# 1988 United States Senate election in Rhode Island

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Question 1 :
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vte :
The 1988 United States Senate election in Rhode Island was held on November 8, 1988. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John Chafee won re-election to a third term.

## Major candidates
### Democratic

* Richard Licht, Lieutenant Governor and former State Senator

### Republican

* John Chafee, U.S. Senator since 1976

## Results

Chafee defeated Licht by a wide margin, winning every county in the state with 55% of the vote. This was despite 56% of Rhode Island voting for Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis in the concurrent presidential election. Many voters therefore split their tickets.
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | John Chafee (Incumbent) | 217,273 | 54.59% | +3.39% |
| | Democratic | Richard Licht | 180,717 | 45.41% | −3.39% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 36,556 | 9.19% | +6.79% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 397,990 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | | |