Political party strength in Rhode Island

The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Rhode Island:

The table also indicates the historical party composition in the:

For years in which a presidential election was held, the table indicates which party's candidate received the state's electoral votes.

For a particular year, the noted partisan composition is that which either took office during that year or which maintained the office throughout the entire year. Only changes made outside of regularly scheduled elections are noted as affecting the partisan composition during a particular year. Shading is determined by the final result of any mid-cycle changes in partisan affiliation.

YearExecutive officesState LegislatureUnited States CongressElectoral
votes
GovernorLieutenant
Governor
Secretary
of State
Attorney
General
TreasurerState SenateState HouseU.S. Senator
(Class I)
U.S. Senator
(Class II)
U.S. House
(District 1)
U.S. House
(District 2)
1775Nicholas Cooke (I)William Bradford (F)Henry WardHenry Marchant (I)Joseph Clarke (AA)[a][?][?]no electionnone
1776
1777William Channing (C)
1778William Greene (I)Jabez Bowen (F)
1779
1780William West (C)
1781Jabez Bowen (F)
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786John Collins (DR)Daniel Owen (PA)
1787Henry Goodwin (C)
1788
1789David Howell (PA)
1790Arthur Fenner (C)Samuel J. Potter (C)Daniel UpdikeTheodore Foster (PA)Joseph Stanton Jr. (AA)Benjamin Bourne (PA)
1791William Channing (C)
1792Washington/
Adams (I) Green tickY
1793Henry Sherburne (F)William Bradford (PA)Benjamin Bourne (PA)Francis Malbone (PA)
1794Ray Greene (F)
1795Theodore Foster (F)William Bradford (F)Benjamin Bourne (F)Francis Malbone (F)
1796Elisha Reynolds Potter (F)Adams/
Pinckney (F) Green tickY
1797James Burrill Jr. (F)Ray Greene (F)Thomas Tillinghast (F)Christopher G. Champlin (F)
1798Samuel Eddy (DR)
1799George BrownJohn Brown (F)
1800Samuel J. Potter (DR)Adams/
Pinckney (F) Red XN
180110DR48DR, 22FChristopher Ellery (DR)Thomas Tillinghast (DR)Joseph Stanton Jr. (DR)
1802DR majorityDR majority
1803Paul Mumford (I)DR majority50DR, 20FSamuel J. Potter (DR)Nehemiah Knight (DR)
180410DR54DR, 16FBenjamin Howland (DR)Jefferson/
G. Clinton (DR) Green tickY
1805Henry Smith (C)48DR, 22FJames Fenner (DR)
46DR, 24F
1806Isaac Wilbour (C)vacantDR majority54DR, 16F
46DR, 24F
1807James Fenner (DR)Constant Taber (DR)F majority[b]F majority[b]Elisha Mathewson (DR)Richard Jackson Jr. (F)Isaac Wilbour (DR)
1808Simeon MartinConstant Taber (DR)10F[b]38F, 34DRPinckney/
King (F) Red XN
40F, 32DR
18098F, 2DR47F, 25DRFrancis Malbone (F)Elisha Reynolds Potter (F)
40F, 32DR
1810Isaac Wilbour (DR)DR majority38DR, 34FChristopher G. Champlin (F)
38F, 34DR
1811William Jones (F)Simeon MartinWilliam Ennis (F)10F40F, 32DR
181240F, 32DRWilliam Hunter (F)Jeremiah B. Howell (DR)D. Clinton/
Ingersoll (F) Red XN
1813F majorityF majority
1814Samuel W. Bridgham (F)F majority49F, 23DR
181510F47F, 25DRJohn Linscom Boss Jr. (F)James Brown Mason (F)
1816Jeremiah Thurston (F)48F, 24DRMonroe/
Tompkins (DR) Green tickY
1817Nehemiah R. Knight (DR)Edward Wilcox (DR)Henry Bowen (DR)Thomas G. Pitman (D)10DR49F, 23DR
39F, 33DR
181837DR, 35FJames Burrill Jr. (F)
1819Henry Bowen (W)Dutee Jerauld Pearce (DR)40DR, 32FSamuel Eddy (DR)Nathaniel Hazard (DR)
1820DR majority48DR, 24F
1821William C. Gibbs (DR)Caleb Earle (DR)DR majorityDR majorityJames DeWolf (DR)Nehemiah R. Knight (DR)Job Durfee (DR)
F majority
1822DR majority36DR, 36F[c]
F majority
1823DR majorityF majority
1824James Fenner (DR)Charles Collins (DR)NR majorityNR majorityAdams/
Calhoun (DR) Green tickY
1825Albert C. Greene (W)NR majorityNR majorityJames DeWolf (NR)Nehemiah R. Knight (NR)Tristam Burges (NR)Dutee Jerauld Pearce (NR)
Asher Robbins (NR)
1826NR majorityNR majority
1827NR majorityNR majority
1828NR majorityNR majorityAdams/
Rush (NR) Red XN
1829NR majorityNR majority
1830NR majorityNR majority
1831Lemuel H. Arnold (W)10NR44NR, 26J, 2?
18326NR, 4 vac.NR majorityClay/
Sergeant (NR) Red XN
A-M/D coalition
1833John Brown Francis (D)Jeffrey Hazard (D)8D, 2NRA-M/D coalition[d]Dutee Jerauld Pearce (A-M)
18348D, 1W, 1 vac.39W, 28D, 1A-M, 4?
39W, 20D, 5A-M, 8?
1835George Engs (W)4W, 4D, 2 vac.37W, 35DWilliam Sprague III (A-M)
1836Jeffrey Hazard (D)10D33W, 31D, 8?Van Buren/
Johnson (D) Green tickY
40D, 32W
1837Benjamin Babock Thurston (D)D majorityAsher Robbins (W)Nehemiah R. Knight (W)Robert B. Cranston (W)Joseph L. Tillinghast (W)
W majority
1838William Sprague III (D)Joseph Childs (W)10W44W, 28D
45W, 27D
1839Samuel Ward King (LO)John Sterne (W)40W, 32DNathan F. Dixon I (W)
45W, 26D, 1?
1840Byron Diman (LO)Stephen Cahoone (LO)52W, 20DHarrison/
Tyler (W) Green tickY
48W, 24D
184155W, 17DJames F. Simmons (W)
1842Thomas Wilson Dorr (Reb)[e]Nathaniel Bullock (D)10LO62LO, 10D[f]
1843James Fenner (LO)Byron Diman (LO)Joseph Blake (LO)24LO, 7D50W, 19D[g]William Sprague III (W)Henry Y. Cranston (LO)Elisha R. Potter (LO)
184424W, 7D56W, 13DClay/
Frelinghuysen (W) Red XN
1845Charles Jackson (W/Lib)21W, 10D42W, 27DJohn Brown Francis (LO)Henry Y. Cranston (W)Lemuel H. Arnold (W)
1846Byron Diman (LO)Elisha Harris (W)20W, 11Lib[h]44W, 25Lib[h]Albert C. Greene (W)
1847Elisha Harris (W)Edward W. Lawton (W)22W, 7D, 2 vac.48W, 20D, 1?John Hopkins Clarke (W)Robert B. Cranston (W)Benjamin Babock Thurston (D)
184820W, 11D43W, 26DTaylor/
Fillmore (W) Green tickY
1849Henry B. Anthony (W)Thomas Whipple (W)Christopher E. Robbins (W)19W, 11D, 1FS43W, 23D, 1FS, 2 vac.George Gordon King (W)Nathan F. Dixon II (W)
185019W, 12D45W, 24D
1851Philip Allen (D)[i]William Beach Lawrence (D)Asa Potter (D)Walter S. Burges (D)Edwin Wilbur (D)17D, 14W37W, 35DCharles Tillinghast James (D)Benjamin Babock Thurston (D)
1852Samuel G. Arnold (D)17W, 14D40W, 30DPierce/
King (D) Green tickY
1853Francis M. Dimond (D)17D, 14W46D, 26WPhilip Allen (D)Thomas Davis (D)
1854William W. Hoppin (W)John J. Reynolds (W)William R. Watson (W)Christopher Robinson (W)Samuel B. Vernon (W)18W, 13D41W, 31D
1855Anderson C. Rose (KN)John Russell Bartlett (R)Charles Hart (R)Samuel A. Parker (R)29KN, 2D69KN, 3DNathan B. Durfee (KN)Benjamin Babock Thurston (KN)
1856Nicholas Brown III (KN)23R, 8D55R, 17DFrémont/
Dayton (R) Red XN
1857Elisha Dyer (R)Thomas Turner (R)29R, 3D65R, 7DJames F. Simmons (R)Nathan B. Durfee (R)William Daniel Brayton (R)
1858Jerome Kimball (R)30R, 2D67R, 4D, 1?
1859Thomas G. Turner (R)Isaac Saunders (KN)27R, 5D62R, 9D, 1?Henry B. Anthony (R)Christopher Robinson (R)
1860William Sprague IV (U)J. Russell Bullock (U)Walter S. Burges (D)17R, 15U42U, 29R, 1?Lincoln/
Hamlin (R) Green tickY
1861Samuel G. Arnold (U)18U, 14R47U, 25RWilliam Paine Sheffield Sr. (U)George H. Browne (CU)
186219U, 12R, 1?
1863William C. Cozzens (D)Seth Padelford (R)Abraham Payne (R)22R, 11U50U, 22RSamuel G. Arnold (R)Thomas Jenckes (R)Nathan F. Dixon II (R)
1864James Y. Smith (R)Horatio Rogers Jr. (R)21R, 12D54R, 18DWilliam Sprague IV (R)Lincoln/
Johnson (NU) Green tickY
1865Duncan Pell (D)23R, 9D, 1?
1866Ambrose Burnside (R)William Greene (R)George W. Tew (R)28R, 5D65R, 7D
1867Willard Sayles (R)28R, 6D
1868Pardon StevensSamuel A. Parker (R)29R, 5DGrant/
Colfax (R) Green tickY
1869Seth Padelford (R)27R, 6D, 1?61R, 11D
187025R, 9D54R, 18D
187127R, 9D55R, 17DBenjamin T. Eames (R)James M. Pendleton (R)
1872Charles Cutler (D)Joshua M. Addeman (R)Samuel Clark (R)26R, 10D56R, 16DGrant/
Wilson (R) Green tickY
1873Henry Howard (R)Charles C. Van Zandt (R)25R, 11D
187428R, 8D55R, 17D
1875Henry Lippitt (R)Henry Tillinghast Sisson (R)26R, 10D59R, 13DAmbrose Burnside (R)Latimer Whipple Ballou (R)
187662R, 10DHayes/
Wheeler (R) Green tickY
1877Charles C. Van Zandt (R)Albert Howard (Proh)28R, 8D54R, 18D
187825R, 11D55R, 17D
187928R, 8D54R, 18DNelson W. Aldrich (R)
1880Alfred H. Littlefield (R)Henry Fay (R)27R, 9D60R, 12DGarfield/
Arthur (R) Green tickY
188128R, 8D64R, 8DNelson W. Aldrich (R)Jonathan Chace (R)
1882Samuel P. Colt (R)34R, 3D65R, 7DHenry J. Spooner (R)
1883Augustus O. Bourn (R)Oscar Rathbun (R)55R, 17D
188428R, 8D57R, 15DWilliam Paine Sheffield Sr. (R)Blaine/
Logan (R) Red XN
1885George P. Wetmore (R)Lucius B. Darling (R)29R, 7D64R, 7D, 1ProhJonathan Chace (R)Nathan F. Dixon III (R)
1886Edwin Metcalf (Proh)29R, 6D, 1Proh65R, 6D, 1ProhWilliam A. Pirce (R)
1887John W. Davis (D)Samuel R. Honey (D)Edwin D. McGuinness (D)Ziba O. Slocum (D)John G. Perry (D)20R, 16D40D, 30R, 2ProhCharles H. Page (D)
1888Royal C. Taft (R)Enos Lapham (R)Samuel H. CrossHoratio Rogers Jr. (R)Samuel Clark (R)31R, 5D60R, 11D, 1ProhWarren O. Arnold (R)Harrison/
Morton (R) Green tickY
1889Herbert W. Ladd (R)Daniel Littlefield (R)Ziba O. Slocum (D)25R, 11D39D, 33RNathan F. Dixon III (R)
1890John W. Davis (D)William Wardwell (D)Edwin D. McGuinness (D)John G. Perry (D)23R, 13D43D, 29R
1891Herbert W. Ladd (R)Henry A. Stearns (R)George H. Utter (R)Robert W. Burbank (R)Samuel Clark (R)[a]27R, 9D51R, 21DOscar Lapham (D)
1892Daniel Russell Brown (R)Melville Bull (R)43R, 29DCharles H. Page (D)Harrison/
Reid (R) Red XN
189322R, 14D40D, 32R
1894Edwin Allen (R)Charles P. Bennett (R)Edward C. Dubois (R)34R, 2D69R, 3DWarren O. Arnold (R)
1895Charles W. Lippitt (R)34R, 3D66R, 6DGeorge P. Wetmore (R)Melville Bull (R)
189635R, 2D68R, 4DMcKinley/
Hobart (R) Green tickY
1897Elisha Dyer Jr. (R)Aram J. Pothier (R)Willard B. Tanner (R)33R, 4D53R, 19D
1898William Gregory (R)Clinton D. Sellew (R)65R, 7DAdin B. Capron (R)
Walter A. Read (R)[a]
189931R, 6D58R, 13D, 1Proh
1900William Gregory (R)[a]Charles D. Kimball (R)34R, 3D[j]60R, 12D[j]McKinley/
Roosevelt (R) Green tickY
1901
1902Charles D. Kimball (R)[k]George L. Shepley (R)Charles F. Stearns (R)30R, 8D53R, 18D, 1I
1903Lucius F. C. Garvin (D)Adelard Archambault (D)27R, 11D37R, 35DDaniel L. D. Granger (D)
1904George H. Utter (R)27R, 10D, 1I39R, 32D, 1IRoosevelt/
Fairbanks (R) Green tickY
1905George H. Utter (R)Frederick H. Jackson (R)William B. Greenough (R)30R, 7D, 1I62R, 8D, 2I
190633R, 5D60R, 12D
1907James H. Higgins (D)29R, 8D, 1Cit37R, 34D, 1I
1908Ralph Watrous (R)26R, 11D, 1Cit42R, 29D, 1CitTaft/
Sherman (R) Green tickY
1909Aram J. Pothier (R)Arthur Dennis (R)31R, 6D, 1Cit64R, 6D, 1Cit, 1ProhWilliam Paine Sheffield Jr. (R)
1910Zenas W. Bliss (R)J. Fred Parker (R)29R, 6D, 3Cit64R, 6D, 2Cit
191125R, 13D62R, 38DHenry F. Lippitt (R)George F. O'Shaunessy (D)George H. Utter (R)
1912Herbert A. Rice (R)33R, 5D71R, 28D, 1SocWilson/
Marshall (D) Green tickY
1913Roswell Burchard (R)28R, 10D54R, 45D, 1Prog2D, 1R
1914LeBaron B. Colt (R)
1915Robert Livingston Beeckman (R)Emery J. San Souci (R)35R, 3D, 1I70R, 29D, 1Prog2R, 1D
1916Hughes/
Fairbanks (R) Red XN
191725R, 13D, 1I65R, 34D, 1PgPeter G. Gerry (D)
1918
1919Richard W. Jennings (R)31R, 8D67R, 33D3R
1920Harding/
Coolidge (R) Green tickY
1921Emery J. San Souci (R)Harold Gross (R)32R, 6D, 1Cit75R, 23D, 1I, 1?
1922
1923William S. Flynn (D)Felix Toupin (D)Herbert L. Carpenter (D)Adolphus C. Knowles (R)20R, 16D, 3I50R, 48D, 2DI2R, 1D
1924Ernest L. Sprague (R)Jesse H. Metcalf (R)Coolidge/
Dawes (R) Green tickY
1925Aram J. Pothier (R)[a]Nathaniel W. Smith (R)Charles P. Sisson (R)[l]Richard W. Jennings (R)33R, 6D67R, 33D
1926
1927Norman S. Case (R)[k]George C. Clark (R)34R, 5D75R, 25D3R
1928Norman S. Case (R)[k]vacantSmith/
Robinson (D) Red XN
1929James G. Connelly (R)Oscar L. Heltzen (R)[m]29R, 10D61R, 39DFelix Hebert (R)2R, 1D
1930
1931Benjamin M. McLyman (R)31R, 11D62R, 38D
1932Roosevelt/
Garner (D) Green tickY
1933Theodore F. Green (D)Robert E. Quinn (D)Louis W. Cappelli (D)John Patrick Hartigan (D)Antonio Prince (D)[n]27R, 15D51R, 49DFrancis Condon (D)John Matthew O'Connell (D)
1934
193522D, 20R57D, 43RPeter G. Gerry (D)Charles Risk (R)
1936Percival de St. Aubin (R)
1937Robert E. Quinn (D)Raymond E. Jordan (D)Henri A. Roberge (D)27R, 15D54D, 46RTheodore F. Green (D)Aime Forand (D)
1938
1939William Vanderbilt (R)James O. McManus (R)J. Hector Paquin (R)Louis V. Jackvony (R)Thomas P. Hazard (R)34R, 10D61R, 39DCharles Risk (R)Harry Sandager (R)
1940Roosevelt/
Wallace (D) Green tickY
1941J. Howard McGrath (D)[o]Louis W. Cappelli (D)Armand H. Cote (D)John H. Nolan (D)Russell H. Handy (D)25R, 19D59D, 41RAime Forand (D)John E. Fogarty (D)
1942
194326R, 18D58D, 42R
1944Roosevelt/
Truman (D) Green tickY
1945John Pastore (D)24R, 20D67D, 33R
1946John Pastore (D)[k][p]vacant
1947John S. McKiernan (D)28R, 16D56D, 44RJ. Howard McGrath (D)
1948Truman/
Barkley (D) Green tickY
1949William E. Powers (D)Raymond Hawksley (D)22R, 22D64D, 36REdward L. Leahy (D)
1950
John S. McKiernan (D)
1951Dennis J. Roberts (D)23R, 21D67D, 33RJohn Pastore (D)
1952Eisenhower/
Nixon (R) Green tickY
195326R, 18D58D, 42R
1954
195522R, 22D67D, 33R
1956
1957Armand H. Cote (D)John A. Notte Jr. (D)25R, 19D64D, 36R
1958
1959Christopher Del Sesto (R)John A. Notte Jr. (D)August P. LaFrance (D)J. Joseph Nugent (D)23D, 21R71D, 29R
1960Kennedy/
Johnson (D) Green tickY
1961John A. Notte Jr. (D)Edward P. Gallogly (D)28D, 16R80D, 20RClaiborne Pell (D)Fernand St Germain (D)
1962
1963John Chafee (R)27D, 19R74D, 26R
1964Johnson/
Humphrey (D) Green tickY
1965Giovanni Folcarelli (D)30D, 15R, 1I76D, 24R
1966
1967Joseph O'Donnell Jr. (R)Herbert F. DeSimone (R)35D, 15R67D, 33RRobert Tiernan (D)
1968Humphrey/
Muskie (D) Red XN
1969Frank Licht (D)J. Joseph Garrahy (D)37D, 13R76D, 24R
1970
1971Richard J. Israel (R)41D, 9R75D, 24R, 1I
1972Nixon/
Agnew (R) Green tickY
1973Philip Noel (D)Robert F. Burns (D)37D, 13R75D, 25R
1974
1975Julius C. Michaelson (D)46D, 4R86D, 14REdward Beard (D)
1976Carter/
Mondale (D) Green tickY
1977J. Joseph Garrahy (D)Thomas R. DiLuglio (D)Anthony J. Solomon (D)45D, 5R83D, 17RJohn Chafee (R)
1978
1979Dennis J. Roberts II (D)84D, 16R
1980Carter/
Mondale (D) Red XN
198143D, 7R82D, 18RClaudine Schneider (R)
1982
1983Susan Farmer (R)86D, 14R
198429D, 21R[q]Reagan/
Bush (R) Green tickY
1985Edward D. DiPrete (R)Richard A. Licht (D)Arlene Violet (R)Roger N. Begin (D)36D, 14R76D, 23R, 1I
1986
1987Kathleen S. Connell (D)James E. O'Neil (D)38D, 12R80D, 20R
1988Dukakis/
Bentsen (D) Red XN
1989Roger N. Begin (D)Anthony J. Solomon (D)41D, 9R86D, 14RRonald Machtley (R)
1990
1991Bruce Sundlun (D)45D, 5R89D, 11RJack Reed (D)
1992Clinton/
Gore (D) Green tickY
1993Robert Weygand (D)Barbara Leonard (R)Jeffrey B. Pine (R)Nancy Mayer (R)39D, 11R85D, 15R
1994
1995Lincoln Almond (R)James Langevin (D)40D, 10R84D, 16RPatrick J. Kennedy (D)
1996
1997Bernard Jackvony (R)41D, 9RJack Reed (D)Robert Weygand (D)
1998
1999Charles Fogarty (D)Sheldon Whitehouse (D)Paul J. Tavares (D)42D, 8R86D, 13R, 1I
2000Lincoln Chafee (R)[r]Gore/
Lieberman (D) Red XN
2001Ed Inman (I)44D, 6R85D, 15RJames Langevin (D)
2002
2003Donald Carcieri (R)Matt Brown (D)Patrick Lynch (D)32D, 6R63D, 11R, 1I
2004Kerry/
Edwards (D) Red XN
200533D, 5R59D, 16R
2006
2007Elizabeth H. Roberts (D)Ralph Mollis (D)Frank T. Caprio (D)60D, 15RSheldon Whitehouse (D)
2008Obama/
Biden (D) Green tickY
200933D, 4R, 1I69D, 6R
2010
2011Lincoln Chafee (I)Peter Kilmartin (D)Gina Raimondo (D)29D, 8R, 1I65D, 10RDavid Cicilline (D)
201265D, 9R, 1L[s]
201332D, 5R, 1I69D, 6R
Lincoln Chafee (D)
2014
2015Gina Raimondo (D)Dan McKee (D)Nellie Gorbea (D)Seth Magaziner (D)63D, 11R, 1I
201662D, 12R, 1I[t]Clinton/
Kaine (D) Red XN
201733D, 5R64D, 11R[u]
2018
2019Peter Neronha (D)66D, 9R
2020Biden/
Harris (D) Green tickY
202165D, 10R
Dan McKee (D)[k]Sabina Matos (D)[m]
2022
2023Gregg Amore (D)James Diossa (D)65D, 9R, 1ISeth Magaziner (D)
2024Gabe Amo (D)[to be determined]
YearGovernorLieutenant
Governor
Secretary
of State
Attorney
General
TreasurerState SenateState HouseU.S. Senator
(Class I)
U.S. Senator
(Class II)
U.S. House
(District 1)
U.S. House
(District 2)
Electoral
votes
Executive officesState LegislatureUnited States Congress
Key to party colors and abbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress and other politicians or officials
Alaskan Independence (AKIP)
American (Know Nothing) (KN)
American Labor (AL)
Anti-Jacksonian (Anti-J)
National Republican (NR)
Anti-Administration (AA)
Anti-Masonic (Anti-M)
Conservative (Con)
Covenant (Cov)
Democratic (D)
Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL)
Dixiecrat (Dix),
States' Rights (SR)
Democratic-Republican (DR)
Farmer–Labor (FL)
Federalist (F)
Pro-Administration (PA)
Free Soil (FS)
Fusion (Fus)
Greenback (GB)
Independence (IPM)
Independent Democrat (ID)
Independent Republican (IR)
Jacksonian (J)
Liberal (Lib)
Libertarian (L)
National Union (NU)
Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Democratic–Nonpartisan
League (D-NPL)
Nullifier (N)
Opposition Northern (O)
Opposition Southern (O)
Populist (Pop)
Progressive (Prog)
Prohibition (Proh)
Readjuster (Rea)
Republican (R)
Silver (Sv)
Silver Republican (SvR)
Socialist (Soc)
Union (U)
Unconditional Union (UU)
Vermont Progressive (VP)
Whig (W)
Independent (I)
Nonpartisan (NP)

References

See also