NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : Rhode Island

Michael S. Dukakis won a lopsided victory over George Bush to take Rhode Island’s four electoral votes and veteran Democratic Rep. Fernand J. St Germain, dogged by an ethical controversy, was denied a 15th term.

Dukakis won 56% of the vote to 44% for Bush.

St Germain, chairman of the House Banking Committee, was buried by political novice Ronald Machtley, a lawyer. St Germain, who trailed 45% to 55% with 92% of the vote counted, was the first committee chairman to lose since 1980, when Oregon voters turned out House Ways and Means Chairman Al Ullman.

Justice Department documents unsealed late last month said a department investigation had uncovered “substantial evidence of serious and sustained misconduct” in St Germain’s dealings with financial industry lobbyists. The department’s criminal division declined to prosecute but referred its findings last May to the House ethics committee, which has not said how it is handling the matter.

In the governor’s race Republican Edward DiPrete narrowly won a third two-year term against Democrat Bruce G. Sundlun in a campaign marked by allegations that the incumbent engaged in improper business dealings and showed favoritism in granting state contracts.

Republican Sen. John H. Chafee won a third term, defeating Democratic Lt. Gov. Richard A. Licht.