1998Final results
1998 election for Rhode Island's 1st District
U.S. House · Rhode Island
Patrick Kennedy (D) won with 66.8% of the vote, defeating Ronald G. Santa (R) by 39.1 points.
Patrick KennedyDemocrat · winner
66.8%92,788
Ronald G. SantaRepublican
27.7%38,460
James C. SheehanReform
4.5%6,202
Charles PicernoIndependent
1.0%1,397
138,895 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 1998
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.
Patrick KennedyRonald G. Santa
$1.3M
Raised by the campaign
$29.1K
$1M
Spent by the campaign
$26K
$431K
Cash on hand
$998
Other candidates' campaigns: James C. Sheehan $23.2K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
Patrick Kennedy (D)Ronald G. Santa (R)
Also on the ballot: James C. Sheehan (Reform), 4.5%; Charles Picerno (Independent), 1.0%