Class 1
Class 1 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. The next election will be in 2024.
|
C
|
Class 2
Class 2 U.S. senators belong to the electoral cycle that has recently been contested in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. The next election will be in 2026.
|
#
|
Senator
|
Party
|
Dates in office
|
Electoral history
|
T
|
T
|
Electoral history
|
Dates in office
|
Party
|
Senator
|
#
|
Vacant
|
May 29, 1790 – Jun 7, 1790
|
Rhode Island did not elect its U.S. senators until Jun 7, 1790.
|
1
|
1st
|
1
|
Rhode Island did not elect its U.S. senators until Jun 7, 1790.
|
May 29, 1790 – Jun 7, 1790
|
Vacant
|
1
|
Theodore Foster
|
Pro- Admin.
|
Jun 7, 1790 – Mar 3, 1803
|
Elected in 1790.
|
Elected in 1790.
|
Jun 7, 1790 – Mar 3, 1793
|
Anti-Admin.
|
Joseph Stanton Jr.
|
1
|
Re-elected in 1791.
|
2
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
2
|
Elected in 1793.Resigned.
|
Mar 4, 1793 – Oct 1797
|
Pro-Admin.
|
William Bradford
|
2
|
Federalist
|
4th
|
Federalist
|
Re-elected in 1797.Retired.
|
3
|
5th
|
|
Oct 1797 – Nov 13, 1797
|
Vacant
|
Elected in 1797 to finish Bradford’s term.
|
Nov 13, 1797 – Mar 5, 1801
|
Federalist
|
Ray Greene
|
3
|
6th
|
3
|
Re-elected in 1798.Resigned.
|
7th
|
|
Mar 5, 1801 – May 6, 1801
|
Vacant
|
Elected in 1801 to finish Greene’s term.Lost re-election.
|
May 6, 1801 – Mar 3, 1805
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Christopher Ellery
|
4
|
2
|
Samuel J. Potter
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Mar 4, 1803 – Oct 14, 1804
|
Elected in 1802.Died.
|
4
|
8th
|
Vacant
|
Oct 14, 1804 – Oct 29, 1804
|
|
3
|
Benjamin Howland
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Oct 29, 1804 – Mar 3, 1809
|
Elected in 1804 to finish Potter’s term.Retired.
|
9th
|
4
|
Elected in 1804.Resigned.
|
Mar 4, 1805 – Sep 1807
|
Democratic- Republican
|
James Fenner
|
5
|
10th
|
|
Sep 1807 – Oct 26, 1807
|
Vacant
|
Elected to finish Fenner’s term.
|
Oct 26, 1807 – Mar 3, 1811
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Elisha Mathewson
|
6
|
4
|
Francis Malbone
|
Federalist
|
Mar 4, 1809 – Jun 4, 1809
|
Elected in 1808.[1]Died.
|
5
|
11th
|
Vacant
|
Jun 4, 1809 – Jun 26, 1809
|
|
5
|
Christopher G. Champlin
|
Federalist
|
Jun 26, 1809 – Oct 12, 1811
|
Elected in 1809 to finish Malbone’s term.Resigned.
|
12th
|
5
|
Elected in 1810.Retired.
|
Mar 4, 1811 – Mar 3, 1817
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Jeremiah B. Howell
|
7
|
Vacant
|
Oct 12, 1811 – Oct 28, 1811
|
|
6
|
William Hunter
|
Federalist
|
Oct 28, 1811 – Mar 3, 1821
|
Elected in 1811 to finish Champlin’s term.
|
13th
|
Re-elected in 1814.
|
6
|
14th
|
15th
|
6
|
Elected in 1816.Died.
|
Mar 4, 1817 – Dec 25, 1820
|
Federalist
|
James Burrill Jr.
|
8
|
16th
|
|
Dec 25, 1820 – Jan 9, 1821
|
Vacant
|
Elected in 1821 to finish Burrill’s term.
|
Jan 9, 1821 – Mar 3, 1841
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Nehemiah R. Knight
|
9
|
7
|
James DeWolf
|
Democratic- Republican
|
Mar 4, 1821 – Oct 31, 1825
|
Election date unknown.Resigned.
|
7
|
17th
|
18th
|
7
|
Re-elected in 1823.
|
National Republican
|
19th
|
National Republican
|
8
|
Asher Robbins
|
National Republican
|
Oct 31, 1825 – Mar 3, 1839
|
Elected in 1825 to finish DeWolf’s term.
|
Re-elected in 1827.
|
8
|
20th
|
21st
|
8
|
Re-elected in 1829.
|
22nd
|
Re-elected in 1833.[data unknown/missing]
|
9
|
23rd
|
24th
|
9
|
Re-elected in 1835.[data unknown/missing]
|
Whig
|
25th
|
Whig
|
9
|
Nathan F. Dixon I
|
Whig
|
Mar 4, 1839 – Jan 29, 1842
|
Election date unknown.Died.
|
10
|
26th
|
27th
|
10
|
Elected in 1841.Lost re-election.
|
Mar 4, 1841 – Mar 3, 1847
|
Whig
|
James F. Simmons
|
10
|
Vacant
|
Jan 29, 1842 – Feb 18, 1842
|
|
10
|
William Sprague III
|
Whig
|
Feb 18, 1842 – Jan 17, 1844
|
Elected in 1842 to finish Dixon’s term.Resigned.
|
28th
|
Vacant
|
Jan 17, 1844 – Jan 25, 1844
|
|
11
|
John Brown Francis
|
Law and Order
|
Jan 25, 1844 – Mar 3, 1845
|
Elected in 1844 to finish Sprague’s term.Retired.
|
12
|
Albert C. Greene
|
Whig
|
Mar 4, 1845 – Mar 3, 1851
|
Election date unknown.Retired.
|
11
|
29th
|
30th
|
11
|
Election date unknown.[data unknown/missing]
|
Mar 4, 1847 – Mar 3, 1853
|
Whig
|
John Hopkins Clarke
|
11
|
31st
|
13
|
Charles T. James
|
Democratic
|
Mar 4, 1851 – Mar 3, 1857
|
Election date unknown.Retired.
|
12
|
32nd
|
33rd
|
12
|
|
Mar 4, 1853 – Jul 20, 1853
|
Vacant
|
Elected late.Retired.
|
Jul 20, 1853 – Mar 3, 1859
|
Democratic
|
Philip Allen
|
12
|
34th
|
14
|
James F. Simmons
|
Republican
|
Mar 4, 1857 – Aug 15, 1862
|
Elected in 1856.Resigned.
|
13
|
35th
|
36th
|
13
|
Elected in 1858.
|
Mar 4, 1859 – Sep 2, 1884
|
Republican
|
Henry B. Anthony
|
13
|
37th
|
Vacant
|
Aug 15, 1862 – Dec 1, 1862
|
|
15
|
Samuel G. Arnold
|
Republican
|
Dec 1, 1862 – Mar 3, 1863
|
Elected in 1862 to finish Simmons’s term.[data unknown/missing]
|
16
|
William Sprague IV
|
Republican
|
Mar 4, 1863 – Mar 3, 1875
|
Elected in 1862.
|
14
|
38th
|
39th
|
14
|
Re-elected in 1864.
|
40th
|
Re-elected in 1868.Retired.
|
15
|
41st
|
42nd
|
15
|
Re-elected in 1870.
|
43rd
|
17
|
Ambrose Burnside
|
Republican
|
Mar 4, 1875 – Sep 13, 1881
|
Elected in 1874.
|
16
|
44th
|
45th
|
16
|
Re-elected in 1876.
|
46th
|
Re-elected in 1880.Died.
|
17
|
47th
|
Vacant
|
Sep 13, 1881 – Oct 5, 1881
|
|
18
|
Nelson W. Aldrich
|
Republican
|
Oct 5, 1881 – Mar 3, 1911
|
Elected in 1881 to finish Burnside’s term.
|
48th
|
17
|
Re-elected in 1882.Died.
|
|
Sep 2, 1884 – Nov 19, 1884
|
Vacant
|
Appointed to continue Anthony’s term.
|
Nov 19, 1884 – Jan 20, 1885
|
Republican
|
William P. Sheffield
|
14
|
Elected in 1885 to finish Anthony’s term.
|
Jan 20, 1885 – Apr 9, 1889
|
Republican
|
Jonathan Chace
|
15
|
49th
|
Re-elected in 1886.
|
18
|
50th
|
51st
|
18
|
Re-elected in 1888.Resigned.
|
Elected in 1889 to finish Chace’s term.Retired.
|
Apr 10, 1889 – Mar 3, 1895
|
Republican
|
Nathan F. Dixon III
|
16
|
52nd
|
Re-elected in 1892.
|
19
|
53rd
|
54th
|
19
|
Elected in 1894.
|
Mar 4, 1895 – Mar 3, 1907
|
Republican
|
George P. Wetmore
|
17
|
55th
|
Re-elected in 1898.
|
20
|
56th
|
57th
|
20
|
Re-elected in 1900.
|
58th
|
Re-elected Jan 18, 1905.[2]Retired.
|
21
|
59th
|
60th
|
21
|
Legislature failed to elect.
|
Mar 4, 1907 – Jan 22, 1908
|
Vacant
|
Elected in 1908 to finish the vacant term.Retired.
|
Jan 22, 1908– Mar 3, 1913
|
Republican
|
George P. Wetmore
|
61st
|
19
|
Henry F. Lippitt
|
Republican
|
Mar 4, 1911 – Mar 3, 1917
|
Elected in 1910.Lost re-election.
|
22
|
62nd
|
63rd
|
22
|
Elected in 1913.
|
Mar 4, 1913 – Aug 18, 1924
|
Republican
|
LeBaron Bradford Colt
|
18
|
64th
|
20
|
Peter G. Gerry
|
Democratic
|
Mar 4, 1917 – Mar 3, 1929
|
Elected in 1916.
|
23
|
65th
|
66th
|
23
|
Re-elected in 1918.Died.
|
67th
|
Re-elected in 1922.Lost re-election.
|
24
|
68th
|
|
Aug 18, 1924 – Nov 4, 1924
|
Vacant
|
Elected in 1924 to finish Colt’s term.
|
Nov 4, 1924 – Jan 3, 1937
|
Republican
|
Jesse H. Metcalf
|
19
|
69th
|
24
|
Elected in 1924.
|
70th
|
21
|
Felix Hebert
|
Republican
|
Mar 4, 1929 – Jan 3, 1935
|
Elected in 1928.Lost re-election.
|
25
|
71st
|
72nd
|
25
|
Re-elected in 1930Lost re-election.
|
73rd
|
22
|
Peter G. Gerry
|
Democratic
|
Jan 3, 1935 – Jan 3, 1947
|
Elected in 1934.
|
26
|
74th
|
75th
|
26
|
Elected in 1936.
|
Jan 3, 1937 – Jan 3, 1961
|
Democratic
|
Theodore F. Green
|
20
|
76th
|
Re-elected in 1940.Retired.
|
27
|
77th
|
78th
|
27
|
Re-elected in 1942.
|
79th
|
23
|
J. Howard McGrath
|
Democratic
|
Jan 3, 1947 – Aug 23, 1949
|
Elected in 1946.Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General.
|
28
|
80th
|
81st
|
28
|
Re-elected in 1948.
|
24
|
Edward L. Leahy
|
Democratic
|
Aug 24, 1949 – Dec 10, 1950
|
Appointed to continue McGrath’s term.Retired.
|
Vacant
|
Dec 10, 1950 – Dec 19, 1950
|
|
25
|
John Pastore
|
Democratic
|
Dec 19, 1950 – Dec 28, 1976
|
Elected in 1950 to finish McGrath’s term.
|
82nd
|
Re-elected in 1952.
|
29
|
83rd
|
84th
|
29
|
Re-elected in 1954.Retired.
|
85th
|
Re-elected in 1958.
|
30
|
86th
|
87th
|
30
|
Elected in 1960.
|
Jan 3, 1961 – Jan 3, 1997
|
Democratic
|
Claiborne Pell
|
21
|
88th
|
Re-elected in 1964.
|
31
|
89th
|
90th
|
31
|
Re-elected in 1966.
|
91st
|
Re-elected in 1970.Retired and resigned early to give successor preferential seniority.
|
32
|
92nd
|
93rd
|
32
|
Re-elected in 1972.
|
94th
|
26
|
John Chafee
|
Republican
|
Dec 29, 1976 – Oct 24, 1999
|
Appointed to finish Pastore’s term, having been elected to the next term.
|
Elected in 1976.
|
33
|
95th
|
96th
|
33
|
Re-elected in 1978.
|
97th
|
Re-elected in 1982.
|
34
|
98th
|
99th
|
34
|
Re-elected in 1984.
|
100th
|
Re-elected in 1988.
|
35
|
101st
|
102nd
|
35
|
Re-elected in 1990.Retired.
|
103rd
|
Re-elected in 1994.Died, having planned to retire at the end of term.
|
36
|
104th
|
105th
|
36
|
Elected in 1996.
|
Jan 3, 1997 – Present
|
Democratic
|
Jack Reed
|
22
|
106th
|
Vacant
|
Oct 24, 1999 – Nov 2, 1999
|
|
27
|
Lincoln Chafee
|
Republican
|
Nov 2, 1999 – Jan 3, 2007
|
Appointed to finish his father’s term.
|
Elected in 2000 to a full term.Lost re-election.
|
37
|
107th
|
108th
|
37
|
Re-elected in 2002.
|
109th
|
28
|
Sheldon Whitehouse
|
Democratic
|
Jan 3, 2007 – Present
|
Elected in 2006.
|
38
|
110th
|
111th
|
38
|
Re-elected in 2008.
|
112th
|
Re-elected in 2012.
|
39
|
113th
|
114th
|
39
|
Re-elected in 2014.
|
115th
|
Re-elected in 2018.
|
40
|
116th
|
117th
|
40
|
Re-elected in 2020.
|
118th
|
To be determined in the 2024 election.
|
41
|
119th
|
120th
|
41
|
To be determined in the 2026 election.
|
#
|
Senator
|
Party
|
Years in office
|
Electoral history
|
T
|
|
T
|
Electoral history
|
Years in office
|
Party
|
Senator
|
#
|
Class 1
|
Class 2
|
Recent Comments