Vermont gubernatorial election, 2016

Vermont gubernatorial election, 2016

November 8, 2016

Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Governor Peter Shumlin Democratic

The 2016 Vermont gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor of Vermont, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin has decided not to run for re-election to a fourth term in office.^[1]

Background

Two-term Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin ran for re-election in 2014 and was widely expected to win easily. However, he only took a plurality of the vote, 46.36%, to Republican Scott Milne's 45.1%, and thus the result was decided by the Vermont General Assembly. The Assembly picked Shumlin by 110 votes to 69. Shumlin announced in June 2015 that he would not run for a fourth term.^[2]

Vermont and New Hampshire are the only states in the country whose governors are elected every two years.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Matt Dunne, former State Senator and candidate for Governor in 2010^[3]
• Peter W. Galbraith, former State Senator and former United States Ambassador to Croatia^[4][5]
• Sue Minter, former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation and former State Representative^[6]
• H. Brooke Paige, former CEO of Remington News Service, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and Democratic candidate for Governor and Attorney General in 2014 (may concurrently run again for Attorney General as a write-in candidate in the Republican primary)^[7] brookepaige.us

Withdrawn

• Shap Smith, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives^[8][9]

Potential

• Chuck Ross, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets and former State Representative^[4]

Declined

• Tim Ashe, State Senator^[4]
• James C. Condos, Secretary of State of Vermont and former State Senator (running for re-election)^[1]
• T.J. Donovan, Chittenden County State's Attorney and candidate for Vermont Attorney General in 2012 (running for Vermont Attorney General)^[10]
• M. Jane Kitchel, State Senator^[4]
• Deborah Markowitz, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, former Secretary of State of Vermont and candidate for Governor in 2010^[11]
• Doug Racine, former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, former Lieutenant Governor, nominee for Governor in 2002 and candidate for Governor in 2010^[12]
• Peter Shumlin, incumbent Governor^[1]
• Miro Weinberger, Mayor of Burlington^[4]
• Peter Welch, U.S. Representative and nominee for Governor in 1990^[13]

Endorsements

Sue Minter

Individuals Philip H. Hoff, former Governor of Vermont[14] Madeleine M. Kunin, former Governor of Vermont, former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and former United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein[6] Doug Racine, former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, former Lieutenant Governor, nominee for Governor in 2002 and candidate for Governor in 2010[12] Mary Sullivan, State Representative[12] Organizations EMILY's List[15]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Matt Dunne	Sue Minter	Other	Undecided
Castleton Polling Institute	February 3-17, 2016	895	± 3.27%	19%	11%	18%	51%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Bruce Lisman, retired banker^[16]
• Phil Scott, Lieutenant Governor^[17][18]

Potential

• Brian Dubie, former Lieutenant Governor and nominee for Governor in 2010^[4]
• Dan Feliciano, consultant and Libertarian nominee for Governor in 2014^[4]

Declined

• Randy Brock, former State Senator, former Vermont Auditor of Accounts and nominee for Governor in 2012 (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[19]
• Scott Milne, businessman and nominee for Governor in 2014^[20]

Endorsements

Phil Scott

Current and Former Vermont State Officials Jim Douglas, former Governor of Vermont[21] Vermont State Senators Dick Mazza, State Senator (D-Grand Isle)[22] Joe Benning, Vermont Senate Minority Leader (R-Caledonia)[23] Brian Collamore, Vermont Senate Assistant Minority Leader (R-Rutland)[24] Richard Westman, Vermont State Senator (R-Lamoille)[24] Dustin Allard Degree, Vermont State Senator (R-Franklin)[24] Margaret Flory, Vermont State Senator (R-Rutland)[24] Kevin Mullin, Vermont State Senator (R-Rutland)[24] Helen Riehle, Vermont State Senator (R-Chittenden)[24] William T. Doyle, Vermont State Senator (R-Washington)[24] Vermont State Representatives Brian K. Savage, Vermont House Assistant Minority Leader (R-Swanton)[24] Warren Van Wyck, Vermont State Representative (R-Ferrisburgh)[24] Fred Baser, Vermont State Representative (R-Bristol)[24] Harvey Smith, Vermont State Representative (R-New Haven)[24] Patti Komline, Vermont State Representative (R-Dorset)[24] Marcia Martel, Vermont State Representative (R-Waterford)[24] Scott Beck, Vermont State Representative (R-St. Johnsbury)[24] Janssenn Willhoit, Vermont State Representative (R-St. Johnsbury)[24] Martha Feltus, Vermont State Representative (R-Lyndonville)[24] Richard Lawrence, Vermont State Representative (R-Lyndonville)[24] Ronald Hubert, Vermont State Representative (R-Milton)[24] Kurt Wright, Vermont State Representative (R-Burlington)[24] Linda Myers, Vermont State Representative (R-Essex Junction)[24] Robert Bancroft, Vermont State Representative (R-Westford)[24] Joey Purvis, Vermont State Representative (R-Colchester)[24] Patrick Brennan, Vermont State Representative (R-Colchester)[24] Constance Quimby, Vermont State Representative (R-Concord)[24] Paul Lefebvre, Vermont State Representative (R-Island Pond)[24] Carolyn Branagan, Vermont State Representative (R-Georgia)[24] Corey Parent, Vermont State Representative (R-St. Albans)[24] Eileen Dickinson, Vermont State Representative (R-St. Albans)[24] Marianna Gamache, Vermont State Representative (R-Swanton)[24] Steven Beyor, Vermont State Representative (R-Highgate Springs)[24] Albert Pearce, Vermont State Representative (R-Richford)[24] Larry Fiske, Vermont State Representative (R-Enosburg Falls)[24] Heidi Scheuermann, Vermont State Representative (R-Stowe)[24] Bernard Juskiewicz, Vermont State Representative (R-Cambridge)[24] Lynn Batchelor, Vermont State Representative (R-Derby Line)[24] Loren Shaw, Vermont State Representative (R-Derby)[24] Michael Marcotte, Vermont State Representative (R-Newport)[24] Gary Viens, Vermont State Representative (R-Newport)[24] Vicki Strong, Vermont State Representative (R-Irasburg)[24] Mark Higley, Vermont State Representative (R-Lowell)[24] Patricia McCoy, Vermont State Representative (R-Poultney)[24] Thomas Burditt, Vermont State Representative (R-West Rutland)[24] William Canfield, Vermont State Representative (R-Fair Haven)[24] Robert Helm, Vermont State Representative (R-Fair Haven)[24] Thomas Terenzini, Vermont State Representative (R-Rutland Town)[24] Peter Fagan, Vermont State Representative (R-Rutland City)[24] Lawrence Cupoli, Vermont State Representative (R-Rutland City)[24] Butch Shaw, Vermont State Representative (R-Florence)[24] Dennis Devereux, Vermont State Representative (R-Belmont)[24] Anne Donahue, Vermont State Representative (R-Northfield)[24] Patti Lewis, Vermont State Representative (R-Berlin)[24] Robert LaClair, Vermont State Representative (R-Barre Town)[24] Francis McFaun, Vermont State Representative (R-Barre Town)[24] Michael Hebert, Vermont State Representative (R-Vernon)[24] Vermont Businesspeople Scott Milne, businessman and Republican nominee for Governor in 2014[20]

On May 6, 2016, Scott received the endorsements of all Vermont Republican legislators–which are listed above–except State Representatives Donald Turner, Doug Gage, Mary Morrissey, Job Tate, and Paul Dame.^[25] Among those five legislators who did not endorse Scott, four said they always remain neutral in a party primary election, and one is waiting until after the filing deadline to make an endorsement.^[26]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Scott	Bruce Lisman	Other	Undecided
Castleton Polling Institute	February 3-17, 2016	895	± 3.27%	42%	4%	13%	40%

Progressive primary

Candidates

Potential

• Anthony Pollina, State Senator, nominee for Governor in 2000 and Independent candidate for Governor in 2008^[4][27]

Declined

• Tim Ashe, State Senator^[4]
• Jane Knodell, Burlington City Councilor^[27]
• Christopher Pearson, State Representative^[27]

References

1. Paul Heintz; Terri Hallenbeck (June 8, 2015). "Shumlin Announces He Won't Seek Reelection in 2016". Seven Days. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
2. "Shumlin decides against 2016 re-election bid". Burlington Free Press. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
3. Paris Achen (September 2, 2015). "Dunne announces run for governor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
4. Paul Heintz (June 8, 2015). "Shumlin's Retirement Launches 2016 Gubernatorial Race". Seven Days. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
5. Aloe, Jess (March 22, 2016). "Peter Galbraith announces bid for Vermont governor". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
6. Terri Hallenbeck (September 10, 2015). "Sue Minter to Run for Vermont Governor". Seven Days (newspaper). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
7. Josh O'Gorman (June 17, 2015). "Paige opens 2016 gubernatorial race". Rutland Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
8. Paris Achen (August 22, 2015). "Analysis: Should Shap step down as speaker?". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
9. Paris Achen (November 17, 2015). "Shap Smith Suspends His Bid for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
10. NealGoswami (June 23, 2015). "Donovan to run for Attorney General again". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
11. Paul Heintz (June 11, 2015). "Markowitz Won't Run for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
12. Terri Hallenbeck (September 21, 2015). "Doug Racine Won't Run for Gov, Backs Sue Minter". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
13. Simone Pathé (June 26, 2015). "Vermont Rep. Welch Won’t Run for Governor". [Roll Call]]. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
14. "Capital Beat: Let the endorsements roll in". Rutland Herald. December 13, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
15. Burbank, April (February 29, 2016). "Minter picks up endorsement from EMILY's List". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
16. Morgan True (September 1, 2015). "Lisman makes 2016 Republican gubernatorial bid official". VTDigger.org. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
17. Kristin Kelly; Darren Perron (May 28, 2015). "Lt. Gov. Phil Scott weighs run for governor". WCAX-TV. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
18. Terri Hallenbeck (September 8, 2015). "Scott Pins Gubernatorial Campaign on 'Fiscal Responsibility'". sevendaysvt.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
19. Paul Heintz (October 1, 2015). "Randy Brock to Run for Lieutenant Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
20. Terri Hallenbeck (September 29, 2015). "Scott Milne Backs Phil Scott for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
21. Bradley, Pat (September 15, 2015). "Former Governor Jim Douglas Discusses 2016 Republican Race For Vermont Governor". wamc. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
22. "Douglas, Mazza support Scott for governor". vermontbiz. March 11, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
23. Hirschfeld, Peter (August 31, 2015). "Update: Bruce Lisman Running For Governor As A Republican". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
24. "Republican legislators endorse Phil Scott for governor". Vermont Business Magazine. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
25. "Kyle Midura on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
26. "Republican legislators endorse Phil Scott for governor | Vermont Business Magazine". www.vermontbiz.com. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
27. Jasper Craven (September 23, 2015). "Stars of state's Progressive Party still shy in lt. governor bid". VTDigger.org. Retrieved October 1, 2015.

External Links

• Phil Scott for Governor
• Bruce Lisman for Governor
• Matt Dunne for Governor
• Sue Minter for Governor