The 1982 United States Senate election in Rhode Island took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican Senator John Chafee successfully sought re-election to a second term, very narrowly defeating Democrat Julius C. Michaelson.
Republican Chafee was re-elected but received a lower percentage of the vote than in 1976. Michaelson had better name recognition than Chafee's previous opponent. Michaelson won Providence County, the state's most populous county, but Chafee was still able to win the state. This was the closest election of his career.