1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

The 1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1992. Incumbent Democrat Bruce Sundlun defeated Republican nominee Elizabeth A. Leonard with 61.55% of the vote.

1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election

← 1990 November 3, 1992 1994 →

Nominee Bruce Sundlun Elizabeth A. Leonard Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 261,484 145,590 Percentage 61.6% 34.3%

County results Municipality results Sundlun:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Bruce Sundlun Democratic Elected Governor Bruce Sundlun Democratic

A Democrat would not be elected Governor of Rhode Island again until Gina Raimondo did so in 2014.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 15, 1992.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bruce Sundlun, incumbent governor
• Francis X. Flaherty, former mayor of Warwick

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bruce Sundlun (incumbent)	78,735	52.23
	Democratic	Francis X. Flaherty	72,011	47.77
Total votes			150,746	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Elizabeth A. Leonard, IT professional, and insurance executive
• J. Michael Levesque, Mayor of West Warwick

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Elizabeth A. Leonard	7,534	52.10
	Republican	J. Michael Levesque	6,926	47.90
Total votes			14,460	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Bruce Sundlun, Democratic
• Elizabeth A. Leonard, Republican

Other candidates

• Joseph F. Devine, Reform
• Jack D. Potter, Populist
• John J. Staradumsky, Independent

Results

1992 Rhode Island gubernatorial election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bruce Sundlun (incumbent)	261,484	61.55%
	Republican	Elizabeth A. Leonard	145,590	34.27%
	Independent	Joseph F. Devine	14,511	3.42%
	Populist	Jack D. Potter	1,698	0.40%
	Independent	John J. Staradumsky	1,535	0.36%
Total votes			424,818	100.00%
	Democratic hold