Vermont Democratic Party

Last updated
Vermont Democratic Party
Chairperson David Glidden
Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman
Senate President pro tempore Philip Baruth
House Speaker Jill Krowinski
Founded1830
Headquarters Montpelier, Vermont
Ideology Modern liberalism
Progressivism
Social democracy
Political position Center to center-left
National affiliation Democratic Party
Colors  Blue
U.S. Senate Seats [lower-alpha 1]
1 / 2
U.S. House Seats
1 / 1
Statewide Offices
5 / 6
State Senate
22 / 30
State House
104 / 150
Elected County Judges
33 / 42
Countywide Offices
34 / 42
Mayoralties
2 / 8
Seats on the Burlington City Council
5 / 12
Website
www.vtdemocrats.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The Vermont Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Vermont.

Contents

Since the founding of the Republican Party until the 1960s, Vermont was an almost exclusively Republican state, with Republicans dominating Vermont politics, especially the governorship, from 1854 to 1960. [1] However, perhaps inspired by the election of John F. Kennedy as president in 1960, Vermont Democrats have since staged a resurgence in state politics. [2]

As of 2023, the Democratic Party was the strongest party in Vermont with Democrats holding most state-level offices, with the exception of the governorship, held by Republican Phil Scott. Democrats held Vermont's at-large U.S. House seat, one of its U.S. Senate seats, and control of both houses of the state legislature. The other U.S. Senate seat is held by Independent Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats.

History

The exact date or year the state party was formed is unknown because the state headquarters has not retained archives of historical documents. [3] Prior to 1824, opponents of the Federalist Party were known as Republicans or Democratic-Republicans. After the demise of the Federalists left only one major party, supporters of Democratic-Republicans John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay were largely responsible for founding the Whig Party in the early 1830s as the main opposition to Democratic-Republican Andrew Jackson. In 1830, Vermont newspaper articles still referred to supporters of Andrew Jackson for president in 1832 as Democratic-Republican, or occasionally "Democratic". By 1831, the name Democratic was used more often as a way to distinguish Jackson and his supporters from the "old" Democratic-Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson. By the end of 1831, "Democratic" was used almost exclusively.

Since Vermont was dominated for so long by Republicans, the national Democratic Party paid little attention to Democrats in the state. [4] Democrats usually contested statewide elections, but opposition to Republicans was generally desultory. Democrats filled appointed federal positions such as U.S. Attorney during the administrations of Democratic presidents, and occasionally received appointment to positions that were considered non-partisan, such as Seneca Haselton's tenure as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. It was not until the 1960s that the Democrats started to pull together an effective statewide organization. [4]

Democrats were effectively shut-out of high office in Vermont from 1854 until 1958 when Democrat William H. Meyer was narrowly elected to the United States House of Representatives. Prior to Meyer's election, no Democrat had represented Vermont in the House or Senate since the founding of the Republican Party. Meyer would serve only one term, being defeated by Republican Robert Stafford in 1960.

In 1962, Democrat Philip H. Hoff would be elected Governor of Vermont, becoming the first Democrat to serve as Governor since John S. Robinson. In 1964, Vermont Democrats had the best year in over a century. Hoff would be re-elected in a landslide, and every other row office — Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Auditor — would be won by Democrats. The party's success in 1964 was due in part to Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide victory in that year's presidential election, which included a 66%–33% victory in the Green Mountain State, the first time the state ever went blue at the presidential level.

In 1974, Patrick Leahy became the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the United States Senate, narrowly defeating Republican Richard W. Mallary. Leahy would be re-elected in a similarly close race in 1980, but would never again be trouble for re-election — in total, Leahy would serve for six terms before retiring in 2022.

Democrats would finally gain a majority in the State Senate in 1984, followed by a one-seat State House majority in 1986. With Governor Madeleine Kunin, Democrats had a trifecta for the first time in party history. Except for a brief period from 2000–2004, Democrats still retain the governing majority in the House to this day.

Ideology, policies, and party platform

Ideology

Today, the Vermont Democratic Party is rooted in progressivism and American liberalism. The state is considered a breeding ground for Progressives and Independents, many of which have close ties to the Vermont Democratic Party. Most Progressives run under the Democratic Party banner in Vermont.

Policies

The Vermont Democratic Party advocates for universal health care, equality for all, and social justice. [5] Many of the party's proposals have been adopted, including universal health care (Green Mountain Care), same-sex marriage, and the closing and de-commissioning of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station, set to take place in early 2015. The party tends towards environmentalism, favoring measures to protect Vermont's natural resources and ecosystems. Democrats in the state have also called for Vermont to be the first state to use only renewable energy sources. The Party also favors campaign finance reform, but lines up behind the National Party in voicing support for some liberalization of campaign finance regulations so that it may better remain competitive with the Republicans.

Party platform

Documents representing the Vermont Democratic Party's platform have been approved on September 12, 2020, by the party. [5] It conforms very closely to the United States Democratic Party platform, addressing issues such as the economy, the environment, foreign policy, and civil rights.

Economic opportunity

The primary focus of the Vermont Democratic Party's economic platform rests with keeping businesses owned and operated in Vermont. There should be heavy focus on entrepreneurship and job creation. The party supports a strong and vibrant middle class that encourages youth to pursue careers within the state. [5] Its main focus is economic growth and job creation. The party believes that the state government should make Vermont a desirable place for people to bring, or begin, their businesses. The party plans on doing this by giving financial incentives to businesses that are energy efficient, are located in developing areas within Vermont, and provide workers with a livable wage.[ clarification needed ] The party wants to reverse[ clarification needed ] the Bush tax cuts. [5] It voices support for a graduated income tax; the premise that taxes should be based upon the individual taxpayer's ability to pay them.[ clarification needed ] Under such a system, the wealthy would be taxed at a higher percentage level than the middle class, and the very poor would pay little or no income tax.

Environmental issues

The party believes a healthy environment is essential to the quality of life and recognizes global climate change as a major problem. The party believes everyone has moral and ethical obligations to protect and conserve the environment. It is committed to the rigorous and consistent enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. It also supports alternative energy, including investments and research, and favors the rapid implementation of 'cleaner' alternatives to oil and other fossil fuels. Vermont Democrats also support laws that places caps, or limits, on the carbon emissions of both public transportation and personal vehicles. [5]

Foreign policy

The party is opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It believes the decision to go to war was ill-advised and has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent people. The party has strongly supported President Obama's decisions to withdraw troops from both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Civil rights

The Vermont Democratic Party supports equal rights amendments to the Constitution and the protection of all citizens, regardless of race, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, military service, or creed. It has supported Vermont's pioneering initiatives in same-sex marriage, plus the predecessor laws favoring civil unions. It also supports the repeals of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. The party also denounces torture and believes all people have due process rights that should never be violated. The party strongly supported President Obama's decision to ban the torturous technique of waterboarding from being used on suspected terrorists. [5]

Howard Dean

Howard Dean announcing his run for president Howard Dean declaration of candidacy June 2003.jpg
Howard Dean announcing his run for president

Howard Dean may be the most nationally renowned Democratic politician to come out of Vermont in recent years. He served as Governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003. In 2004 he ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for president. Dean also served as chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009, and is credited with being instrumental in Barack Obama's successful campaign for the presidency in 2008. His Fifty-state strategy is widely considered the reason Obama was able to win in some traditionally Republican states.

Current elected officials

As of late 2020, there are Democratic incumbents holding five of the six statewide offices in the executive branch — all but Governor (Republican) — and the Democrats also hold firm majorities in Vermont's Senate and House of Representatives. At the federal level, Democrats hold one of the state's U.S. Senate seats, and Democrats also hold the state's single 'At-Large' seat in the U.S. House of Representatives; the incumbent, Representative Peter Welch, first elected in 2006, was the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the lower chamber of Congress since William H. Meyer in 1961, and the first House Democrat from Vermont to be re-elected in more than 150 years.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

DistrictMemberPhoto
At-large Becca Balint
Rep. Becca Balint - 118th Congress (Cropped).jpg

Statewide offices

Legislative

Notable members

Governors

Senators

Representatives

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References

  1. Appleton, Andrew & Ward, Daniel. "State Party Profiles". Congressional Quarterly Inc, 1997. p. 324.
  2. In 1962, Philip Henderson Hoff (born June 29, 1924) became the first Democrat elected Governor of Vermont in 108 years, and held the office from 1963 to 1969
  3. Appleton, Andrew & Ward, Daniel. "State Party Profiles". Congressional Quarterly Inc, 1997. p. 332.
  4. 1 2 Appleton, Andrew & Ward, Daniel. "State Party Profiles". Congressional Quarterly Inc, 1997. p. 330.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vermont Democratic Party

Notes

  1. Vermont's independent senator, Bernie Sanders, caucuses with the Democrats.
  2. Hoffer is a member of both the Vermont Democratic Party and the Vermont Progressive Party. He was elected Auditor as the nominee of both parties.