Vermont Governor
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Compensation:	$201,136
2025 FY Budget:	$2,151,704
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	2 years
Authority:	Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, Sections 1
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder(s)
Governor of Vermont Phil Scott Republican Party Assumed office: January 5, 2017
Elections
Next election:	2026
Last election:	2024
Other Vermont Executive Offices
Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Board

TheGovernor of the Commonwealth of Vermont is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office inVermont. The governor is popularly elected every two years by a plurality and has no term limit.^[1]

Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds atrifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds atriplex. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls the offices of attorney general and secretary of state.

See also:Vermont State Legislature,Vermont House of Representatives,Vermont State Senate

Current officeholder

The current Governor of Vermont isPhil Scott (R). Scott assumed office in 2017.

Authority

TheVermont Constitution addresses the office of the governor in bothChapter II, Sections 1-5, the Delegations and Distribution of Powers andChapter II, Sections 20–27, Executive Department.

Under Section I:

Additionally, under Section I:

Qualifications

A candidate for governor must be:

• a resident ofVermont for at least four years on the day of the election
• at least 18 years old

Governors may not hold any legislative office or any other constitutional office. Excepting positions in military reserves, they also may not hold any office under the federal government. Nor is the governor eligible for any appointed position made by any branch of the Vermont government.

Vacancies

See also:How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed underChapter II, Section 24

Thelieutenant governor becomes governor anytime the elected governor is absent or unable to discharge the office and anytime the office is vacant.

TheVermont General Assembly is constitutionally required to draft laws providing for the line of succession if the lieutenant governor's office is also vacant.

Duties

The Governor of Vermont is charged to uphold and execute all laws and expedite legislative business as needed (§ 20).

According to thestate constitution, the governor has limited powers to grant pardons and reprieves and the power to call special sessions of theVermont General Assembly when necessary (§ 20).

The governor is the commander-in-chief of the naval and militia forces, but may not directly command those forces unless permitted to do so by theVermont State Senate (§ 20).

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

• Commissioning all officers of the state (§ 20)

• Making all appointments not otherwise provided for and making interim appointments to all vacant offices until the legal procedure for filling the office is performed (§ 20)

• Granting reprieves in all cases except treason and granting pardons in all cases except impeachment (§ 20)

• Granting licenses as permitted by law (§ 20)

• Drawing upon the Treasury for sums already appropriated by theVermont General Assembly (§ 20)

• Laying embargoes for up to 30 days when the legislature is in recess (§ 20)

• Commissioning a Secretary of Military and Civil Affairs at her pleasure. Such an officer serves at the governor's pleasure (§ 21)

• Sealing and signing all commissions made by the state of Vermont (§ 22)

• Keeping and using "The Great Seal of the State of Vermont" (§ 22)

• Appointing astate treasurer when the office becomes vacant (§ 24)^[2]

Elections

Vermont's constitution addresses gubernatorial elections inChapter II, Section 43-55, Elections; Officers; Terms of Office.

Vermont is one of only two states that elects governors biennially, meaning each even-numbered year. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first Thursday following the first Tuesday in the January after an election.

If the office of the governor is not filled in the election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to choose among three candidates.

Term limits

See also:States with gubernatorial term limits

Vermont governors do not face any term limits.

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Vermont from 1992 to 2013.

Election results

• 2030
• 2028
• 2026
• 2024
• 2022
• 2020
• 2018

See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2030

There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.

See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2028

There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.

See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2026

General election

The primary will occur on August 11, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont

Esther Charlestin (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2026.

		Candidate
		Esther Charlestin

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	There are noincumbents in this race.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) is running in the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2026.

		Candidate
		Phil Scott

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined.
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See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2024

General election

General election for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) defeatedEsther Charlestin (D / Vermont Progressive Party),Kevin Hoyt (Independent),June Goodband (Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party), andPoa Mutino (Independent) in the general election for Governor of Vermont on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott (R)	73.4	266,439
		Esther Charlestin (D / Vermont Progressive Party)	21.8	79,217
		Kevin Hoyt (Independent)	2.6	9,368
		June Goodband (Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party)	1.2	4,512
		Poa Mutino (Independent)	0.7	2,414
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2%	891

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 362,841
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Marielle Blais (Vermont Progressive Party)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont

Esther Charlestin (D) defeatedPeter Duval (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Esther Charlestin	62.3	24,007
		Peter Duval	24.3	9,377
		Other/Write-in votes	13.4%	5,159

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,543
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott	98.1	23,173
		Other/Write-in votes	1.9%	448

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,621
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary

Vermont Progressive primary for Governor of Vermont

Marielle Blais (Vermont Progressive Party) advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Governor of Vermont on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Marielle Blais	78.1	268
		Other/Write-in votes	21.9%	75

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 343
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) defeatedBrenda Siegel (D / Vermont Progressive Party),Kevin Hoyt (Independent),Peter Duval (Independent), andBernard Peters (Independent) in the general election for Governor of Vermont on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott (R)	71.0	202,147
		Brenda Siegel (D / Vermont Progressive Party)	24.0	68,248
		Kevin Hoyt (Independent)	2.1	6,022
		Peter Duval (Independent)	1.7	4,723
		Bernard Peters (Independent)	0.8	2,315
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5%	1,346

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 284,801
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Susan Hatch Davis (Vermont Progressive Party)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont

Brenda Siegel (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brenda Siegel	85.9	56,288
		Other/Write-in votes	14.1%	9,235

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 65,523
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) defeatedStephen Bellows (R) andPeter Duval (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott	68.6	20,319
		Stephen Bellows	18.2	5,402
		Peter Duval	12.2	3,627
		Other/Write-in votes	1.0%	290

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 29,638
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary

Vermont Progressive primary for Governor of Vermont

Susan Hatch Davis (Vermont Progressive Party) advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Governor of Vermont on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Susan Hatch Davis	87.4	470
		Other/Write-in votes	12.6%	68

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 538
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2020

General election

General election for Governor of Vermont

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Vermont on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott (R)	68.5	248,412
		David Zuckerman (Vermont Progressive Party / D)	27.4	99,214
		Kevin Hoyt (Independent)	1.3	4,576
		Emily Peyton (Truth Matters Party)	1.0	3,505
		Erynn Whitney (Independent)	0.5	1,777
		Wayne Billado III (Independent)	0.4	1,431
		Michael Devost (Independent)	0.3	1,160
	Submit photo	Charly Dickerson (Independent)	0.3	1,037
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4%	1,599

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 362,711
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• John Klar (Independent)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont

David Zuckerman (D) defeatedRebecca Holcombe (D),Patrick Winburn (D), andRalph Corbo (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Zuckerman	47.6	48,150
		Rebecca Holcombe	37.1	37,599
		Patrick Winburn	7.6	7,662
	Submit photo	Ralph Corbo	1.3	1,288
		Other/Write-in votes	6.5%	6,533

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 101,232
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) defeatedJohn Klar (R),Emily Peyton (R),Douglas Cavett (R), andBernard Peters (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott	72.7	42,275
		John Klar	21.9	12,762
		Emily Peyton	1.7	970
		Douglas Cavett	1.7	966
		Bernard Peters	1.3	772
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7%	426

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,171
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary

Vermont Progressive primary for Governor of Vermont

David Zuckerman (Vermont Progressive Party) defeatedCris Ericson (Vermont Progressive Party) andBoots Wardinski (Vermont Progressive Party) in the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		David Zuckerman (Write-in)	32.6	273
		Cris Ericson	30.3	254
		Boots Wardinski	28.5	239
		Other/Write-in votes	8.6%	72

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 838
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Vermont

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Vermont on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott (R)	55.2	151,261
		Christine Hallquist (D)	40.3	110,335
		Trevor Barlow (Independent)	1.2	3,266
	Submit photo	Charles Laramie (Independent)	0.8	2,287
		Cris Ericson (Independent)	0.8	2,129
	Submit photo	Stephen Marx (Earth Rights Party)	0.7	1,855
		Emily Peyton (Liberty Union Party)	0.7	1,839
		Other/Write-in votes	0.4%	1,115

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 274,0870
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joseph Barney (Independent)

Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont

Christine Hallquist (D) defeatedJames Ehlers (D),Brenda Siegel (D), andEthan Sonneborn (D) in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christine Hallquist	48.2	27,622
		James Ehlers	22.1	12,668
		Brenda Siegel	21.4	12,262
		Ethan Sonneborn	8.2	4,696

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 57,2480
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Governor of Vermont

IncumbentPhil Scott (R) defeatedKeith Stern (R) in the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 14, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Phil Scott	67.4	24,142
		Keith Stern	32.6	11,669

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,8110
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Previous election results

2016

See also:Vermont gubernatorial election, 2016

The general election for governor was held on November 8, 2016.

Phil Scott defeatedSue Minter andBill Lee in the Vermont governor election.

Vermont Governor, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Phil Scott	52.96%	166,817
	Democratic	Sue Minter	44.21%	139,253
	Liberty Union Party	Bill Lee	2.83%	8,912
Total Votes				314,982
Source:Vermont Secretary of State

2014

See also:Vermont gubernatorial election, 2014

Governor of Vermont, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Peter ShumlinIncumbent	46.4%	89,509
	Republican	Scott Milne	45.1%	87,075
	Libertarian	Dan Feliciano	4.4%	8,428
	Liberty Union	Emily Peyton	1.6%	3,157
	Independent	Pete Diamondstone	0.9%	1,673
	Independent	Bernard Peters	0.7%	1,434
	Independent	Cris Ericson	0.6%	1,089
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.4%	722
Total Votes				193,087
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State

2012

See also:Vermont gubernatorial election, 2012

Governor of Vermont General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Peter ShumlinIncumbent	57.8%	170,749
	Republican	Randy Brock	37.6%	110,940
	Independent	Emily Peyton	2%	5,868
	United States Marijuana	Cris Ericson	1.9%	5,583
	Liberty Union	Dave Eagle	0.4%	1,303
	Independent	Write-in	0.3%	969
Total Votes				295,412
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State

2010

On November 2, 2010,Peter Shumlin won election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeatedBrian E. Dubie (R) and 5 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Peter Shumlin	49.5%	119,543
	Republican	Brian E. Dubie	47.7%	115,212
	Independent	Dennis Steele	0.8%	1,917
	United States Marijuana	Cris Ericson	0.8%	1,819
	Independent	Dan Feliciano	0.6%	1,341
	Independent	Em Peyton	0.3%	684
	Liberty Union	Ben Mitchell	0.2%	429
	Write-In	Various	0.3%	660
Total Votes				241,605
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

2008

On November 4, 2008,Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Gaye Symington (D) and 5 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim DouglasIncumbent	53.4%	170,492
	Democratic	Gaye Symington	21.8%	69,534
	Independent	Anthony Pollina	21.9%	69,791
	Cheap Renewable Energy	Tony O'Connor	1%	3,106
	Independent	Sam Young	0.8%	2,490
	Liberty Union	Peter Diamondstone	0.5%	1,710
	Independent	Cris Ericson	0.5%	1,704
	Write-In	Various	0.1%	258
Total Votes				319,085
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

2006

On November 7, 2006,Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Scudder Parker and 4 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim DouglasIncumbent	56.4%	148,014
	Democratic	Scudder Parker	41.2%	108,090
	Independent	Cris Ericson	0.9%	2,477
	Vermont Green	Jim Hogue	0.7%	1,936
	Vermont Localist	Benjamin Clarke	0.5%	1,216
	Liberty Union	Bob Skold	0.2%	638
	Write-In	Various	0.1%	153
Total Votes				262,524
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

2004

On November 2, 2004,Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Peter Clavelle (D) and 4 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2004
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim DouglasIncumbent	58.7%	181,540
	Democratic	Peter Clavelle	37.9%	117,327
	Independent	Patricia Hejny	0.8%	2,431
	Marijuana	Cris Ericson	1.4%	4,221
	Libertarian	Hardy Machia	0.7%	2,263
	Liberty Union	Peter Diamondstone	0.4%	1,298
	Write-In	Various	0.1%	205
Total Votes				309,285
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

2002

On November 5, 2002,Jim Douglas won election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Doug Racine (D) and 8 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Jim Douglas	44.9%	103,436
	Democratic	Doug Racine	42.4%	97,565
	Independent	Cornelius "Con" Hogan	9.7%	22,353
	Progressive	Michael J. Badamo	0.6%	1,380
	Restore-Justice Freedom	Marilynn "Mom" Christian	0.3%	638
	Liberty Union	Pete Diamondstone	0.3%	625
	Make Marijuana Legal	Cris Ericson	0.8%	1,737
	Vermont Grassroots	Patricia Hejny	0.3%	771
	Independent	Brian Pearl	0.2%	569
	Libertarian	Joel Williams	0.4%	938
	Write-In	Various	0.1%	149
Total Votes				230,161
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

2000

On November 7, 2000, Howard Dean won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Ruth Dwyer (R) and 6 minor-party candidates in the general election.

Governor of Vermont, 2000
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Howard DeanIncumbent	50.5%	148,059
	Republican	Ruth Dwyer	37.9%	111,359
	Progressive	Anthony Pollina	9.6%	28,116
	Independent	Marilynn "Mom" Verna Christian	0.4%	1,054
	Liberty Union	Richard F. Gottlieb	0.1%	337
	Libertarian	Hardy Macia	0.3%	785
	Independent	Phil Stannard Sr.	0.7%	2,148
	Vermont Grassroots	Joel W. Williams	0.5%	1,359
	Write-In	Various	0.1%	256
Total Votes				293,473
Election results viaVermont Secretary of State.

History of deadlocked races

TheVermont State Constitution requires winning candidates in gubernatorial, lieutenant gubernatorial and treasurer elections to receive majorities in their respective races. If a gubernatorial election fails to meet this requirement, theVermont State Legislature convenes the following January to select the next governor. Since 1789, there have been 23 gubernatorial elections that failed to meet the majority threshold including the 2014 election. The legislature selected the top vote recipients in20 out of the past 23 deadlocked races and have not selected a second-place finisher as governor since 1853.^[3]

Note: In the following table, abolded name indicates a second-place finisher who was selected as governor by the legislature.

Divisions

Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Vermont has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.

State budget

Role in state budget

See also:Vermont state budget and finances

The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[4]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies inAugust or September of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year.
2. Agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor inOctober.
3. Agency hearings are held inOctober and November.
4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inJanuary.
5. The legislature typically passes a budget inMay. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The fiscal year beginsJuly 1.

In Vermont, the governor cannot exercise veto authority over the budget.^[4]

The governor is not legally required to submit—and the legislature is not legally required to pass—a balanced budget.^[4]

Governor's office budget

The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $2,151,704.^[5]

Compensation

See also:Comparison of gubernatorial salaries andCompensation of state executive officers

The governor, along with the rest of Vermont's elected executives, is legally entitled to an annual salary in accordance with Title 32, Chapter 15 of theVermont Statutes (32 V.S.A. § 1003). Taking into account value adjustments, the statute contains compensation figures for the previous and current year only.^[6]

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $201,136, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[7]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $191,734, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[8]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $184,100, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[9]

2020

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $184,100, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[10]

2019

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $178,274, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[11]

2018

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $166,046, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[12]

2017

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $166,046, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[13]

2016

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $145,538, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[14]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $145,538, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[15]

2014

In 2014, the governor received a salary of $145,538, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[16]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $142,542. Gov.Peter Shumlin took a voluntary 5 percent reduction in his annual salary set in statute.^[17]

2012

In 2012, the governor was paid an estimated$142,542. This figure comes from theCouncil of State Governments.

2010

In 2010, the governor was paid$142,542 a year, the 15th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

Historical officeholders

There have been 82 governors of Vermont since 1791. (The first two officeholders listed in the chart below served as governor prior to admission to the union.) Of the 82 officeholders, 54 were Republican, nine were Whigs, seven were Democrats, four were Democratic-Republicans, three were Federalists, two had no party, one was a Jeffersonian Republican, one was Anti-Masonic and one was Whig/Republican.^[18]

List of Former Officeholders from 1778-Present
#	Name	Tenure	Party
-	Thomas Chittenden	1778 – 1789	No Party
-	Moses Robinson	1789 – 1790	No Party
1	Thomas Chittenden	1790 – 1797	No Party
2	Paul Brigham	1797 – 1797	No Party
3	Isaac Tichenor	1797 – 1807	Federalist
4	Israel Smith	1807 – 1808	Jeffersonian Republican
5	Isaac Tichenor	1808 – 1809	Federalist
6	Jonas Galusha	1809 – 1813	Democratic-Republican
7	Martin Chittenden	1813 – 1815	Federalist
8	Jonas Galusha	1815 – 1820	Democratic-Republican
9	Richard Skinner	1820 – 1823	Democratic-Republican
10	Cornelius P. Van Ness	1823 – 1826	Democratic-Republican
11	Ezra Butler	1826 – 1828	Democratic
12	Samuel C. Crafts	1828 – 1831	Whig
13	William A. Palmer	1831 – 1835	Anti-Masonic
14	Silas H. Jension	1835 – 1841	Whig
15	Charles Paine	1841 – 1843	Whig
16	John Mattocks	1843 – 1844	Whig
17	William Slade	1844 – 1846	Whig
18	Horace Eaton	1846 – 1848	Whig
19	Carlos Coolidge	1848 – 1850	Whig
20	Charles Kilborn Williams	1850 – 1852	Whig
21	Erastus Fairbanks	1852 – 1853	Whig
22	John Staniford Robinson	1853 – 1854	Democratic
23	Stephen Royce	1854 – 1856	Whig/Republican
24	Ryland Fletcher	1856 – 1858	Republican
25	Hiland Hall	1858 – 1860	Republican
26	Erastus Fairbanks	1860 – 1861	Republican
27	Frederick Holbrook	1861 – 1863	Republican
28	John Gregory Smith	1863 – 1865	Republican
29	Paul Dillingham	1865 – 1867	Republican
30	John B. Page	1867 – 1869	Republican
31	Peter T. Washburn	1869 – 1870	Republican
32	George Whitman Hendee	1870 – 1870	Republican
33	John Wolcott Stewart	1870 – 1872	Republican
34	Julius Converse	1872 – 1874	Republican
35	Asahel Peck	1874 – 1876	Republican
36	Horace Fairbanks	1876 – 1878	Republican
37	Redfield Proctor	1878 – 1880	Republican
38	Roswell Farnham	1880 – 1882	Republican
39	John Lester Barstow	1882 – 1884	Republican
40	Samuel E. Pingree	1884 – 1886	Republican
41	Ebenezer Jolls Ormsbee	1886 – 1888	Republican
42	William Paul Dillingham	1888 – 1890	Republican
43	Carroll Smalley Page	1890 – 1892	Republican
44	Levi Knight Fuller	1892 – 1894	Republican
45	Urban Andrain Woodbury	1894 – 1896	Republican
46	Josiah Grout	1896 – 1898	Republican
47	Edward Curtis Smith	1898 – 1900	Republican
48	William W. Stickney	1900 – 1902	Republican
49	John Griffith McCullough	1902 – 1904	Republican
50	Charles James Bell	1904 – 1906	Republican
51	Fletcher Dutton Proctor	1906 – 1908	Republican
52	George Prouty	1908 – 1910	Republican
53	John Abner Mead	1910 – 1912	Republican
54	Allen M. Fletcher	1912 – 1915	Republican
55	Charles W. Gates	1915 – 1917	Republican
56	Horace French Graham	1917 – 1919	Republican
57	Percival W. Clement	1919 – 1921	Republican
58	James Hartness	1921 – 1923	Republican
59	Redfield Proctor	1923 – 1925	Republican
60	Franklin Swift Billings	1925 – 1927	Republican
61	John Eliakim Weeks	1927 – 1931	Republican
62	Stanley Calef Wilson	1931 – 1935	Republican
63	Charles Manley Smith	1935 – 1937	Republican
64	George D. Aiken	1937 – 1941	Republican
65	William H. Wills	1941 – 1945	Republican
66	Mortimer R. Proctor	1945 – 1947	Republican
67	Ernest William Gibson	1947 – 1950	Republican
68	Harold John Arthur	1950 – 1951	Republican
69	Lee Emerson	1951 – 1955	Republican
70	Joseph Blaine Johnson	1955 – 1959	Republican
71	Robert T. Stafford	1959 – 1961	Republican
72	F. Ray Keyser	1961 – 1963	Republican
73	Philip Henderson Hoff	1963 – 1969	Democratic
74	Reane C. Davis	1969 – 1973	Republican
75	Thomas P. Salmon	1973 – 1977	Democratic
76	Richard A. Snelling	1977 – 1985	Republican
77	Madeleine M. Kunin	1985 – 1991	Democratic
78	Richard A. Snelling	1991 – 1991	Republican
79	Howard Dean	1991 – 2003	Democratic
80	Jim Douglas	2003 – 2011	Republican
81	Peter Shumlin	2011 – 2017	Democratic
82	Phil Scott	2017 - present	Republican

History

Partisan balance 1992–2013

See also:Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States andBallotpedia:Who Runs the States, Vermont

Partisan breakdown of the Vermont governorship from 1992–2013

From 1992 to 2013, in Vermont there were Democratic governors in office for 14 years, including the last three, while there were Republican governors in office for eight years. Vermont was under Democratictrifectas for the last three years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of theOffice of the Governor of Vermont, theVermont State Senate and theVermont House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Vermont state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the course of the study, Vermont had Democratic trifectas from 1997 to 2000 and from 2011 to 2013. Its lowest ranking, finishing 33rd, occurred in 2008 during a divided government. Its highest ranking, finishing 15th, also occurred during a divided government from 2003 to 2004.

Chart displaying the partisanship of the Vermont government from 1992 to 2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

State profile

Presidential voting pattern

See also:Presidential voting trends in Vermont

Vermontvoted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won thesePivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Vermont, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.^[19]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won asRetained Pivot Counties and those won byJoe Biden (D) asBoomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Vermont had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Vermont coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Vermont
• United States congressional delegations from Vermont
• Public policy in Vermont
• Endorsers in Vermont
• Vermont fact checks
• More...

Contact information

Mailing address:^[20]
109 State Street, Pavilion
Montpelier, VT 05609-0101
Phone: 802-828-3333
Fax: 802-828-3339

See also

Vermont	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
Vermont State Executive OfficesVermont State LegislatureVermont Courts	2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016Vermont elections:2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016	Party control of state governmentState government trifectasState of the state addressesPartisan composition of governors

• Vermont state executive offices

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Vermont Governor

Footnotes

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