Rhode Island voted for the Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, over Republican Vice President George H. W. Bush.

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.

This is the last time until the 2024 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.