1996Final results
1996 election for Rhode Island's 2nd District
U.S. House · Rhode Island
Robert Weygand (D) won with 64.5% of the vote, defeating Richard E. Wild (R) by 32.8 points.
Robert WeygandDemocrat · winner
64.5%118,827
Richard E. WildRepublican
31.7%58,458
Thomas J. RicciIndependent
1.7%3,139
Gail Alison CasmanIndependent
1.2%2,199
Jack D. PotterIndependent
0.9%1,695
184,318 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Robert WeygandRichard E. Wild
$818.9K
Raised by the campaign
$421.8K
$786.4K
Spent by the campaign
$416.8K
$33.5K
Cash on hand
$5K
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Robert Weygand (D)Richard E. Wild (R)
Also on the ballot: Thomas J. Ricci (Independent), 1.7%; Gail Alison Casman (Independent), 1.2%; Jack D. Potter (Independent), 0.9%