1976 Vermont gubernatorial election

1976 Vermont gubernatorial election
	Snelling: 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90%; Hackel: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80%
Governor before election; Thomas P. Salmon ; Democratic	Elected Governor; Richard Snelling ; Republican

Last updated August 17, 2025

The 1976 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1976. Incumbent Democrat Thomas P. Salmon did not seek another term as Governor of Vermont, instead running for United States Senate. Republican candidate Richard A. Snelling won the election, defeating Democratic candidate Stella B. Hackel and Liberty Union candidate Bernie Sanders.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Brian D. Burns, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont ^[1]
Stella B. Hackel, Vermont State Treasurer ^[1]
Robert O'Brien, state senator^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stella B. Hackel	18,522	43.9
	Democratic	Brian D. Burns	14,725	34.9
	Democratic	Robert O'Brien	8,809	20.9
	Democratic	Other	71	0.2
Total votes			42,127	100

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard A. Snelling	24,279	72.0
	Republican	William G. Craig	9,429	28.0
Total votes			'*33,708'*	'*100'*

Liberty Union primary

Results

Liberty Union primary results^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberty Union	Bernie Sanders	433	98.6
	Liberty Union	Other	6	1.4
Total votes			'*439'*	'*100'*

General election

Results

1976 Vermont gubernatorial election^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard A. Snelling	98,206	52.8
	Bi-Partisan Vermonters	Richard A. Snelling	1,062	0.6
	Total	Richard A. Snelling	99,268	53.4
	Democratic	Stella B. Hackel	72,761	39.1
	Independent Vermonters	Stella B. Hackel	2,501	1.3
	Total	Stella B. Hackel	75,262	40.4
	Liberty Union	Bernie Sanders ^[4]	11,317	6.1
	N/A	Other	82	0.0
Total votes			'*185,929'*	'*100'*

References

1 2 3 "Profiles of the three Democrats in Vermont governor's race". The Brattleboro Reformer. September 13, 1976. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
1 2 3 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
↑ "General Election Results – Governor – 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
↑ "Sanders: 'We begin a political revolution'". Burlington Free Press. May 27, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Wednesday, October 6, 1976, Bernard Sanders, 35, returns to the campaign trail, this time running in an open-seat governor's race as the Liberty Union Party standard-bearer. In an interview with the Burlington Free Press, he is asked why he's running. "When I was a boy and watched presidents and other candidates on television, it became clear what they were saying didn't make sense to my parents or even me," he answers. "I came to realize it is right and necessary for people to stand up and oppose what is wrong. I have learned that people will respond if you tell them the truth about how you see the world."

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[Profiles-1] 1 2 3 "Profiles of the three Democrats in Vermont governor's race". The Brattleboro Reformer. September 13, 1976. Retrieved February 14, 2022.

[primary-2] 1 2 3 "Primary Election Results" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.

[results-3] "General Election Results – Governor – 1789-2012" (PDF). Office of the Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.

[sanders-4] "Sanders: 'We begin a political revolution'". Burlington Free Press. May 27, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Wednesday, October 6, 1976, Bernard Sanders, 35, returns to the campaign trail, this time running in an open-seat governor's race as the Liberty Union Party standard-bearer. In an interview with the Burlington Free Press, he is asked why he's running. "When I was a boy and watched presidents and other candidates on television, it became clear what they were saying didn't make sense to my parents or even me," he answers. "I came to realize it is right and necessary for people to stand up and oppose what is wrong. I have learned that people will respond if you tell them the truth about how you see the world."

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

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1976 Vermont gubernatorial election

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Results

Liberty Union primary

Results

General election

Results

References