Who won Rhode Island in the 1840 presidential election?

Harrison (Whig) carried Rhode Island in 1840, winning its 4 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Rhode Island have in 1840?

Rhode Island cast 4 electoral votes in the 1840 presidential election.

Did Rhode Island vote for the national winner in 1840?

Yes. Rhode Island backed William Henry Harrison, who won the presidency that year.

Second Party SystemRI · 4 EV

1840

Rhode Island: Harrison carries 4 EV.

Rhode Island cast its 4 electoral votes for Harrison (Whig). National winner: William Henry Harrison (Whig) — Rhode Island voted with the national winner this cycle.

Rhode Island in 1840

The 1840 contest saw Rhode Island line up behind Harrison, delivering 4 electoral votes to the Whig ticket. Rhode Island ended up on the winning side — William Henry Harrison captured the White House that year.

The result flipped Rhode Island away from the Democratic it had supported in 1836. Rhode Island did not move alone — neighboring Connecticut and Massachusetts broke the same way in 1840. Across the 59 presidential elections Rhode Island has taken part in, it has most often sided with the Democratic party (25 times). The vote fell within the Second Party System — Jackson, Whigs, and the rise of mass politics.

In the national count, William Henry Harrison took 234 of the 294 electoral votes, against Martin Van Buren's 60. William Henry Harrison led the national popular vote with 52.87% of the ballots cast.

The 1840 national map

Rhode Island full history →