akashic
1876–2024
Elections / 1972 · President · RI

Richard Nixon carried Rhode Island R+6.2.

George McGovern (D) vs Richard Nixon (R) in Rhode Island, 1972. The state ran 17.0 points more Democratic than the nation (R+23.2 nationally).

Nominees: George McGovern (D) · Richard Nixon (R)

Rhode Island result
415,808 votes counted
McGovern (D)
194,645
46.8%
Nixon (R)
220,383
53.0%
All others
780
0.2%
Margin
R+6.2
Rhode Island, 1972
NixonR+6.2
1972 presidential margin by county for Rhode Island — 1972 presidential electionA map of the constituent counties of Rhode Island — 1972 presidential election, each outlined and filled by its 1972 presidential margin from deep red (Republican) through neutral to deep blue (Democratic), seated within the faint outlines of the surrounding states.Bristol County, RI · R+9.5Kent County, RI · R+16.6Newport County, RI · R+19.7Providence County, RI · TiedWashington County, RI · R+17.1
How it voted
Share of the 1972 vote
Richard NixonRepublican53.0%220,383
George McGovernDemocratic46.8%194,645
OtherAll other candidates0.2%780
D+60
R+60
5 counties, each filled by 1972 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Rhode Island's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1972 contest in context
Rhode Island's presidential marginsDemocratic-minus-Republican presidential margin from 1892 to 2024. Most recent: +13.6% in 2024.flipped D · 1988+13.6%DR18922024
Rhode Island's presidential margins
YearMargin (D minus R)
1892−5.0%
1896−41.9%
1900−24.7%
1904−24.4%
1908−26.6%
1912+3.5%
1916−5.1%
1920−31.2%
1924−23.2%
1928+0.6%
1932+11.8%
1936+12.9%
1940+13.6%
1944+17.3%
1948+16.2%
1952−1.8%
1956−16.5%
1960+27.3%
1964+61.7%
1968+32.2%
1972−6.2%
1976+11.3%
1980+10.5%
1984−3.6%
1988+11.7%
1992+18.0%
1996+32.9%
2000+29.1%
2004+20.8%
2008+28.0%
2012+27.4%
2016+15.4%
2020+20.6%
2024+13.6%
County results — 1972
5 counties; every row links to the county's full page.
CountyWonMarginDemocraticRepublicanTotal
Bristol CountyR
−9.5%
9,92812,00921,985
Kent CountyR
−16.6%
29,00440,53469,653
Newport CountyR
−19.7%
12,84419,14232,035
Providence CountyR
−0.1%
129,232129,418259,156
Washington CountyR
−17.1%
13,63719,28032,979