The 2014 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate from the State of Rhode Island, concurrently with the election of the governor of Rhode Island, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Democratic senator Jack Reed ran for and won reelection to a fourth term in office. Reed won a higher share of the overall vote in his state than any other Democratic Senate candidate or incumbent Democratic United States Senator during the 2014 elections. On the same day that Reed won a fourth term in the United States Senate with more than 70 percent of the vote, national Democrats lost nine seats in the concurrent U.S. Senate elections, thereby costing them control of the chamber.
Background Then-U.S. Representative Jack Reed was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 to succeed retiring Democratic incumbent Claiborne Pell, the longest-serving senator in Rhode Island's history. Reed defeated Treasurer of Rhode Island Nancy Mayer in a landslide and was re-elected by even larger majorities against casino pit manager Robert Tingle in 2002 and 2008.
Rhode Island has elected U.S. Senators into the majority party of the subsequent Congress more than any other state in the nation over the last 100 years at 77 percent of the time.
Democratic primary Candidates Declared Jack Reed, incumbent U.S. Senator
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Declared Mark Zaccaria, former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, former North Kingstown town councilman and nominee for RI-02 in 2008 and 2010
Withdrew Raymond McKay, City of Warwick network administrator, president of the Rhode Island Republican Assembly and nominee for the state senate in 1998 Kara Young, conservative activist and perennial candidate
Declined Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick Brendan Doherty, former superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and nominee for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district in 2012 Allan Fung, Mayor of Cranston (running for Governor)
Primary results
General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014
Polling Poll source JackReed (D) MarkZaccaria (R) Other UndecidedCBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 922 ± 3.4% 63% — 12% 25%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 764 ± 4% 52% 32% 1% 15%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 23–25, 2014 750 ± 4% 61% 26% 0% 13%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 724 ± 4% 64% 22% 0% 14%CBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 866 ± 6% 65% 20% 0% 15%
Poll source JackReed (D) ScottAvedisian (R) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2013 614 ± 4% 60% 30% 10%
Poll source JackReed (D) DonaldCarcieri (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2013 614 ± 4% 66% 25% 9%
Poll source JackReed (D) BrendanDoherty (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2013 614 ± 4% 63% 34% 3%
Poll source JackReed (D) AllanFung (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2013 614 ± 4% 63% 29% 8%
Poll source JackReed (D) CurtSchilling (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling January 28–30, 2013 614 ± 4% 75% 10% 16%
Results
By county Jack ReedDemocratic Mark ZaccariaRepublican Others County Votes % Votes % Votes % Bristol12,85672.1%4,94027.7%290.2% Kent38,32066.0%19,66333.9%800.1% Newport20,53270.7%8,47229.2%330.1% Providence121,09773.3%43,86626.5%5310.2% Washington30,84966.1%15,74233.7%660.1%
See also 2014 United States Senate elections 2014 United States elections 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island 2014 Rhode Island gubernatorial election
References
External links U.S. Senate elections in Rhode Island, 2014 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets Jack Reed for U.S. Senate