2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
The 2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was on November 6, 2012, alongside the presidential election, [2012 United States House of Representatives 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island|elections in Rhode Island|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
- Sheldon Whitehouse, incumbent U.S. Senator
Unsuccessful
- Todd Giroux, contractor and Independent candidate for governor in 2010
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Barry Hinckley, president and co-founder of software company Bullhorn
Declined
- Joseph Almond, Lincoln town administrator
- Scott Avedisian, Mayor of Warwick
- Donald Carcieri, former Governor of Rhode Island
- Giovanni Cicione, former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party
- Brendan Doherty, former Rhode Island state police superintendent
- Leo Fontaine, Mayor of Woonsocket
- Allan Fung, Mayor of Cranston
- John Robitaille, businessman and nominee for Governor in 2010
Independent
Candidates
Declined
- Alan Hassenfeld, former Hasbro CEO
General election
Debates
- , October 24, 2012 - YouTube
Polling
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | Scott Avedisian | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 47% | 37% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | Donald Carcieri | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 54% | 37% | — | 8% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | Donald Carcieri | Buddy Cianci | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 43% | 31% | 22% | — | 4% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | Buddy Cianci | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 51% | 35% | — | 14% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | John Loughlin | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 51% | 34% | — | 15% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | John Robitaille | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 49% | 38% | — | 13% |
| Poll source | Sheldon Whitehouse | John Robitaille | Buddy Cianci | Other | Undecided | |||
| Public Policy Polling | February 16–22, 2011 | 544 | ±4.2% | 44% | 28% | 24% | — | 4% |
Results
By county
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
By congressional district
Whitehouse won both congressional districts.| District | Whitehouse | Hinckley | Representative |
| 68.5% | 31.5% | David Cicilline | |
| 61.71% | 38.29% | James Langevin |