Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Welcome to the portal for Ballotpedia's coverage of Rhode Island politics! Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage of Rhode Island politics includes information on the local, state and federal levels, as well as state policies.
Rhode Island is bordered by Massachusetts, Connecticut and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest state in the United States and was the thirteenth state to be admitted to he Union. Rhode Island was the first of The Thirteen Colonies to announce independence from British rule.
Rhode Island has two members of the U.S. Senate, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 38 members of the State Senate and 75 members of the House of Representatives.
State Leadership
Capital:
Providence
Motto:
Hope
Population:
1,098,163
Land Area of State:
1,033 square miles
Admitted to U.S.:
1790
Rhode Island Elections
Rhode Island 2025 elections: Candidate ballot access
Rhode Island elections, 2026 Past elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Ballotpedia
Rhode Island state politics
Local politics in Rhode Island
Cities and counties in Rhode Island
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population and also covers mayoral, city council, and district attorney elections in every state capital. Additionally, Ballotpedia covers school board elections in the 200 largest U.S. school districts by enrollment.
However, in 2022, Ballotpedia also provided expanded coverage of local elections in Rhode Island. Click here to find your county!
Rhode Island fact checks
Policy issues in Rhode Island
Budget: Budget and finances • Taxes
Civil liberties: Affirmative action • Campaign finance • Nonprofit regulation
Education: Charter schools • Higher education • Public education • School choice
Election: Ballot access requirements • Redistricting • Voting
Energy: Energy information • Fracking
Environment: Environmental information • Endangered species
Finance: Financial regulation information
Healthcare: Healthcare information • Medicaid spending • Effect of the Affordable Care Act
Immigration: Immigration information
Pensions: Public pensions