1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

The 1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island took place on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell successfully sought re-election, defeating Republican John Chafee in the closest race of Pell's Senate career. Chafee was elected to Rhode Island's other Senate seat in 1976, and was colleagues with Pell until the latter's retirement in 1996. This was the only United States Senate election in Rhode Island that Claiborne Pell won by a narrow margin and the only United States Senate election in Rhode Island in which Claiborne Pell did not carry every county or all counties in Rhode Island. Rhode Island was one of fifteen states alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota and West Virginia that were won by Republican President Richard Nixon in 1972 that elected Democrats to the United States Senate.

1972 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

November 7, 1972

Nominee Claiborne Pell John Chafee Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 221,942 188,990 Percentage 53.68% 45.71%

Pell:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Chafee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Claiborne Pell Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Claiborne Pell, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican primary

Candidates

• John Chafee, former Governor of Rhode Island and former United States Secretary of the Navy

General election

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Claiborne Pell (incumbent)	221,942	53.68%
	Republican	John Chafee	188,990	45.71%
	Independent	John Quattrocchi	2,041	0.49%
	Socialist Workers	Patrick M. DeTemple	458	0.11%
Majority			32,952	7.97%
Total votes			413,431	100.00%
	Democratic hold