The 1988 United States presidential election in Rhode Island took place on November 8, 1988, as part of the 1988 United States presidential election, which was held throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Rhode Island voted for the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, over Republican Vice President George H. W. Bush. Dukakis took 55.64% of the vote to Bush's 43.93%, a margin of 11.71%. This made it one of 10 states (plus the District of Columbia) to vote for Dukakis, while Bush won a convincing electoral victory nationwide.
A liberal New England state, Rhode Island gave Dukakis his strongest state victory in the nation, with only the District of Columbia voting more Democratic. It was one of just two states (along with Iowa) to vote Democratic by a double-digit margin, and one of only two states (along with Hawaii) to have all of its counties go to Dukakis. Despite this, it was still a relatively strong Republican performance compared to how the state has trended since. The state has voted Democratic in every presidential election that followed. This is the last time until the 2024 election that a Republican candidate won over 40% of the vote in Rhode Island.
To date, this is the last time that the towns of Barrington, Charlestown, Little Compton, Middletown, North Kingstown, and Portsmouth voted Republican.
Results 1988 United States presidential election in Rhode IslandPartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Democratic Michael Dukakis 225,123 55.64% 4 Republican George H. W. Bush 177,761 43.93% 0 Libertarian Ron Paul 825 0.20% 0 New Alliance Lenora Fulani 280 0.07% 0 Peace and Freedom Herbert G. Lewin 195 0.05% 0 America First David Duke 159 0.04% 0 Socialist Workers James Warren 130 0.03% 0 Socialist Willa Kenoyer 96 0.02% 0 Write-ins Write-ins 51 0.01% 0 Totals 404,620 100.00% 4 Voter Turnout (Voting age/Registered) 53%/74%
By county County Michael DukakisDemocratic George H. W. BushRepublican Various candidatesOther parties Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % Bristol 11,168 51.04% 10,626 48.56% 89 0.40% 542 2.48% 21,883 Kent 37,221 51.84% 34,314 47.79% 266 0.37% 2,907 4.05% 71,801 Newport 17,597 50.76% 16,923 48.82% 144 0.42% 674 1.94% 34,664 Providence 135,927 58.80% 94,248 40.77% 984 0.43% 41,679 18.03% 231,159 Washington 23,210 51.51% 21,650 48.04% 202 0.45% 1,560 3.47% 45,062Totals225,12355.64%177,76143.93%1,7360.43%47,36211.71%404,620
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Bristol Kent Newport Washington
See also United States presidential elections in Rhode Island Presidency of George H. W. Bush
References