%Brown UniversityBrown University September 26 – October 5, 2012 471 ±4.4% 59% 30% — 12%McLaughlin and AssociatesMcLaughlin and Associates October 11, 2012 300 ±5.6% 49% 41% — 10%Fleming & AssociatesFleming & Associates October 24–27, 2012 601 ±4% 55% 33% — 10%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) ScottAvedisian (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 47% 37% — 16%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) DonaldCarcieri (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 54% 37% — 8%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) DonaldCarcieri (R) BuddyCianci (I) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 43% 31% 22% — 4%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) BuddyCianci (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 51% 35% — 14%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) JohnLoughlin (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 51% 34% — 15%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) JohnRobitaille (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 49% 38% — 13%

Poll source SheldonWhitehouse (D) JohnRobitaille (R) BuddyCianci (I) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 544 ±4.2% 44% 28% 24% — 4%

Results

By county Sheldon WhitehouseDemocratic Barry HinckleyRepublican Others County Votes % Votes % Votes % Bristol14,55663.4%8,39036.5%320.1% Kent44,33259.3%30,21740.4%1700.2% Newport22,77461.5%14,22438.4%500.1% Providence154,12368.9%69,13630.9%5490.2% Washington35,00659.0%24,20940.8%1310.2%

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bristol (largest municipality: Bristol) Kent (largest city: Warwick) Newport (largest municipality: Newport) Washington (largest municipality: South Kingstown)

By congressional district Whitehouse won both congressional districts.

District Whitehouse Hinckley Representative 68.5% 31.5%David Cicilline 61.71% 38.29%James Langevin

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island

References

External links Rhode Island Board of Elections Candidate issue positions at OnTheIssues Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation

Official campaign websites (Archived) Barry Hinckley for U.S. Senate Sheldon Whitehouse for U.S. Senate