The 2018 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the

Governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

, concurrently with the

election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

of Vermont's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and

elections An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has opera ...

to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together the ...

and various

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * '' Our ...

and local elections. Incumbent

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or again ...

Governor

Phil Scott Philip Brian Scott (born August 4, 1958) is an American politician, businessman and Stock car racing, stock car racer who has served as the List of governors of Vermont, 82nd governor of Vermont since 2017. A member of the Republican Party (Unit ...

, who was first elected in 2016, was re-elected to a second term in office. Hallquist's 40.4% was also the worst performance for a

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

candidate since

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing ...

. As of 2022 this election marked the last time a Democratic candidate won a county in a gubernatorial election in

Vermont Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the ...

, as well as the last time the Republican candidate didn’t win by more than 40 points.

Background

Along with

New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the nor ...

is one of only two states where governors are elected to two-year terms. Republican

was elected in the

2016 election The following elections occurred in the year 2016. Africa Benin Republic *2016 Beninese presidential election 6 March 2016 Cape Verde * 2016 Cape Verdean presidential election 2 October 2016 Chad * 2016 Chadian presidential election 10 A ...

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

, incumbent governor

Eliminated in primary

* Keith Stern, businessman, Republican candidate for

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

2010 File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...

, Independent candidate for U.S. Representative in 2006, Independent candidate for

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

Endorsements

Debates and forums

CCTV Channel 17 Republican Primary Forum for Governor 7/25/2018

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

Christine Hallquist Christine Hallquist (born April 11, 1956) is an American politician and former CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC). She is the first openly transgender major-party nominee for governor in the United States, winning the Vermont gubernatori ...

, CEO of

Vermont Electric Cooperative The Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is a consumer-owned electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Johnson, Vermont. In 2019, Vermont Electric Cooperative served about 34,000 members in 74 towns in northern Vermont, including Addiso ...

Eliminated in primary

* James Ehlers, executive director of Lake Champlain International and environmentalist * John S. Rodgers, current

State Senator A state senator is a member of a state's senate in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Description A state senator is a member of an upper house in the bicameral legislatures of 49 ...

from Essex County, former

State Representative A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

, and construction business owner (write-in candidate) *

Brenda Siegel Brenda Lynn Siegel is an American activist and politician who was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 Vermont gubernatorial election. She previously ran in the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2020 and for governor of V ...

opioid epidemic The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse/abuse, and overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs opiates/opioids since the 1990s. It includes the sign ...

and

Brattleboro Brattleboro (), originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The most populous municipality abutting Vermont's eastern border with New Hampshire, which is the Connecticut River, Brattleboro is located about no ...

hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depe ...

relief activist and worker, former community organizer for Bernie Sanders, southern Vermont nonprofit executive and founding director (also ran in Progressive primary) * Ethan Sonneborn, freshman in high school who began his campaign when he was 13 years old. The election was held a few weeks before he entered his freshman year of high school. His campaign was focused on healthcare for all, the environment, economy, and education. Had he won, he would have been the youngest governor in American history. Vermont (as well as Kansas) does not have a minimum age requirement for governor.

Endorsements

Debates and forums

Brattleboro Community TV Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Forum 6/6/2018CCTV Channel 17 Democratic Primary Forum for Governor hosted by VTDigger 8/2/2018

Results

With this result,

became the first openly transgender candidate for governor nominated by a major political party in the United States.

Progressive primary

Candidates

Eliminated in primary

=Write-in

= * Brenda Siegel (also ran in Democratic primary)

Endorsements

Debates and forums

Brattleboro Community TV Meet the Candidates for VT Governor 7/18/2018

Results

Libertarian nomination

Candidates

Withdrawn

* Seth Cournoyer (running for

State Senate A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 27 states, the legislature is simply called the ''Legislature'' or the ''State Legislature'', whil ...

instead)

Liberty Union nomination

Candidates

Declared

* Emily Peyton, candidate for governor in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

Independents

Candidates

Declared

* Trevor Barlow, business and startup executive and founder, coach, as well as community and nonprofit board volunteer *

Cris Ericson Cris Ericson (born May 16, 1952) is an American marijuana legalization activist and perennial candidate for public office in Vermont. She has unsuccessfully run for the governorship of Vermont nine times and for a seat in the United States ...

, activist and

perennial candidate A perennial candidate is a political candidate who frequently runs for elected office and rarely, if ever, wins. Perennial candidates' existence lies in the fact that in some countries, there are no laws that limit a number of times a person can ...

also ran for congress. *Charles Laramie, activist, roofing architect, school teacher,

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

veteran, and

Vermont Air National Guard The Vermont Air National Guard (VT ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Vermont, United States of America. It is, along with the Vermont Army National Guard, an element of the Vermont National Guard. The 158th Fighter Wing is its sole unit. ...

*Stephen Marx, environmentalist

=Write-in

= * Tarl Warwick, far-right author, internet personality, and

YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second most ...

Withdrawn

* Joseph Barney, auto and agricultural mechanic, member of the

Vermont Army National Guard The Vermont National Guard is composed of the Vermont Army National Guard and the Vermont Air National Guard. Together, they are collectively known as the Green Mountain Boys. Both units use the original Revolutionary War-era Flag of the Green ...

, and school teacher

General election

Debates

Complete video of debate
October 17, 2018

Predictions

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Despite initial expectations of a potentially close race due to national blue wave, Scott easily won reelection in what became a difficult year for Republicans, winning by 15 percentage points.

References

External links

Candidates
at

Vote Smart Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. It covers candidates and elected officials in si ...

Candidates
at

Ballotpedia Ballotpedia is a nonprofit and nonpartisan online political encyclopedia that covers federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy in the United States. The website was founded in 2007. Ballotpedia is sponsored by the Lucy Bur ...

;Official campaign websites
Trevor Barlow (I) for GovernorJoseph Barney (I) for GovernorChristine Hallquist (D) for GovernorCharles Laramie (I) for GovernorPhil Scott (R) for Governor
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vermont Gubernatorial Election, 2018 2018 Vermont elections

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

2018 United States gubernatorial elections