Rhode Island ratified the United States Constitution on May 29, 1790 and elects its U.S. senators to class 1 and class 2. The state's current U.S. senators are Democrats Jack Reed (since 1997) and Sheldon Whitehouse (since 2007). Claiborne Pell was Rhode Island's longest-serving senator (1961–1997).
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=11 | 1| rowspan=11 align=left |
Theodore Foster| rowspan=3 | Pro-
Admin.| rowspan=11 nowrap | Jun 7, 1790 –
Mar 3, 1803| Elected in 1790.| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1790.| rowspan=2 nowrap | Jun 7, 1790 –
Mar 3, 1793| rowspan=2 | Anti-Admin.| rowspan=2 align=right | Joseph Stanton Jr.! rowspan=2 | 1
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1791.| rowspan=3 | 2|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 2| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1793.Resigned.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1793 –
Oct 1797| | Pro-Admin.| rowspan=3 align=right | William Bradford! rowspan=3 | 2
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=8 | Federalist| | rowspan=2 | Federalist
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=7 | Re-elected in 1797.Retired.| rowspan=7 | 3| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Oct 1797 –
Nov 13, 1797| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=1 | Elected in 1797 to finish Bradford's term.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Nov 13, 1797 –
Mar 5, 1801| rowspan=3 | Federalist| rowspan=3 align=right |
Ray Greene! rowspan=3 | 3
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=7 | 3| rowspan=2 | Re-elected in 1798.Resigned.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Mar 5, 1801 –
May 6, 1801| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | Elected in 1801 to finish Greene's term.Lost re-election.| rowspan=4 nowrap | May 6, 1801 –
Mar 3, 1805| rowspan=4 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=4 align=right |
Christopher Ellery! rowspan=4 | 4
|- style="height:2em"! 2| align=left | Samuel J. Potter| | Democratic-
Republican| nowrap | Mar 4, 1803 –
Oct 14, 1804| Elected in 1802.Died.| rowspan=7 | 4| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Oct 14, 1804 –
Oct 29, 1804|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=5 | 3| rowspan=5 align=left | Benjamin Howland| rowspan=5 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=5 nowrap | Oct 29, 1804 –
Mar 3, 1809| rowspan=5 | Elected in 1804 to finish Potter's term.Retired.
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=7 | 4| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1804.Resigned.| rowspan=2 nowrap | Mar 4, 1805 –
Sep 1807| rowspan=2 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=2 align=right |
James Fenner! rowspan=2 | 5
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Sep 1807 –
Oct 26, 1807| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | Elected to finish Fenner's term.| rowspan=4 nowrap | Oct 26, 1807 –
Mar 3, 1811| rowspan=4 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=4 align=right |
Elisha Mathewson! rowspan=4 | 6
|- style="height:2em"! 4| align=left | Francis Malbone| | Federalist| nowrap | Mar 4, 1809 –
Jun 4, 1809| Elected in 1808.[1] Died.| rowspan=7 | 5| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Jun 4, 1809 –
Jun 26, 1809|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=2 | 5| rowspan=2 align=left |
Christopher G. Champlin| rowspan=2 | Federalist| rowspan=2 nowrap | Jun 26, 1809 –
Oct 12, 1811| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1809 to finish Malbone's term.Resigned.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | rowspan=5 | 5| rowspan=5 | Elected in 1810.Retired.| rowspan=5 nowrap | Mar 4, 1811 –
Mar 3, 1817| rowspan=5 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=5 align=right |
Jeremiah B. Howell! rowspan=5 | 7
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Oct 12, 1811 –
Oct 28, 1811|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=7 | 6| rowspan=7 align=left |
William Hunter| rowspan=7 | Federalist| rowspan=7 nowrap | Oct 28, 1811 –
Mar 3, 1821| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1811 to finish Malbone's term.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=5 | Re-elected in 1814.| rowspan=5 | 6|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 6| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1816.Died.| rowspan=2 nowrap | Mar 4, 1817 –
Dec 25, 1820| rowspan=2 | Federalist| rowspan=2 align=right |
James Burrill Jr.! rowspan=2 | 8
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Dec 25, 1820 –
Jan 9, 1821| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1821 to finish Burrill's term.| rowspan=12 nowrap | Jan 9, 1821 –
Mar 3, 1841| rowspan=3 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=12 align=right |
Nehemiah R. Knight! rowspan=12 | 9
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=3 | 7| rowspan=3 align=left |
James DeWolf| rowspan=2 | Democratic-
Republican| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1821 –
Oct 31, 1825| rowspan=3 | Election date unknown.Resigned.| rowspan=4 | 7|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=4 | 7| rowspan=4 | Re-elected in 1823.
|- style="height:2em"| | National
Republican| rowspan=2 | rowspan=7 | National
Republican
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=7 | 8| rowspan=7 align=left |
Asher Robbins| rowspan=6 | National
Republican| rowspan=7 nowrap | Oct 31, 1825 –
Mar 3, 1839| Elected in 1825 to finish DeWolf's term.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1827.| rowspan=3 | 8|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 8| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1829.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1833.| rowspan=3 | 9|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 9| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1835.
|- style="height:2em"| | Whig| | rowspan=2 | Whig
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=2 | 9| rowspan=2 align=left |
Nathan F. Dixon I| rowspan=2 | Whig| rowspan=2 nowrap | Mar 4, 1839 –
Jan 29, 1842| rowspan=2 | Election date unknown.Died.| rowspan=7 | 10|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | rowspan=7 | 10| rowspan=7 | Elected in 1841.Lost re-election.| rowspan=7 nowrap | Mar 4, 1841 –
Mar 3, 1847| rowspan=7 | Whig| rowspan=7 align=right |
James F. Simmons! rowspan=7 | 10
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Jan 29, 1842 –
Feb 18, 1842|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=2 | 10| rowspan=2 align=left |
William Sprague III| rowspan=2 | Whig| rowspan=2 nowrap | Feb 18, 1842 –
Jan 17, 1844| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1842 to finish Dixon's term.Resigned.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Jan 17, 1844 –
Jan 25, 1844|
|- style="height:2em"! 11| align=left |
John Brown Francis| | Law and Order| nowrap | Jan 25, 1844 –
Mar 3, 1845| Elected in 1844 to finish Sprague's term.Retired.
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=3 | 12| rowspan=3 align=left |
Albert C. Greene| rowspan=3 | Whig| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1845 –
Mar 3, 1851| rowspan=3 | Election date unknown.Retired.| rowspan=3 | 11|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 11| rowspan=3 | Election date unknown.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1847 –
Mar 3, 1853| rowspan=3 | Whig| rowspan=3 align=right |
John Hopkins Clarke! rowspan=3 | 11
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=4 | 13| rowspan=4 align=left |
Charles T. James| rowspan=4 | Democratic| rowspan=4 nowrap | Mar 4, 1851 –
Mar 3, 1857| rowspan=4 | Election date unknown.Retired.| rowspan=4 | 12|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2 | rowspan=4 | 12| | nowrap | Mar 4, 1853 –
Jul 20, 1853| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected late.Retired.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Jul 20, 1853 –
Mar 3, 1859| rowspan=3 | Democratic| rowspan=3 align=right |
Philip Allen! rowspan=3 | 12
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=3 | 14| rowspan=3 align=left |
James F. Simmons| rowspan=3 | Republican| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1857 –
Aug 15, 1862| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1856.Resigned.| rowspan=5 | 13|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 13| rowspan=5 | Elected in 1858.| rowspan=17 nowrap | Mar 4, 1859 –
Sep 2, 1884| rowspan=17 | Republican| rowspan=17 align=right |
Henry B. Anthony! rowspan=17 | 13
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Aug 15, 1862 –
Dec 1, 1862|
|- style="height:2em"! 15| align=left |
Samuel G. Arnold| | Republican| nowrap | Dec 1, 1862 –
Mar 3, 1863| Elected in 1862 to finish Simmons's term.
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=6 | 16| rowspan=6 align=left |
William Sprague IV| rowspan=6 | Republican| rowspan=6 nowrap | Mar 4, 1863 –
Mar 3, 1875| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1862.| rowspan=3 | 14|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 14| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1864.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1868.Retired.| rowspan=3 | 15|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 15| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1870.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=4 | 17| rowspan=4 align=left |
Ambrose Burnside| rowspan=4 | Republican| rowspan=4 nowrap | Mar 4, 1875 –
Sep 13, 1881| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1874.| rowspan=3 | 16|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 16| rowspan=5 | Re-elected in 1876.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| Re-elected in 1880.Died.| rowspan=8 | 17| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Sep 13, 1881 –
Oct 5, 1881|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=20 | 18| rowspan=20 align=left |
Nelson W. Aldrich| rowspan=20 | Republican| rowspan=20 nowrap | Oct 5, 1881 –
Mar 3, 1911| rowspan=6 | Elected in 1881 to finish Burnside's term.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | rowspan=6 | 17| Re-elected in 1882.Died.
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Sep 2, 1884 –
Nov 19, 1884| colspan=3 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| Appointed to continue Anthony's term.| nowrap | Nov 19, 1884 –
Jan 20, 1885| | Republican| align=right |
William P. Sheffield! 14
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1885 to finish Anthony's term.| rowspan=4 nowrap | Jan 20, 1885 –
Apr 9, 1889| rowspan=4 | Republican| rowspan=4 align=right |
Jonathan Chace! rowspan=4 | 15
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | Re-elected in 1886.| rowspan=4 | 18|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2 | rowspan=4 | 18| Re-elected in 1888.Resigned.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1889 to finish Chace's term.Retired.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Apr 10, 1889 –
Mar 3, 1895| rowspan=3 | Republican| rowspan=3 align=right |
Nathan F. Dixon III! rowspan=3 | 16
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1892.| rowspan=3 | 19|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 19| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1894.| rowspan=6 nowrap | Mar 4, 1895 –
Mar 3, 1907| rowspan=6 | Republican| rowspan=6 align=right |
George P. Wetmore! rowspan=10 | 17
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1898.| rowspan=3 | 20|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 20| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1900.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | Re-elected Jan 18, 1905.[2] Retired.| rowspan=4 | 21|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2 | rowspan=4 | 21| Legislature failed to elect.| nowrap | Mar 4, 1907 –
Jan 22, 1908| colspan=2 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1908 to finish the vacant term.Retired.| rowspan=3 nowrap | Jan 22, 1908–
Mar 3, 1913| rowspan=3 | Republican| rowspan=3 align=right |
George P. Wetmore
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=3 | 19| rowspan=3 align=left |
Henry F. Lippitt| rowspan=3 | Republican| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1911 –
Mar 3, 1917| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1910.Lost re-election.| rowspan=3 | 22|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 22| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1913.| rowspan=6 nowrap | Mar 4, 1913 –
Aug 18, 1924| rowspan=6 | Republican| rowspan=6 align=right |
LeBaron Bradford Colt! rowspan=6 | 18
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=8 | 20| rowspan=8 align=left |
Peter G. Gerry| rowspan=8 | Democratic| rowspan=8 nowrap | Mar 4, 1917 –
Mar 3, 1929| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1916.| rowspan=3 | 23|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 23| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1918.Died.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=5 | Re-elected in 1922.Lost re-election.| rowspan=5 | 24| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| | nowrap | Aug 18, 1924 –
Nov 4, 1924| colspan=7 | Vacant
|- style="height:2em"| Elected in 1924 to finish Colt's term.| rowspan=7 nowrap | Nov 4, 1924 –
Jan 3, 1937| rowspan=7 | Republican| rowspan=7 align=right |
Jesse H. Metcalf! rowspan=7 | 19
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 24| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1924.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=3 | 21| rowspan=3 align=left |
Felix Hebert| rowspan=3 | Republican| rowspan=3 nowrap | Mar 4, 1929 –
Jan 3, 1935| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1928.Lost re-election.| rowspan=3 | 25|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 25| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1930Lost re-election.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=6 | 22| rowspan=6 align=left |
Peter G. Gerry| rowspan=6 | Democratic| rowspan=6 nowrap | Jan 3, 1935 –
Jan 3, 1947| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1934.| rowspan=3 | 26|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 26| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1936.| rowspan=15 nowrap | Jan 3, 1937 –
Jan 3, 1961| rowspan=15 | Democratic| rowspan=15 align=right |
Theodore F. Green! rowspan=15 | 20
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1940.Retired.| rowspan=3 | 27|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 27| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1942.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=2 | 23| rowspan=2 align=left |
J. Howard McGrath| rowspan=2 | Democratic| rowspan=2 nowrap | Jan 3, 1947 –
Aug 23, 1949| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1946.Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.| rowspan=6 | 28|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=4 | rowspan=6 | 28| rowspan=6 | Re-elected in 1948.
|- style="height:2em"! 24| align=left |
Edward L. Leahy| | Democratic| nowrap | Aug 24, 1949 –
Dec 10, 1950| Appointed to continue McGrath's term.Retired.
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Dec 10, 1950 –
Dec 19, 1950|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=14 | 25| rowspan=14 align=left |
John Pastore| rowspan=14 | Democratic| rowspan=14 nowrap | Dec 19, 1950 –
Dec 28, 1976| rowspan=2 | Elected in 1950 to finish McGrath's term.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1952.| rowspan=3 | 29|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 29| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1954.Retired.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1958.| rowspan=3 | 30|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 30| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1960.| rowspan=19 nowrap | Jan 3, 1961 –
Jan 3, 1997| rowspan=19 | Democratic| rowspan=19 align=right |
Claiborne Pell! rowspan=19 | 21
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1964.| rowspan=3 | 31|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 31| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1966.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1970.Retired and resigned early
to give successor preferential seniority.| rowspan=4 | 32|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=4 | 32| rowspan=4 | Re-elected in 1972.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=13 | 26| rowspan=13 align=left |
John Chafee| rowspan=13 | Republican| rowspan=13 nowrap | Dec 29, 1976 –
Oct 24, 1999| Appointed to finish Pastore's term, having been elected to the next term.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected in 1976.| rowspan=3 | 33|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 33| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1978.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1982.| rowspan=3 | 34|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 34| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1984.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1988.| rowspan=3 | 35|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 35| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1990.Retired.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 1994.Announced retirement, then died.| rowspan=5 | 36|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=5 | 36| rowspan=5 | Elected in 1996.| rowspan=17 nowrap | Jan 3, 1997 –
present| rowspan=17 | Democratic| rowspan=17 align=right |
Jack Reed! rowspan=17 | 22
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3
|- style="height:2em"| colspan=3 | Vacant| nowrap | Oct 24, 1999 –
Nov 2, 1999|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=4 | 27| rowspan=4 align=left |
Lincoln Chafee| rowspan=4 | Republican| rowspan=4 nowrap | Nov 2, 1999 –
Jan 3, 2007| Appointed to finish his father's term.
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Elected in 2000 to a full term.Lost re-election.| rowspan=3 | 37|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 37| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 2002.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"! rowspan=9 | 28| rowspan=9 align=left |
Sheldon Whitehouse| rowspan=9 | Democratic| rowspan=9 nowrap | Jan 3, 2007 –
present| rowspan=3 | Elected in 2006.| rowspan=3 | 38|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 38| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 2008.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 2012.| rowspan=3 | 39|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 39| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 2014.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=3| Re-elected in 2018.| rowspan=3 | 40|
|- style="height:2em"| | rowspan=3 | 40| rowspan=3 | Re-elected in 2020.
|- style="height:2em"|
|- style="height:2em"| rowspan=2 colspan=5 | To be determined in the 2024 election.| rowspan=2|41|
|- style="height:2em"| | 41| colspan=5 | To be determined in the 2026 election.