2024 Burlington, Vermont, mayoral election

Last updated

2024 Burlington mayoral election
Flag of Burlington, Vermont.svg
  2021 March 5, 20242027 
  Emma Mulvaney-Stanak at Education Funding Policy Discussion (cropped).jpg JoanShannon.jpg
Nominee Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Joan Shannon
Party Progressive Democratic
Popular vote7,6126,696
Percentage51.4%45.2%

Burlington Mayor 2024.svg
Results by ward
Mulvaney-Stanak:     60–70%     70–80%
Shannon:     50–60%     60–70%

Mayor before election

Miro Weinberger
Democratic

Elected mayor

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
Progressive

The 2024 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 5, 2024. It elected the mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Incumbent Democratic mayor Miro Weinberger declined to seek re-election.

Contents

City councilor Joan Shannon defeated CD Mattison and Karen Paul for the Democratic nomination. The Vermont Progressive Party nominated state representative Emma Mulvaney-Stanak.

In the general election, Mulvaney-Stanak prevailed, defeating Shannon and two independent candidates. Mulvaney-Stanak became Burlington's first female and first openly LGBT mayor, as well as being the first Progressive to serve as mayor of Burlington since Bob Kiss left office in 2012. [1]

Background

Miro Weinberger's victory in the 2012 mayoral election made him the first Democrat to serve as Burlington's mayor since Gordon Paquette lost re-election to Bernie Sanders in the 1981 election. [2] Weinberger was re-elected in 2015, 2018, and 2021. Weinberger is the longest serving consecutive mayor in Burlington history and second-longest serving overall after Peter Clavelle. [3]

The Democrats won a majority on the city council in the 2023 elections; previously, the Progressive Party held a plurality of seats on the council. [4]

This was the first Burlington mayoral election to use ranked-choice voting since the 2009 mayoral election. Voters approved a referendum to re-adopt the system for mayoral races in the 2023 election, despite opposition from Weinberger. [5] Kurt Wright, the last Republican to serve on the Burlington city council and a former mayoral candidate, argued that the use of ranked-choice voting would help Republicans, as it meant a Republican could run for mayor and not "drain votes away from another candidate." [6]

Democratic caucus

On September 28, 2023, Weinberger announced that he would not seek reelection. [3] The Democratic caucus was held on December 10. [7]

Nominee

Eliminated at caucus

Declined

Endorsements

Karen Paul
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
  • Sarah Carpenter, Burlington city councilor [11]
Joan Shannon
Local officials
  • Dave Hartnett, former Burlington city councilor [12]
  • Jane Knodell, former Burlington city councilor (Progressive) [12]
Labor unions
  • Burlington Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 1552) [8]
  • Burlington Police Officers’ Association [8]

Results

Democratic caucus results [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Joan Shannon 1,689 50.68
Democratic Karen Paul1,17335.19
Democratic CD Mattison47114.13
Total votes3,333 100.00

Progressive caucus

The Progressive caucus was held on December 7, 2023. [7]

Nominee

Declined

Endorsements

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
Local officials
  • Max Tracy, former city council president and nominee for mayor in 2021 [14]

Republican caucus

The Republican caucus was held on December 19, 2023. [15] No candidate was nominated for the mayoral race.

Declined

Independents

Declared

General election

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the caucuses.

Joan Shannon (D)
Local officials
  • Dave Hartnett, former city councilor [12]
  • Jane Knodell, former city councilor (Progressive) [12]
  • Adam Roof, chair of the Burlington Democratic Party and former city councilor [17]
Labor unions
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (P)
State legislators
Local officials
  • Ali Dieng, city councilor (Independent) [19]
  • Max Tracy, former city council president [14]
Individuals
  • CD Mattison, former vice chair of the Burlington Democratic Party and former 2023 mayoral candidate (Democratic) [18]
Labor unions
Organizations

Fundraising

Shannon raised $132,124 from 651 donors, spending around $60,000. Donors to her campaign include former Vermont Governor Howard Dean and former state Attorney General T.J. Donovan. Mulvaney-Stanak raised $67,052 from 514 donors, spending roughly $35,000. Donors included state Attorney General Charity Clark, city councilor Zoraya Hightower, and former city councilors Vince Brennan and Max Tracy. [23]

Results

2024 Burlington mayoral election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak 7,612 51.4%
Democratic Joan Shannon6,69645.2%
Independent Will Emmons2731.8%
Independent Chris Haessly2051.4%
Total votes14,786 100.00%
Progressive gain from Democratic

Notes

  1. City of Burlington Municipal Employees
  2. Howard Center Union

Related Research Articles

The Vermont Progressive Party, formerly the Progressive Coalition and Independent Coalition, is a political party in the United States that is active in Vermont. It is the third-largest political party in Vermont behind the Democratic and Republican parties. As of 2023, the party has one member in the Vermont Senate and five members in the Vermont House of Representatives, as well as several more affiliated legislators who caucus with the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermont House of Representatives</span> Lower house of the Vermont General Assembly

The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives are elected to a two-year term without term limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Ashe</span> American politician from Vermont

Timothy R. Ashe is an American politician who ran for a wide range of political offices in Vermont and served as a Democrat/Progressive in the Vermont State Senate from Chittenden County from 2009 to 2021 and as President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate from 2017 until 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Burlington mayoral election</span> American municipal election in Vermont

The 2009 Burlington mayoral election was the second mayoral election since the city's 2005 change to instant-runoff voting (IRV), after the 2006 mayoral election. In the 2009 election, incumbent Burlington mayor won reelection as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party, defeating Kurt Wright in the final round with 48% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2012 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent independent Senator Bernie Sanders won reelection to a second term in a landslide, defeating Republican nominee John MacGovern with 71% of the vote. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, was first elected with 65% of the vote in 2006, and was the first non-Republican to win this seat since 1850.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miro Weinberger</span> American politician from Vermont

Miro Weinberger is an American politician who was the 42nd mayor of Burlington, Vermont. He was the city's first Democratic Party mayor since Gordon Paquette was defeated by Bernie Sanders in 1981. Weinberger was the Democratic Party chair for Chittenden County during the 2004 election cycle. He also was on the Burlington Airport Commission for nine years, as board president of the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, a drug addiction recovery organization, and on the board of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Vermont elections</span>

Vermont's 2012 general elections were held on November 6, 2012. Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Vermont gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Vermont, concurrently with 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 ran for reelection to a third term in office against Republican businessman Scott Milne, Libertarian businessman Dan Feliciano and several other minor party and independent candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 United States elections</span>

The 2024 United States elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. During this presidential election year, the president and vice president will be elected. In addition, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives and 34 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate will be contested to determine the membership of the 119th United States Congress. Thirteen state and territorial governorships and numerous other state and local elections will also be contested.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carina Driscoll</span> American politician

Carina Nicole Driscoll is an American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from Chittenden County from 2001 to 2003, as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. She also served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont, and unsuccessfully sought the city's mayoralty in the 2018 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Burlington mayoral election</span>

The 2018 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 6, 2018. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger defeated independent candidates Carina Driscoll, who had the support of the Vermont Progressive Party, and Infinite Culcleasure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the U.S. representative from Vermont's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the U.S. Senate, as well as various other state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Burlington, Vermont, mayoral election</span>

The 2021 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 2, 2021. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger defeated Progressive nominee Max Tracy, independent Ali Dieng, and various other minor candidates. Weinberger's victory by 129 votes was the smallest margin of victory in Burlington's mayoral elections since Bernie Sanders' ten vote victory in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selene Colburn</span> American politician from Vermont

Selene Colburn is an American politician currently serving in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-6-4 district since 2017 as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Prior to her tenure in the State House, she served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont. She is the first female chair of the House Progressive Caucus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Mulvaney-Stanak</span> American politician

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is an American politician, and the current mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Previously, she was a member in the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Chittenden 6-2 and 17 districts as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Prior to her tenure in the state house she was on the city council in Burlington, Vermont and chair of the Vermont Progressive Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the lieutenant governor of the state of Vermont. The election coincided with various other federal and state elections, including for Governor of Vermont. Primary elections were held on August 9. Vermont is one of 21 states that elects its lieutenant governor separately from its governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Vermont gubernatorial election</span>

The 2024 Vermont gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of Vermont, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican governor Phil Scott is running for re-election to a fifth term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burlington City Council (Vermont)</span>

Burlington has had a mayor–council form of government since 1865 with its first mayor being Albert L. Catlin. Democrats and Progressives make up the majority of the council. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, the current mayor, is a Progressive who was first elected in March 2024. The city council has twelve seats, divided into eight ward seats, where councilors are elected in even years, and four district seats, where councilors are elected in odd years. All councilors have two-year terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election</span>

The 2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the lieutenant governor of Vermont, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Progressive lieutenant governor David Zuckerman is running for re-election to a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

References

  1. "Mulvaney-Stanak wins Burlington mayor's race". WCAX-TV . March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  2. Elletson, Grace (November 27, 2020). "Burlington Dems to 'play defense' in 2021 races, only one council seat is contested". VTDigger . Archived from the original on May 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Lamdin, Courtney (September 28, 2023). "Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger Won't Seek Reelection". Seven Days . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  4. Lamdin, Courtney (March 7, 2023). "Burlington Dems Cruise to Victory on Town Meeting Day". Seven Days . Archived from the original on September 30, 2023.
  5. Lamdin, Courtney (May 29, 2023). "Scott Vetoes Noncitizen Voting in Burlington, Allows Ranked-Choice Voting to Become Law". Seven Days . Archived from the original on October 1, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Crowley, Patrick (September 29, 2023). "Burlington has never had a woman as mayor. Will that change in 2024?". VTDigger . Archived from the original on September 30, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Crowley, Patrick (November 9, 2023). "Election season begins for Burlington City Council with two Progressive incumbents opting out". VTDigger . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Crowley, Patrick (December 10, 2023). "Joan Shannon wins Democratic nomination for Burlington mayor". VTDigger . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  9. Crowley, Patrick (November 13, 2023). "CD Mattison latest to join Burlington mayor's race". VTDigger . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  10. Cusanelli, Michael (October 24, 2023). "Burlington City Council President Karen Paul announces run for mayor". WPTZ . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Crowley, Patrick (October 26, 2023). "Karen Paul launches campaign for Burlington mayor". VTDigger . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Crowley, Patrick (November 2, 2023). "Joan Shannon latest to join Burlington mayoral race". VTDigger . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  13. Lamdin, Courtney (December 4, 2023). "Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Is the Prog's Pick for Burlington Mayor". Seven Days . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 Lamdin, Courtney (October 4, 2023). "There Are Plenty of Potential Successors to Outgoing Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger". Seven Days . Archived from the original on October 5, 2023.
  15. Lamdin, Courtney (January 4, 2023). "Joan Shannon Wins Democratic Nomination in Burlington Mayor's Race". Seven Days . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Lamdin, Courtney (February 1, 2024). "Two More Candidates Join the Race for Burlington Mayor". Seven Days . Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Boronski, Tyler (February 15, 2024). "'Dems for Emma' unity event highlights Democrats support for Progressive Burlington mayoral candidate Emma Mulvaney-Stanak". WPTZ . Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Crowley, Patrick (February 13, 2024). "In a race dominated by public safety, where do Burlington's mayoral candidates differ?". VTDigger . Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  19. Robinson, Shaun (March 8, 2024). "How did Emma Mulvaney-Stanak win Burlington — and how will she govern?". VTDigger . Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  20. Keith, Jarod. "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Endorses 57 More Out Candidates for 2024 Races". LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  21. "LPAC December 2023 Endorsements". LPAC . January 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  22. "Vote Mama Candidates". Vote Mama . January 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  23. Lamdin, Courtney (February 5, 2024). "Shannon Raises Nearly Twice as Much as Mulvaney-Stanak in Burlington Mayor's Race". Seven Days . Retrieved February 19, 2024.