99chambers

Rhode Island State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022

Rhode Island Senate District 17

A district of about 31,000 people, 42% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes D+1.3 relative to the nation for president.

Thomas Paolino (R) · since Nov 8, 2016Flipped in 2026Next election Nov 7, 2028The 2026 race →

Where it sits among all 38 seats

Every Rhode Island State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

D+1.331st most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican20th seat · the majority lineDistrict 17

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every race on these lines

Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.

202220242026
Rhode Island State SenateR+21.7R+16.2D+4.6

Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year

Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: Rhode Island Board of ElectionsUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 38 seats. Small marks are other seats in Rhode Island. The black marker is District 17.

Adults with a bachelor's degree42% 73rd pct · 11th of 38 in RI

Higher than 73% of seats.

White adults without a degree50% 65th pct · 14th of 38 in RI

Higher than 65% of seats.

Hispanic residents6% 27th pct · 28th of 38 in RI

Lower than 73% of seats.

Black residents1% 8th pct · 35th of 38 in RI

Lower than 92% of seats.

Asian residents4% 68th pct · 13th of 38 in RI

Higher than 68% of seats.

People per square mile823 30th pct · 27th of 38 in RI

Less dense than 70% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Seats most like this one

Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.

District 30
38% college gradsD+9.2Held DDistrict 22
39% college gradsR+3.1Held DDistrict 31
36% college gradsD+10.9Held DDistrict 19
40% college gradsD+8.8Held D

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Who has held it

These lines took effect in 2022.

  1. Nelly Burdette (D)
    2027– · Won 2026 by 4.6
  2. Thomas J. Paolino (R)
    2023–2027 · Won 2022 by 18.8, 2024 by 16.2

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)