On November 2, 2010, Rhode Island held midterm elections for two US House of Representative districts and an election for the governor's seat.http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2010/results/state/#val=RI

Independent Lincoln Chaffee won in a crowded governor's race of 7 individuals including Republican John Robitaille and Democrat Frank Caprio. Chaffee is a former Republican who changed his party to Independent and who publicly supported Obama in the 2008 elections. The Democratic party held on to two House seats with District 1 being won by Cicilline and District 2 being won by Langevin.http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/rhode-island

Residents of Rhode Island also voted on four major ballot measures. Residents defeated a measure to remove "and Providence Plantations" from the state's official name. Residents approved bonds for higher education facilities and transportation projects. A measure for a bond issue for open-space projects was also approved.http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/rhode-island

Rhode Island, which was the last of the 13 original colonies to ratify the constitution, entered the Union in May 1970. Since it first participated in the elections in 1792, the state has had four electoral votes. Only two exceptions occurred in the 1910s and 1920s, when it had five. Rhode Island has been generally a "blue" state since 1928. It has voted Republican in only four elections - twice for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956 and for Richard Nixon in 1972 then for Ronald Reagan in 1984. In the last election, in 2008, Barack Obama defeated John McCain by almost 28%.http://www.270towin.com/states/Rhode_Island

Barack Obama won the 2008 Presidential Election, including the state of Rhode Island. John "Jack" F. Reed was re-elected to the Senate. The state of Rhode Island carries with it 4 electoral votes.

Active Candidates for Governor:

• John Robitaille (R): Ex-Gubernatorial Aide, Ex-Communications Consultant & '06 State Rep. Nominee
• Frank Caprio (D): State Treasurer, Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
• Patrick Lynch (D): Attorney General
• Bob Healey Jr. (Cool Moose): Attorney, Ex-Warren School Board Chair, Party Founder
• Lincoln Chafee (Independent): Ex-US Senator, Ex-Warwick Mayor & Ex-Republican
• Todd J. Giroux (Independent): General Contractor, Business Owner

Active Candidates for Attorney General:

• Steve Archambault (D): Smithfield City Councilman, Attorney & Ex-Police Officer
• Joe Fernandez (D): Providence City Solicitor
• Peter Kilmartin (D): State House Majority Whip, Attorney, College Professor & Ex-Police Officer
• Erik Wallin (R): Ex-Special Assistant Attorney General & Army Veteran

Active Candidates for State Treasurer:

• Tom Sgouros (D): Software Engineer & Technical Writer

Active Candidates for U.S. Congress (District 1):

• Jon Brien (D): State Rep. & Attorney
• David Cicilline (D): Providence Mayor, Ex-State Rep. & Attorney
• Bill Lynch (D): Ex-State Democratic Chair, Attorney & Brother of Atty Gen Patrick Lynch
• John Loughlin (R): State House Minority Whip, Media Consultant & Army Veteran

Active Candidates for U.S. Congress (District 2):

• Betsy Dennigan (D): State Rep. & Attorney
• Michael Gardiner (R): Attorney & National Guard Veteran
• Mark Zaccaria (R): Ex-North Kingston Town Councilman, Marketing Consultant, USAF Veteran & '08 Nominee
• Michael Alger (Independent): Navy Veteran, American Legion Commander (4), works at Electric Boat in Groton Ct

• 2004: John Kerry
• 2000: Al Gore
• 1996: Bill Clinton
• 1992: Bill Clinton
• 1988: George H. W. Bush
• 1984: Ronald Reagan
• 1980: Jimmy Carter
• 1976: Jimmy Carter
• 1972: Richard Nixon
• 1968: Hubert Humphrey

• Governor: Donald Carcieri
• Lieutenant Governor: Charles J. Fogarty
• Attorney General: Patrick C. Lynch
• Senators: Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse

• 2008 Presidential Winner and Winner of Rhode Island: Barack Obama
• Winner of Rhode Island's Four Electoral Votes: Barack Obama
• Margin of victory: 63% over 35%

• Winner of Rhode Island's Senate Seat: John F. Reed
• Margin of victory: 73% over 27%
• RI.gov: 2008 General Election Statewide Summary
• CNN: Rhode Island Election Results
• msnbc: Rhode Island Election Results

• Winner of Rhode Island's Senate Race: Sheldon Whitehouse
• Margin of victory: 53% over 47%

• CNN.com: Rhode Island Election Results 2006
• Rhode Island Board of Elections:: 2006 General Election Results

• 2004 Presidential Election Winner: George W. Bush

• Winner of Rhode Island's Four Electoral Votes: John Kerry (D)
• Margin of victory: 59% over 39%
• CNN.com: Election 2004: Rhode Island Results
• Rhode Island Board of Elections: 2004 General Election Results