Incumbent Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin was eligible to run for re-election to a fourth term in office, but opted to retire instead.[1]
The primaries were held on August 9.[2] Former Vermont Agency of Transportation Secretary Sue Minter won the Democratic nomination, and Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott won the Republican primary,[3] with Scott defeating Minter in the general election. This was the first gubernatorial election in Vermont in which the winner was of a different party than the incumbent president since 1992.
Backgroundedit
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.[4]
Vermont and New Hampshire are the only states in the country whose governors are elected every two years.
Democratic primaryedit
In August, Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith announced that he would be a candidate,[5] but ended his candidacy in November 2015, after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.[6] In September, Matt Dunne announced that he would also be a candidate.[7] Also in September, former state legislator Sue Minter, then serving as Vermont's Secretary of Transportation, announced that she would resign her position in order to join the Democratic race.[8] Former Ambassador Peter Galbraith announced his candidacy in March 2016.[9]
In July, H. Brook Paige was excluded from official Democratic Party events after making derogatory comments on social media.[10]
Minter won the nomination decisively, and was endorsed by Dunne but not Galbraith.[11]
Candidatesedit
Declarededit
Matt Dunne, former state senator, Google executive, and candidate for governor in 2010[12]
H. Brooke Paige, former CEO of Remington News Service, candidate for Governor and Attorney General in 2014 and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 (also ran for Attorney General)[16]
Deborah Markowitz, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, former Secretary of State of Vermont and candidate for governor in 2010[20]
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[21]
Doug Racine (D), former Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, former lieutenant governor, nominee for governor in 2002 and candidate for governor in 2010[21]
Mary Sullivan (D), Chittenden state representative[21]
In September 2015, Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott entered the race,[38] and 2014 gubernatorial nominee Scott Milne, who had been considering running, endorsed Scott.[39] In October 2015, retired Wall Street executive Bruce Lisman officially announced his "outsider" candidacy.[40]
Scott was endorsed by most active Vermont Republican politicians, and held a strong lead in a February poll.[41][42] Lisman's campaign criticized Scott for being too closely connected to outgoing Democratic governor Peter Shumlin and for "plagiarizing" Lisman's ideas, and linked Scott to the "failures" of the Vermont Health Connect insurance platform and the school redistricting Act 46;[43][44][45] the candidates' campaigns disagreed over whether this constituted "negative campaigning," and Scott's campaign said the attacks were "patently false".[43]
Job Tate, Vermont State Representative (R-Rutland-Windsor)[65]
Businesspeople
Steve Forbes, businessman and candidate for Republican presidential nominee in 1996 and 2000[66]
On May 6, 2016, Scott received the endorsements of all Vermont Republican legislators (listed above) except State Representatives Donald Turner, Doug Gage, Mary Morrissey, Job Tate, and Paul Dame.[67] Among those five legislators who did not endorse Scott, four said they always remain neutral in a party primary election, and one was waiting until after the filing deadline to make an endorsement.[68]
^ abPaul Heintz; Terri Hallenbeck (June 8, 2015). "Shumlin Announces He Won't Seek Reelection in 2016". Seven Days. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
^"Elections – Vermont Secretary of State". sec.state.vt.us. April 25, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
^Freese, Alicia; Hallenbeck, Terri (August 8, 2016). "Live Coverage of the Vermont Primary Results". Seven Days. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
^"Shumlin decides against 2016 re-election bid". Burlington Free Press. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
^"Shap Smith wants to Succeed Peter Shumlin as next Vermont Governor". The Times Argus. Barre, VT. August 14, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Burbank, April (November 17, 2015). "Shap Smith Suspends Campaign for Governor". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT.
^Gram, David (September 2, 2015). "Google Executive Matt Dunne Running for Vermont Governor". Portland Press Herald. Portland, ME. Associated Press.
^Hallenbeck, Terri (September 10, 2015). "Sue Minter to Run for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Shelburne, VT.
^ abAloe, Jess (March 22, 2016). "Peter Galbraith announces bid for Vermont governor". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
^Craven, Jasper (July 1, 2016). "Vermont Democratic Party bans gubernatorial candidate from events". VTDigger. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Johnson, Mark; Hewitt, Elizabeth; Faher, Mike (August 9, 2016). "Minter cruises to Democratic nomination for governor". VTDigger. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
^Paris Achen (September 2, 2015). "Dunne announces run for governor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
^
"Voters to see familiar faces and new races". Rutland Herald. Archived from the original on 30 May 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
^ abTerri Hallenbeck (September 10, 2015). "Sue Minter to Run for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
^Josh O'Gorman (June 17, 2015). "Paige opens 2016 gubernatorial race". Rutland Herald. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
^Paris Achen (August 22, 2015). "Analysis: Should Shap step down as speaker?". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 22, 2015.
^Paris Achen (November 17, 2015). "Shap Smith Suspends His Bid for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
^NealGoswami (June 23, 2015). "Donovan to run for Attorney General again". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
^Paul Heintz (June 11, 2015). "Markowitz Won't Run for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
^ abcTerri Hallenbeck (September 21, 2015). "Doug Racine Won't Run for Gov, Backs Sue Minter". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
^Simone Pathé (June 26, 2015). "Vermont Rep. Welch Won't Run for Governor". Roll Call. Archived from the original on June 28, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
^ abc"Matt Dunne for VT on Twitter". Twitter. June 7, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
^ abcdefTrue, Morgan; Craven, Jasper (June 7, 2016). "Dunne secures two major labor endorsements". VTDigger. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
^Heintz, Paul (June 29, 2016). "Truant Story: His Presidential Run Is Done, But Sanders Is Still Playing Hooky". Seven Days. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
^True, Morgan; Craven, Jasper (August 7, 2016). "Editorial: Dunne for Democratic gubernatorial nomination". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
^ abBurbank, April (August 2, 2016). "Wind blows renewable energy advocates into Minter camp". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
^Heintz, Paul (July 28, 2016). "Howard Dean Endorses Sue Minter for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
^"Capital Beat: Let the endorsements roll in". Rutland Herald. December 13, 2015. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
^"Supporters: Rep. Jason Lorber". sueminter.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
^"McKibben endorses Dunne for governor". VTDigger. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
^Heintz, Paul (July 31, 2016). "Environmentalist Bill McKibben Dumps Dunne for Minter". Seven Days. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
^Burbank, April (February 29, 2016). "Minter picks up endorsement from EMILY's List". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
^Hirschfeld, Peter (August 2, 2016). "Minter Attracts Environmentalists After Dunne Backs Local Veto Power For Mountaintop Wind". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
^ ab"Scott, Minter, Brock and Smith". The Manchester Journal. July 25, 2016. Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^ ab"Vermont Election Results 2016: Governor Live Map by County, Real-Time Voting Updates". Politico.
^Hallenbeck, Terri (September 7, 2015). "Phil Scott Says He Is Ready to Announce Run for Vermont Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Hallenbeck, Terri (September 29, 2015). "Scott Milne Backs Phil Scott for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Dobbs, Taylor (October 19, 2015). "Lisman Launches Outsider Campaign For Governor". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
^"Poll shows Scott leading in governor's race". Times Argus. February 23, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^ abOgerman, Josh (June 5, 2016). "Are some Vt. campaigns going negative?". Times Argus. Archived from the original on June 7, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^"Campaign strategies taking shape". Times Argus. June 26, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Hallenbeck, Terri (May 30, 2016). "Lisman, Scott Campaigns Clash Over New Flier". Seven Days. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
^Burbank, April (August 9, 2016). "Phil Scott claims GOP primary victory for governor". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
^Morgan True (September 1, 2015). "Lisman makes 2016 Republican gubernatorial bid official". VTDigger.org. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
^Kristin Kelly; Darren Perron (May 28, 2015). "Lt. Gov. Phil Scott weighs run for governor". WCAX-TV. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
^Terri Hallenbeck (September 8, 2015). "Scott Pins Gubernatorial Campaign on 'Fiscal Responsibility'". sevendaysvt.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
^Paul Heintz (October 1, 2015). "Randy Brock to Run for Lieutenant Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
^Bradley, Pat (September 15, 2015). "Former Governor Jim Douglas Discusses 2016 Republican Race For Vermont Governor". wamc. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
^Hirschfeld, Peter (August 31, 2015). "Update: Bruce Lisman Running For Governor As A Republican". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
^"Douglas, Mazza support Scott for governor". vermontbiz. March 11, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
^"Vermont Police Association Endorse Phil Scott". philscott.org. October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
^"Realtors, developers back Scott". VTDigger. October 8, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
^"Vermont Sheriffs' Association endorses Phil Scott for governor". Vermont Business Magazine. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
^"Vermont Troopers Association Endorses Phil Scott for Governor". philscott.org. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
^"VADA endorses Phil Scott for governor". Vermont Business Magazine. July 28, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^Terri Hallenbeck (September 29, 2015). "Scott Milne Backs Phil Scott for Governor". Seven Days. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
^"Editorial: Scott takes the GOP field". The Addison Independent. August 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^"Scott for GOP Nomination". The Burlington Free Press. July 31, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
^"Minter, Scott for governor; Smith for lt. gov". The Stowe Reporter. August 4, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
^ ab"SOUTHERN VERMONT LEADERS ENDORSE BRUCE LISMAN FOR GOVERNOR". vtdigger.org. July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^"LISMAN CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENT FROM REP. JOB TATE". vtdigger.org. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^"forbes endorsing Bruce Lisman". Youtube. June 24, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
^"Kyle Midura on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
^"Republican legislators endorse Phil Scott for governor". Vermont Business Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
^"Vermont's Most Famous Former Baseball Player's Pitch For Governor". WCAX-TV. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
^"2016 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
^"Elections 2015-16". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 15, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^"Gubernatorial Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
^"Our Final 2016 picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
^"2016 Election Maps - 2016 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
^"2016 Governors Races Ratings & News". Governing Magazine. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
^":: Vermont Election Night Results ::". Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
External linksedit
Live results from the Vermont Secretary of State Archived 2016-04-07 at the Wayback Machine