The 2022 Vermont Senate election took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennialUnited States elections. The election coincided with elections for other offices including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and State House. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 16 districts, with each district electing between one and three senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. Primary elections were held on August 9, 2022.[1][2] This election would be the first to use new districts adopted by the Vermont General Assembly to allocate for population changes across the state after the 2020 census.[3]
Democrats and Progressives retained their combined 23-seat supermajority. Because Democrats and Progressives simultaneously won a supermajority in the Vermont House of Representatives for the first time ever, this meant that they could pass bills that were vetoed by Republican governorPhil Scott. Republicans lost one seat during redistricting, as Joe Benning's Caledonia County seat was eliminated, but they made up for this loss by gaining a seat from Democrats in Rutland County. Democrats still managed a net gain of one seat, as they won the newly created Chittenden North district and gained a seat from Progressives in Washington County. This left newly elected senator Tanya Vyhovsky as the only Progressive in the Senate, although four of the elected Democrats were also nominated by the Progressive Party and appeared on the ballot as "Democratic/Progressive."[4]
With incumbent Democratic president pro tempore Becca Balint retiring to run for U.S. House, Democrats had to nominate a new candidate who would take the position in the event they retained their majority. Ahead of the November 13 leadership vote, Philip Baruth of Chittenden was running unopposed. Andrew Perchlik of Washington had expressed interest in running but decided against it, and told VTDigger that the president pro tempore election was "not much of a race." Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Chittenden and Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson of Windsor, who had been speculated as potential candidates by media, both said they would not run and endorsed Baruth's bid.[16] Democrats retained their Senate majority and Baruth was unanimously elected as the new president pro tempore, becoming the second president pro tempore to caucus with both Democrats and Progressives after Tim Ashe.[17] Additionally, Clarkson was reelected as Majority Leader and Perchlik was elected Majority Whip, succeeding the retiring Cheryl Hooker.[18]
Incumbent Democrats Ruth Hardy, who had represented the district since 2019, and Christopher Bray, who had represented the district since 2013, both ran for re-election.
Incumbent Democrats Dick Sears, who had represented the district since 1993, and Brian Campion, who had represented the district since 2015, both ran for re-election.
Following statewide redistricting, the Caledonia district now only elects one senator instead of two. Incumbent Democrat Jane Kitchel, who had represented the district since 2005, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Joe Benning, who had represented the district since 2011, retired to run for lieutenant governor.[6]
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrat Phil Baruth, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2011, ran for re-election here. Incumbent Progressive Christopher Pearson, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2017, retired.[7]
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. The new Chittenden North district had no incumbent.
Democratic primary
Brian Shelden, chair of Essex Democrats and former director of the Essex Economic Development Commission[38]
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrats Thomas Chittenden and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, who had both represented the Chittenden district since 2021, and Ginny Lyons, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2001, all ran for re-election here. Incumbent Democrat Michael Sirotkin, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2014, retired.[8]
Following statewide redistricting, the former Essex-Orleans district, which elected two senators, has been split up into the Essex and Orleans districts, which each elect one senator. Incumbent Republican Russ Ingalls, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2021, ran for re-election.
Incumbent Republican Randy Brock, who had represented this district since 2017, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Corey Parent, who had represented this district since 2019, retired.[9]
Following statewide redistricting, the former Essex-Orleans district, which elected two senators, has been split up into the Essex and Orleans districts, which each elect one senator. Incumbent Democrat Robert Starr, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2005, ran for re-election here.
Incumbent Republican Brian Collamore, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. Incumbent Democrat Cheryl Hooker, who had represented the district since 2019, and incumbent Republican Joshua Terenzini, who had represented the district since 2021, were both retiring.[11][10]
Incumbent Democrats Ann Cummings, who had represented the district since 1997, and Andrew Perchlik, who had represented the district since 2019, both sought re-election. Incumbent Progressive Leader Anthony Pollina, who had represented the district since 2011, retired.[12]
Incumbent Democrat Senate President pro tempore Becca Balint, who had represented the district since 2015, retired to run for Congress.[13] Incumbent Democrat Jeanette White, who had represented the district since 2003, also retired.[14]
After winning the primary, Mark Coester filed to run as an independent instead. The Windham County Republican Committee chose Richard Morton, the third-place primary finisher, to replace him as the second Republican on the general election ballot.[70]
Incumbent Democrats Alison Clarkson, who had represented the district since 2017, and Richard McCormack, who had represented the district since 2007, both sought re-election. Incumbent Democrat Alice Nitka, who had represented the district since 2007, retired.[15]
↑ In the 2020 election, 21 of the elected senators were primarily Democrats. However, 5 of the elected senators were primarily affiliated with a different party but were also nominated by the Democratic Party and listed "Democratic" on the ballot as a secondary nomination.
↑ In the 2020 election, 7 of the elected senators were primarily Republicans. However, 2 of the elected senators were primarily affiliated with a different party but were also nominated by the Republican Party and listed "Republican" on the ballot as a secondary nomination.
↑ In the 2020 election, 2 of the elected senators were primarily Progressives. However, 3 of the elected senators were primarily affiliated with a different party but were also nominated by the Progressive Party and listed "Progressive" on the ballot as a secondary nomination.
↑ Candidate received the nominations of both the Democratic and Republican parties and will be listed on the ballot as "Democratic/Republican" (candidate is primarily a Democrat).
1 2 According to the official canvassing report this candidate was listed as having won the Republican nomination via write-in votes, but will be listed on the ballot as only the nominee of the Democratic Party, implying that they declined the Republican nomination.
1 2 3 4 Candidate received the nominations of both the Democratic and Progressive parties and will be listed on the ballot as "Democratic/Progressive" (candidate is primarily a Democrat).
↑ Candidate received the nominations of both the Progressive and Democratic parties and will be listed on the ballot as "Progressive/Democratic" (candidate is primarily a Progressive).
1 2 Candidate received the nominations of both the Republican and Democratic parties and was listed on the ballot as "Republican/Democratic" (candidate is primarily a Republican)
↑ Candidate received the nominations of both the Republican and Libertarian parties and was listed on the ballot as "Republican/Libertarian" (candidate is primarily a Republican)
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