Rhode Island State Senate elections

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This page displays election information for the Rhode Island State Senate.

Elections

Rhode Island state senators serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Rhode Island holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.

2024

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was September 10, 2024. The filing deadline was June 26, 2024.

Prior to the 2024 elections, Democrats held a 31-5 majority in the Rhode Island State Senate, with two vacant seats. After the 2024 elections, Democrats held a 34-4 majority.

Rhode Island State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	31	34
	Republican Party	5	4
	Vacancy	2	0
Total		38	38

2022

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for September 13, 2022. The filing deadline was July 15, 2022.

In the 2022 elections, Democrats maintained their majority of 33-5 in the Rhode Island State Senate.

Rhode Island State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	33	33
	Republican Party	5	5
Total		38	38

2020

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for September 8, 2020. The filing deadline was June 24, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, Democrats maintained their majority of 33-5 in the Rhode Island State Senate.

Rhode Island State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	33	33
	Republican Party	5	5
Total		38	38

2018

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2018. A hybrid primary election took place on September 12, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was June 27, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Democrats maintained control of the Rhode Island State Senate.

Rhode Island State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	33	33
	Republican Party	4	5
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		38	38

2016

See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 29, 2016. All 38 seats in the Rhode Island State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Democrats held a 32-5 majority with one Independent member. Democrats gained one seat in the election, giving them a 33-5 majority.

Rhode Island State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	32	33
	Republican Party	5	5
	Independent	1	0
Total		38	38

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for the Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 25, 2014. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 32-5 majority with one Independent member. No partisan change occurred in the election. Rhode Island State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 32 32      Republican Party 5 5      Independent 1 1 Total 38 38 2012 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on September 11, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 27, 2012. A total of 38 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 29-8 majority with one Independent member. Democrats gained three seats in the election, giving them a 32-5 majority with one Independent member. Rhode Island State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 29 32      Republican Party 8 5      Independent 1 1 Total 38 38 During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to the 80 Senate candidates was $1,693,685. The top 10 contributors were: 2012 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Lombardo III, Frank $18,100 Rhode Island Democratic Party $17,625 Rhode Island Laborers $16,650 Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers $15,500 Cullen, John J $14,730 Rhode Island Laborers Public Employees $13,325 Jabour, Paul V $12,700 Operating Engineers Local 57 $12,000 Rhode Island Troopers Association $11,450 National Education Association Rhode Island $10,650 The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election. 2012 Margin of Victory, Rhode Island State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 21 Nicholas Kettle 1.5% 13,769 Scott M. Pollard District 34 Catherine Cool Rumsey 10.3% 12,973 Francis Maher, Jr. District 27 Hanna Gallo 13.1% 12,603 Aram G. Garabedian District 35 Dawson Hodgson 16.8% 13,534 Winters B. Hames III District 23 Paul Fogarty 18.2% 12,728 Julian P. Forgue District 22 Stephen R. Archambault 18.2% 12,518 Richard A. Poirier District 19 Ryan William Pearson 19.2% 12,540 Bethany Moura District 36 James Sheehan 20.2% 14,327 Mariacristina C. Mckendall District 17 Edward O'Neill 21.3% 13,232 John J. Cullen District 33 Leonidas Raptakis 23.4% 12,607 Glenford Shibley 2010 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was May 28, 2010. A total of 38 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 33-4 majority with one Independent member. Democrats lost four seats in the election, giving them a 29-8 majority with one Independent member. Rhode Island State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 33 29      Republican Party 4 8      Independent 1 1 Total 38 38 During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to the 98 Senate candidates was $2,009,724. The top 10 contributors were: 2010 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Tassoni Jr, John J $50,000 ONeil, Kevin R $49,166 Assalone, John R $42,617 ONeil, Edward J $35,100 Pinga, Michael J $22,715 Butera Noble, Linda $20,500 Rhode Island Senate Democratic Leadership $18,000 Colaluca, Anthony J $17,903 Ruggerio, Dominik J $17,825 Lanzi, Beatrice A $17,700 2008 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election date on September 9, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. A total of 38 seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total contributions to Senate candidates amounted to $1,783,862. The top 10 contributors were: 2008 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount McKenna, Keven A $47,945 Rhode Island Laborers District Council $38,095 O'Neill, Edward J $25,327 Rhode Island Senate Democratic Leadership $22,709 New England Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners $22,050 Pagliarini Jr, John A $19,250 Rhode Island Troopers Association $17,900 Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers $16,550 National Education Association Rhode Island $13,400 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 51 $13,100 2006 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election date on September 12, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. A total of 38 seats were up for election. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to the 70 Senate candidates was $1,987,554. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Jabour, Paul V $35,314 Maselli, Christopher B $31,500 Rhode Island Laborers $25,000 Senate Democratic Leadership of Rhode Island $24,075 Spillane, Eileen Rice $20,000 Schoos, Geoffrey A $17,907 Rhode Island Laborers Public Employees $14,590 Rhode Island Carpenters $13,800 National Rifle Association $13,050 Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers $12,540 2004 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election date on September 14, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. A total of 38 seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to the 78 Senate candidates was $2,028,107. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Damiani, Michael J $50,000 Senate Democratic Leadership of Rhode Island $29,600 Rhode Island Republican Party $23,771 Cote, David A $21,000 Nocera, Christopher $20,500 Rhode Island Laborers $20,500 Electrical Workers Local 99 $18,475 Sheeler, Carl L $17,692 Sheehan, James C $17,578 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 51 $17,175 2002 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election date on September 10, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. A total of 38 seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to the 71 Senate candidates was $782,693. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Sheehan, James C $28,893 Carlino, Mario G $21,302 Lanzi, Beatrice A $18,341 Blais, Leo R $17,763 Rhode Island Laborers $17,570 Levesque, Charles J $12,000 Gagnon, Paul N $11,388 Ciccone III, Frank A $10,077 Walsh, Donna M $9,261 Brien, Stella G $8,305 2000 See also: Rhode Island State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Rhode Island State Senate consisted of a primary election date on September 12, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. A total of 50 seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to the 74 Senate candidates was $499,599. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, Rhode Island State Senate Donor Amount Sheehan, James C $20,825 Hunter, Brian $11,150 National Rifle Association $10,165 Garabedian, Aram G $10,000 Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers $9,200 Rhode Island Laborers $8,650 Kelly, Paul S $8,450 International Brotherhood of Teamsters $7,660 Montalbano, Joseph $7,545 Senate Democratic Cmte of Rhode Island $7,000

Historical party control

Democrats won control of the Rhode Island State Senate in 1958. In 2024, they won a 34-4 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Rhode Island Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Rhode Island State Senate election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	39	40	41	42	44	32	33	33	33	29	32	32	33	33	33	33	34
Republicans	11	10	9	8	6	6	5	5	4	8	5	5	5	5	5	5	4

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Rhode Island was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: 1992-1994, 2013-2023
• Republican trifecta: None
• Divided government: 1995-2012

Rhode Island Party Control: 1992-2025
Sixteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	I	I	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
House	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Footnotes

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