2020 Vermont gubernatorial election

Last updated

2020 Vermont gubernatorial election
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  Phil Scott 2019 (cropped).jpg Lt Gov David Zuckerman.jpg
Nominee Phil Scott David Zuckerman
Party Republican Progressive
Alliance Democratic
Popular vote248,41299,214
Percentage68.49%27.35%
2020 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2020 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
VT Governor 2020.svg
Scott:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Zuckerman:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Tie:     50%     No votes
Governor before election

Phil Scott
Republican

Elected Governor

Phil Scott
Republican

The 2020 Vermont gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of Vermont. As Vermont does not impose term limits upon its governors, incumbent Republican governor Phil Scott was eligible to run for re-election to a third two-year term in office. On November 18, 2019, he confirmed that he was running for reelection, but did not yet publicly announce his campaign. [1] On May 28, 2020, he officially announced his candidacy but stated that he would not campaign, maintain a campaign staff, or fundraise because of the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont. [2] The primary was held on August 11. Scott won re-election to a third term in a landslide, defeating Progressive and Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman.

Contents

Scott's 41-point victory margin was the largest in a Vermont gubernatorial election since 1996 and the largest for a Republican candidate since 1950, even while Democrat Joe Biden carried the state by a more than the 35-point margin in the concurrent presidential election which was his strongest performance in the nation. Scott would improve upon his performance again in 2022.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Douglas Cavett [3]
  • John Klar, lawyer and pastor [4]
  • Bernard Peters, independent candidate for governor in 2014 and for state representative in 1986
  • Emily Peyton, independent candidate for governor in 2012 and 2014, Liberty Union nominee for governor in 2018 [5]

Results

Results by county: .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Scott--80-90% Scott--70-80% Scott--60-70% 2020 VT GOV GOP primary.svg
Results by county:
  Scott—80–90%
  Scott—70–80%
  Scott—60–70%
Republican primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Phil Scott (incumbent) 42,275 72.67%
Republican John Klar12,76221.94%
Republican Emily Peyton9701.67%
Republican Douglas Cavett9661.66%
Republican Bernard Peters7721.33%
Republican Write-ins4260.73%
Total votes58,171 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Rebecca Holcombe

State officials

Party chairs

Organizations

David Zuckerman

Federal officials

Individuals

Debates & forums

Results

Results by county: Zuckerman--50-60% Zuckerman--40-50% Zuckerman--30-40% Holcombe--40-50% 2020 VT GOV Dem primary.svg
Results by county:
  Zuckerman—50–60%
  Zuckerman—40–50%
  Zuckerman—30–40%
  Holcombe—40–50%
Democratic primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic David Zuckerman 48,150 47.56%
Democratic Rebecca Holcombe37,59937.14%
Democratic Patrick Winburn7,6627.57%
Democratic Ralph Corbo1,2881.27%
Democratic Write-ins6,5336.45%
Total votes101,232 100.0%

Progressive Party

Leaders within the Progressive Party endorsed David Zuckerman for the gubernatorial election, advocating for Zuckerman to be elected with write-in voters. [19] The party has stated that if Cris Ericson won the primary, "they would likely issue a 'non-endorsement.'" [19] On election night the progressive nomination was listed as too close to call. [20] Zuckerman was confirmed to have won the nomination a few days later when the final write-in vote count was confirmed.

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Results

Progressive primary results [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive David Zuckerman (write-in)273 32.62%
Progressive Cris Ericson25430.35%
Progressive Boots Wardinski23928.55%
Progressive Phil Scott (write-in)414.90%
Progressive Write-ins (other)303.58%
Total votes837 100.0%

General election

Candidates

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Inside Elections [23] Safe ROctober 28, 2020
270toWin [24] Safe RNovember 2, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball [25] Safe RNovember 2, 2020
The Cook Political Report [26] Safe ROctober 23, 2020
Politico [27] Likely RNovember 2, 2020
RCP [28] Likely RNovember 2, 2020
Daily Kos [29] Safe ROctober 28, 2020

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Phil
Scott (R)		David
Zuckerman (P/D)		Other /
Undecided
Braun Research [30] September 3–15, 2020582 (LV)± 4%55%24%17% [c]
We Ask America [31] June 2–3, 2020500 (LV)± 4.4%60%25%15%
Braun Research [32] February 4–10, 2020603 (RV)± 4.0%52%29%19%
Hypothetical polling

with Rebecca Holcombe

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Phil
Scott
(R)		Rebecca
Holcombe (D)		Other /
Undecided
We Ask America [31] June 2–3, 2020500 (LV)± 4.4%62%20%18%
Braun Research/VPR [33] February 4–10, 2020603 (RV)± 4.0%55%20%26%

Endorsements

David Zuckerman (P/D)

Federal officials

  • Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont, candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 [16]

State politicians

  • Tim Ashe, Senate president pro tempore, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2020
  • Christopher Pearson, state senator
  • Anthony Pollina, state senator, Progressive minority leader
  • Brenda Siegel, candidate for lieutenant governor in 2020, candidate for governor in 2018 [34] [35]

Individuals

Organizations

Debates and forums

Results

2020 Vermont gubernatorial election [37]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Phil Scott (incumbent) 248,412 68.49% +13.30
Progressive David Zuckerman 99,21427.35%N/A
Independent Kevin Hoyt4,5761.26%N/A
Independent Emily Peyton3,5050.97%N/A
Independent Erynn Hazlett Whitney1,7770.49%N/A
Independent Wayne Billado III1,4310.39%N/A
Independent Michael A. Devost1,1600.32%N/A
Independent Charly Dickerson1,0370.29%N/A
Write-in 1,5990.44%N/A
Total votes362,711 100.0% +32.33
Rejected ballots8,2572.23%
Turnout 370,96873.27%
Registered electors 506,312
Republican hold

By county

By county
County Phil Scott
Republican 		David Zuckerman
Progressive 		Kevin Hoyt
Independent 		Various candidates
Other parties		 Write-in MarginTotal
votes
#%#%#%#%#%#%
Addison 15,03468.756,21828.441250.574051.85850.398,81640.3221,867
Bennington 12,05360.245,84629.221,3136.567333.66620.316,20731.0220,007
Caledonia 11,70173.253,47121.732241.404752.971020.648,23051.5215,973
Chittenden 64,91266.5030,54131.294020.411,4991.542610.2734,37135.2197,615
Essex 2,40875.7055117.32621.951354.24250.791,85758.383,181
Franklin 20,09578.354,25116.572681.049083.541270.5015,84461.7725,649
Grand Isle 3,75577.8492419.15260.541112.3080.172,83158.694,824
Lamoille 10,69572.193,63924.561030.702972.00820.557,05647.6214,816
Orange 12,17471.624,13224.312221.313792.23920.548,04247.3116,999
Orleans 10,29174.302,69019.422521.824783.451401.017,60154.8813,851
Rutland 24,58873.337,12921.265821.749442.822870.8617,45952.0733,530
Washington 24,18869.089,83328.082470.716041.721440.4114,35541.0035,016
Windham 13,78154.0510,30840.433341.311,0214.00550.223,47313.6225,499
Windsor 22,73767.109,68128.574161.239212.721290.3813,05638.5333,884
Totals248,41268.4999,21427.354,5761.268,9102.461,5990.44149,19841.13362,711

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Notes

  1. ↑ Zuckerman is a member of the Progressive Party but also runs in Democratic primaries.
  2. 1 2 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. ↑ "Other/not sure/no opinion" with 16%; "No one/not voting on this item" with 1%; Billado (I), Devot (I), Dickerson (I), Hoyt (I), "refused" and Whitney (I) with 0%

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References

  1. 1 2 Landen, Xander. "Scott says he's undecided on 2020 — but he's already fundraising". Vermont Digger. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Baird, Joel Banner. "Gov. Scott seeks a third term, but will forego a campaign and fundraising". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Vermont 2020 Candidate List".
  4. ↑ Margolis, Jon (October 28, 2019). "Margolis: 'Rural populist' and GOP newcomer announces candidacy for governor". VTDigger. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 "Election Information & Resources". sos.vermont.gov. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Vermont Election Results - Official Results". Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  7. ↑ Kinzel, Bob (January 13, 2020). "Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman Confirms The Speculation: He's Running For Governor In 2020". Vermont Public Radio . Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  8. ↑ Winger, Richard (August 18, 2020). "David Zuckerman Wins Vermont Progressive Party Gubernatorial Nomination by Write-in Votes". Ballot Access News .
  9. ↑ Heintz, Paul (July 16, 2019). "Former Ed Secretary Rebecca Holcombe to Run for Governor of Vermont". Seven Days. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Winburn for Governor | Winburn2020.com | United States". Mysite.
  11. ↑ Landen, Xander; Norton, Kit; Meyn, Colin (June 5, 2019). "Attorney general eyes run for governor in 2020. 'I've had conversations.'". VTDigger. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  12. ↑ Landen, Xander (November 21, 2018). "Hallquist isn't ruling out another run. But for now, she's job hunting". VTDigger. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announces he is running for Utah governor, vows a 'different,' positive campaign". The Salt Lake Tribune . May 14, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Supporter". Rebecca for Vermont. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  15. ↑ "EMILY's List Endorses Rebecca Holcombe for Vermont Governor". www.emilyslist.org.
  16. 1 2 "Bernie Sanders Endorses David Zuckerman for Governor". Seven Days.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Ben and Jerry Endorse David". David Zuckerman for Governor. February 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Bill McKibben Endorses David Zuckerman". David Zuckerman for Governor. February 13, 2020. Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  19. 1 2 Elder-Connors, Liam. "Progressive Party Asks For Write-In To Beat Gubernatorial Candidates On Its Ballot". www.vpr.org. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Progressive governor race still too close to call". VTDigger. August 13, 2020.
  21. ↑ "VT Elections Database » Candidate Profile..." VT Elections Database.
  22. ↑ "VT Elections Database » Candidate Profile..." VT Elections Database.
  23. ↑ "2020 Gubernatorial Ratings". insideelections.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  24. ↑ "2020 Gubernatorial Elections Map". 270towin.
  25. ↑ "2020 Gubernatorial race ratings". Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  26. ↑ "2020 Governor Race Ratings for October 23, 2020". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  27. ↑ "We rated every gubernatorial race in 2020. Here's who we think will win". Politico. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  28. ↑ "2020 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  29. ↑ "2020 Governor Race Ratings". Daily Kos. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ Braun Research
  31. 1 2 We Ask America
  32. ↑ Braun Research
  33. ↑ Braun Research/VPR
  34. ↑ @BrendaForVT (October 3, 2020). "Proud to endorse David Zuckerman for Governor of Vermont! We're not better off than 4 years ago, we need a leader w…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. ↑ "It Is Time. We Can't Wait". us18.campaign-archive.com.
  36. 1 2 3 "Campaign Briefs: Zuckerman announces ex-gov endorsements". The Brattleboro Reformer. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  37. ↑ "2020 General Election Canvass Report" (PDF). Vermont Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.

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