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Both Rhode Island seats to theUnited States House of Representatives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 District results Municipality resultsDemocratic: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Republican: 40–50% 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The2010 congressional elections in Rhode Island were held on November 2, 2010, and determined who would representRhode Island in theUnited States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; the elected served in the112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013.
Rhode Island has two seats in the House, apportioned according to the2000 United States census. Its 2009-2010 congressional delegation consisted of two Democrats, and following the election, it stayed with two Democrats.
| United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island, 2010[1] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– | |
| Democratic | 185,711 | 55.36% | 2 | — | |
| Republican | 126,951 | 37.84% | 0 | — | |
| Independents | 22,822 | 6.80% | 0 | — | |
| Totals | 335,484 | 100.00% | 2 | — | |
Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island by district:[2]
| District | Democratic | Republican | Others | Total | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| District 1 | 81,269 | 50.53% | 71,542 | 44.49% | 8,003 | 4.98% | 160,814 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| District 2 | 104,442 | 59.79% | 55,409 | 31.72% | 14,819 | 8.48% | 174,670 | 100.0% | Democratic hold |
| Total | 185,711 | 55.36% | 126,951 | 37.84% | 22,822 | 6.80% | 335,484 | 100.0% | |
Incumbent Democratic CongressmanPatrick J. Kennedy decided not to run for a ninth term in Congress in this solidly liberal[3] district based in northern and eastern Rhode Island, creating an open seat.
David Cicilline, the Mayor ofProvidence, defeated Anthony Gemma,State RepresentativeDavid Segal, and formerRhode Island Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch in the Democratic primary, whileState RepresentativeJohn Loughlin emerged as the Republican nominee. An aggressive campaign ensued, with Cicilline attacking Loughlin for wanting to privatizeSocial Security, a claim that Loughlin dismissed as one that "couldn't be further from the truth." Loughlin blasted Cicilline for creating "a $70 million deficit for the next mayor to deal with," which Cicilline attributed to budget cuts made by theRhode Island General Assembly.[4]
TheProvidence Journal, praising Cicilline for being "an honest, energetic, and often innovative mayor," and criticizing Loughlin for "reacting...favorably to the collection of fiscal contradictions known as the House Republicans' 'Pledge to America,'" endorsed Cicilline, calling him a "highly competent public servant."[5]
In the end, a surprisingly close race emerged in what should have been an easy win for Cicilline, or any Democratic candidate. Though Cicilline won in the end and was sent toWashington for his first term, it was only by a six-point, 10,000 vote margin of victory.
| Poll Source | Dates Administered | Democratic nominee | Republican nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Cicilline | John Loughlin | ||
| WJAR Channel 10[6] | October 4–6, 2010 | 47% | 36% |
| WPRI-TV[7] | October 1–3, 2010 | 48% | 29% |
| Brown University[8] | September 27–29, 2010 | 39% | 30% |
| Quest Research[9] | September 15–17, 2010 | 49% | 26% |
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[10] | Lean D | November 1, 2010 |
| Rothenberg[11] | Lean D | November 1, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[12] | Lean D | November 1, 2010 |
| RCP[13] | Tossup | November 1, 2010 |
| CQ Politics[14] | Lean D | October 28, 2010 |
| New York Times[15] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| FiveThirtyEight[15] | Likely D | November 1, 2010 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | David Cicilline | 81,269 | 50.54 | |
| Republican | John Loughlin | 71,542 | 44.49 | |
| Independent | Kenneth A. Capalbo | 6,424 | 3.99 | |
| Independent | Gregory Raposa | 1,334 | 0.83 | |
| Write-ins | 245 | 0.15 | ||
| Total votes | 160,814 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
Democratic CongressmanJames Langevin has represented this liberal[3] district based in southern and westernRhode Island since he was first elected in2000. Langevin has maintained considerable popularity in this largely supportive constituency, and did not face a real threat to his re-election from his 2008 opponent, Republican Mark Zaccaria. In the general election, Langevin was re-elected by an overwhelming margin, defeating Zaccaria and independent candidate John Matson, who garnered an impressive eight percent of the vote.
| Poll Source | Dates Administered | Democratic nominee | Republican nominee | Independent candidate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Langevin | Mark Zaccaria | John Matson | ||
| WJAR Channel 10[6] | October 4–6, 2010 | 65% | 26% | 3% |
| WPRI-TV[7] | October 1–3, 2010 | 54% | 24% | — |
| Brown University[8] | September 27–29, 2010 | 47% | 14% | |
| Quest Research[9] | September 15–17, 2010 | 54% | 20% |
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[10] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| Rothenberg[11] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[12] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| RCP[13] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| CQ Politics[14] | Safe D | October 28, 2010 |
| New York Times[15] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| FiveThirtyEight[15] | Safe D | November 1, 2010 |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James Langevin (inc.) | 104,442 | 59.79 | |
| Republican | Mark S. Zaccaria | 55,409 | 31.72 | |
| Independent | John O. Matson | 14,584 | 8.35 | |
| Write-ins | 235 | 0.13 | ||
| Total votes | 174,670 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Preceded by 2008 elections | United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island 2010 | Succeeded by 2012 elections |
