2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

The 2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2012 United States Senate election in Rhode Island
November 6, 2012
Turnout58.0% (voting eligible)[1]
 
Nominee Sheldon Whitehouse Barry Hinckley
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 271,034 146,222
Percentage 64.8% 35.0%
U.S. senator before election

Sheldon Whitehouse
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Sheldon Whitehouse
Democratic

Elections in Rhode Island
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House
State government
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House of Representatives elections
Providence
Mayoral elections

Incumbent Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was reelected to a second term in a landslide by a 30% margin of 65% - 35%.

Background

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.

Democratic primary

Declared

Unsuccessful
  • Todd Giroux, contractor and Independent candidate for governor in 2010[2]

Results
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sheldon Whitehouse (incumbent) 60,223 100
Total votes 60,223 100

Republican primary

Declared
  • Barry Hinckley, president and co-founder of software company Bullhorn[3]

Declined

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Scott
Avedisian		 Donald
Carcieri		 Buddy
Cianci		 Giovanni
Cicione		 Allan
Fung		 John
Loughlin		 John
Robitaille		 Catherine
Taylor		 Other/
Undecided
21% — — 3% 14% 24% 31% 2% 6%
Public Policy Polling February 16–22, 2011 250 ±6.2% 12% 44% 12% 0% 6% 12% 12% 2% —

Results
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Barry Hinckley 6,890 100
Total votes 6,890 100

Independent

Declined

General election

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[14] Solid D November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[15] Safe D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[16] Safe D November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[17] Safe D November 5, 2012

Debates

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 Sheldon
Whitehouse (D)		 Barry
Hinckley (R)		 Other Undecided
Fleming & Associates February 20–23, 2012 511 ±4.38% 50% 28% — 20%
Fleming & Associates September 26–29, 2012 501 ±4.38% 56% 30% — 11%
Brown University September 26 – October 5, 2012 471 ±4.4% 59% 30% — 12%
McLaughlin and Associates October 11, 2012 300 ±5.6% 49% 41% — 10%
Fleming & Associates October 24–27, 2012 601 ±4% 55% 33% — 10%

Results
Results by county
United States Senate election in Rhode Island, 2012[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Sheldon Whitehouse (incumbent) 271,034 64.81% +11.29%
Republican Barry Hinckley 146,222 34.97% -11.51%
Write-in 933 0.22% N/A
Total votes 418,189 100.0% N/A
Democratic hold

See also

References
  1. Dr. Michael McDonald (February 9, 2013). "2012 General Election Turnout Rates". George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  2. Arditi, Lynn (April 21, 2012). "Todd Giroux announces bid for U.S. Senate". The Providence Journal. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  3. McGowan, Dan (May 28, 2011). "Senate Battle Heats Up: Hinckley Blasts Whitehouse". GoLocalProv. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  4. Peoples, Steve (November 9, 2010). "GOPer Giovanni Cicione Considering Bid Against Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse". Roll Call. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  5. Nesi, Ted (October 28, 2011). "Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian". WPRI-TV. Twitter. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  6. "Carcieri says he's decided against running for U.S. Senate". Providence Journal. November 16, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  7. Donnis, Ian (February 25, 2011). "Rhode Island Tip Sheet: National exposure for RI penches". WRNI-FM. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  8. Catanese, David (May 10, 2011). "Former police superintendent to challenge Cicilline". Politico. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  9. Nesi, Ted (November 10, 2010). "Carcieri, Avedisian, Cicione may take on Whitehouse". WPRI-TV. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  10. Nesi, Ted (February 22, 2011). "Fung 'not considering' $5M run against Whitehouse". WPRI-TV. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  11. Nesi, Ted (December 2, 2010). "Robitaille: I may run for Senate in '12". WPRI-TV. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  12. Silverman, Bradley (January 19, 2011). "Robitaille Likely to Run for Governor Again". WBRU. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  13. Maxon, Jake (January 21, 2011). "2012 Senate Run a Possibility for Former Hasbro CEO". WBRU. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  14. "2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  15. "2012 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  16. "2012 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  17. "2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  18. https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2012/general_election/
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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