2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island explained

Election Name:2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
Country:Rhode Island
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2006 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
Previous Year:2006
Next Election:2018 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
Next Year:2018
Turnout:58.0% (voting eligible)[1]
Election Date:November 6, 2012
Image1:File:Senwhitehouse.jpg
Nominee1:
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:271,034
Percentage1:64.81%
Nominee2:Barry Hinckley
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:146,222
Percentage2:34.97%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:Sheldon Whitehouse
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Sheldon Whitehouse
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

Unsuccessful

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Results

Independent

Candidates

Declined

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
align=left The Cook Political Report[15] November 1, 2012
align=left Sabato's Crystal Ball[16] November 5, 2012
align=left Rothenberg Political Report[17] November 2, 2012
align=left Real Clear Politics[18] November 5, 2012

Debates

Polling

Poll sourceSheldon
Barry
Hinckley (R)
OtherUndecided
align=left Fleming & Associates[19] February 20–23, 2012511±4.38%50%28%20%
align=left Fleming & Associates[20] September 26–29, 2012501±4.38%56%30%11%
align=left Brown University[21] September 26 – October 5, 2012471±4.4%59%30%12%
align=left McLaughlin and Associates[22] October 11, 2012300±5.6%49%41%10%
align=left Fleming & Associates[23] October 24–27, 2012601±4%55%33%10%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Results by congressional district

Whitehouse won both congressional districts.[31]

DistrictWhitehouseHinckleyRepresentative
68.5%31.5%David Cicilline
61.71%38.29%James Langevin

See also

External links

Official campaign websites (Archived)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2012 General Election Turnout Rates . . Dr. Michael McDonald . February 9, 2013 . April 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130424003112/http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout_2012G.html . April 24, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  2. Web site: Todd Giroux announces bid for U.S. Senate. April 21, 2012. May 7, 2012. The Providence Journal. Lynn. Arditi. April 23, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120423060148/http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2012/04/todd-giroux-ann.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Senate Battle Heats Up: Hinckley Blasts Whitehouse. May 28, 2011. May 7, 2012. GoLocalProv. Dan. McGowan.
  4. Web site: GOPer Giovanni Cicione Considering Bid Against Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. November 9, 2010. November 14, 2010. Roll Call. Steve. Peoples.
  5. Web site: Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian. October 28, 2011. May 7, 2012. WPRI-TV. Twitter. Ted. Nesi.
  6. Web site: Carcieri says he's decided against running for U.S. Senate. November 16, 2011. November 18, 2011. Providence Journal. December 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111223203049/http://news.providencejournal.com/breaking-news/2011/11/carcieri-says-h.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Rhode Island Tip Sheet: National exposure for RI penches. February 25, 2011. February 25, 2011. WRNI-FM. Ian. Donnis.
  8. Web site: Former police superintendent to challenge Cicilline. May 10, 2011. May 7, 2012. Politico. David. Catanese.
  9. Web site: Carcieri, Avedisian, Cicione may take on Whitehouse. November 10, 2010. November 17, 2010. WPRI-TV. Ted. Nesi. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718120138/http://blogs.wpri.com/2010/11/10/avedisian-carcieri-cicione-may-take-on-whitehouse/. July 18, 2011. dead.
  10. Web site: Fung 'not considering' $5M run against Whitehouse. February 22, 2011. February 22, 2011. WPRI-TV. Ted. Nesi. https://web.archive.org/web/20110301232554/http://blogs.wpri.com/2011/02/22/fung-not-considering-5m-run-against-whitehouse/. March 1, 2011. dead.
  11. Web site: Robitaille: I may run for Senate in '12. December 2, 2010. December 2, 2010. WPRI-TV. Ted. Nesi. December 4, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101204114833/http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/politics/robitaille%3A-i-may-run-for-senate-in-12. dead.
  12. Web site: Robitaille Likely to Run for Governor Again. January 19, 2011. January 22, 2011. WBRU. Bradley. Silverman. https://web.archive.org/web/20110121210000/http://news.wbru.com/2011/01/robitaille-likely-to-run-for-governor-again/. January 21, 2011. dead.
  13. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0302.pdf Public Policy Polling
  14. Web site: 2012 Senate Run a Possibility for Former Hasbro CEO. January 21, 2011. January 23, 2011. WBRU. Jake. Maxon. https://web.archive.org/web/20110131110716/http://news.wbru.com/2011/01/2012-senate-run-a-possibility-for-former-hasbro-ceo/. January 31, 2011. dead.
  15. Web site: 2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 . The Cook Political Report . September 20, 2018 . August 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180829035855/https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139117 . dead .
  16. Web site: 2012 Senate . Sabato's Crystal Ball . September 20, 2018.
  17. Web site: 2012 Senate Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . September 20, 2018.
  18. Web site: 2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012 . Real Clear Politics . September 20, 2018.
  19. http://www.wpri.com/generic/news/politics/local_politics/campaign-2012-exclusive-poll-results-q4 Fleming & Associates
  20. http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/nesi/campaign-2012-exclusive-poll-sept-mon-11 Fleming & Associates
  21. http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2012/10/survey Brown University
  22. http://peoplesmajority.com/images/ristatewide-10-12-2012-pollanalysis.pdf McLaughlin and Associates
  23. http://www.wpri.com/dpp/home/campaign-2012-exclusive-poll-oct-tues-11 Fleming & Associates
  24. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  25. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  26. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  27. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  28. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  29. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  30. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_RI_0223424.pdf Public Policy Polling
  31. Web site: Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts. Daily Kos. 11 August 2020.