1976 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

The 1976 United States Senate election in Rhode Island took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator John O. Pastore did not seek re-election. Republican John Chafee won the seat, defeating Democrat Richard P. Lorber. Chafee was the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in Rhode Island since 1930.

1976 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

← 1970 November 2, 1976 1982 →
 
Nominee John Chafee Richard Lorber
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 230,329 167,665
Percentage 57.74% 42.03%

Chafee:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lorber:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

John O. Pastore
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

John Chafee
Republican

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Incumbent Governor of Rhode Island Noel was favored in the primary but ultimately lost by 100 votes to the less known Lorber. This was partly due to the candidacy of Senate Majority leader John Hawkins, which split the establishment vote. Lorber was a political novice.

Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard P. Lorber 60,118 37.78
Democratic Philip W. Noel 60,018 37.71
Democratic John P. Hawkins 25,456 16.00
Democratic Paul E. Goulding 5,500 3.46
Democratic Ralph J. Perrotta 4,481 2.82
Democratic John E. Caddick 2,160 1.36
Democratic Earl F. Pasbach 962 0.60
Democratic Arthur E. Marley 447 0.28
Majority 100 0.06%
Total votes 159,142 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Declined

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General election

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Results

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Republican Chafee defeated Lorber in a landslide with 58% of the vote, becoming the first Republican Senator from Rhode Island since 1930. Chafee would continue to be re-elected even as Rhode Island trended more Democratic into the 1990s, and he served until his death in 1999.

General election results[3][4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Chafee 230,329 57.74
Democratic Richard P. Lorber 167,665 42.03
Communist Margaret Cann 912 0.23
Majority 62,664 15.71%
Total votes 398,906 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Flashback: Lorber's long shot candidacy". March 3, 2017.
  2. ^ "RI US Senate - D Primary". OurCampaigns. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "RI US Senate". OurCampaigns. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 2, 1976" (PDF). Office of the U.S. House Clerk. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
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