2020 Vermont gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2020 Vermont gubernatorial election
Country:	Vermont
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2018 Vermont gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2018
Next Election:	2022 Vermont gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2022
Election Date:	November 3, 2020
Image1:	File:Phil Scott 2019 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Phil Scott
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	248,412
Percentage1:	68.49%
Nominee2:	David Zuckerman
Party2:	Vermont Progressive Party
Alliance2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	99,214
Percentage2:	27.35%
Governor
Before Election:	Phil Scott
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Phil Scott
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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. 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.

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

• Phil Scott, incumbent Governor of Vermont^[2]

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

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• David Zuckerman, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, former member of the Vermont Senate, former member of the Vermont House of Representatives, farmer, businessman, environmentalist^[5] (Zuckerman elected to use the Progressive Party ballot line in the general election, listing the Democratic Party as a secondary nomination under Vermont's electoral fusion system.)^[6]

Eliminated in primary

• Ralph "Carcajou" Corbo, former Rural Carrier for USPS, activist, Wallingford resident, and 2020 candidate for Vermont's at-large congressional district
• Rebecca Holcombe, former Vermont Education Secretary^[7]
• Patrick Winburn, Bennington attorney^[8]

Declined

• T. J. Donovan, Attorney General of Vermont^[9] (running for re-election)
• Christine Hallquist, former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative and nominee for governor in 2018^[10]

Debates & forums

• CCTV Channel 17 Town Meeting TV - Democratic Primary Gubernatorial Forum 7/16/2020
• Brattleboro Community TV - Democratic Governor Candidate Debate 5/11/2020

Results

Progressive Party

Leaders within the Progressive Party endorsed David Zuckerman for the gubernatorial election, advocating for Zuckerman to be elected with write-in voters.^[11] The party has stated that if Cris Ericson won the primary, "they would likely issue a 'non-endorsement.'" On election night the progressive nomination was listed as too close to call.^[12] Zuckerman was confirmed to have won the nomination a few days later when the final write-in vote count was confirmed.

Nominee

• David Zuckerman, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, former member of the Vermont Senate, former member of the Vermont House of Representatives, farmer, businessman, environmentalist

Eliminated in primary

• Cris Ericson, marijuana legalization activist, perennial candidate, and candidate for Governor in 2002, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016, and 2018, candidate for US Senator in 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2016, candidate for US Representative in 2018;^[13] also ran for other statewide offices
• Boots Wardinski, Newbury resident, Liberty Union nominee for lieutenant governor in 2016

Results

General election

Candidates

• Wayne Billado III (I), also ran for lieutenant governor, state senator from Franklin County, and state representative from Franklin 3-1 district
• Michael A. Devost (I)
• Charly Dickerson (I)
• Kevin Hoyt (I), Republican nominee for state representative from Bennington 2-1 in 2018^[14]
• Emily Peyton (I), candidate for governor in 2012, 2014, and 2018^[15]
• Phil Scott (R), incumbent governor, former lieutenant governor and state senator, construction company owner
• Erynn Hazlett Whitney (I)
• David Zuckerman (P/D), lieutenant governor, former member of State Legislature, farmer, businessman, environmentalist

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Inside Elections^[16]		October 28, 2020
270toWin^[17]		November 2, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[18]		November 2, 2020
The Cook Political Report^[19]		October 23, 2020
Politico^[20]		November 2, 2020
RCP^[21]		November 2, 2020
Daily Kos^[22]		October 28, 2020

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Scott (R)	David Zuckerman (P/D)	Other / Undecided
Braun Research	September 3–15, 2020	582 (LV)	± 4%		55%	24%	17%
We Ask America	June 2–3, 2020	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		60%	25%	15%
Braun Research	February 4–10, 2020	603 (RV)	± 4.0%		52%	29%	19%

with Rebecca Holcombe

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Phil Scott (R)	Rebecca Holcombe (D)	Other / Undecided
We Ask America	June 2–3, 2020	500 (LV)	± 4.4%		62%	20%	18%
Braun Research/VPR	February 4–10, 2020	603 (RV)	± 4.0%		55%	20%	26%

Debates & forums

• VTDigger Governor Forum 9/29/2020

Results

County	Phil Scott Republican		David Zuckerman Progressive		Kevin Hoyt Independent		Various candidates Other parties		Write-in		Margin		Total votes
	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%		data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%
	Addison		15,034		68.75		6,218		28.44		125		0.57		405		1.85		85		0.39		8,816		40.32		21,867
	Bennington		12,053		60.24		5,846		29.22		1,313		6.56		733		3.66		62		0.31		6,207		31.02		20,007
	Caledonia		11,701		73.25		3,471		21.73		224		1.40		475		2.97		102		0.64		8,230		51.52		15,973
	Chittenden		64,912		66.50		30,541		31.29		402		0.41		1,499		1.54		261		0.27		34,371		35.21		97,615
	Essex		2,408		75.70		551		17.32		62		1.95		135		4.24		25		0.79		1,857		58.38		3,181
	Franklin		20,095		78.35		4,251		16.57		268		1.04		908		3.54		127		0.50		15,844		61.77		25,649
	Grand Isle		3,755		77.84		924		19.15		26		0.54		111		2.30		8		0.17		2,831		58.69		4,824
	Lamoille		10,695		72.19		3,639		24.56		103		0.70		297		2.00		82		0.55		7,056		47.62		14,816
	Orange		12,174		71.62		4,132		24.31		222		1.31		379		2.23		92		0.54		8,042		47.31		16,999
	Orleans		10,291		74.30		2,690		19.42		252		1.82		478		3.45		140		1.01		7,601		54.88		13,851
	Rutland		24,588		73.33		7,129		21.26		582		1.74		944		2.82		287		0.86		17,459		52.07		33,530
	Washington		24,188		69.08		9,833		28.08		247		0.71		604		1.72		144		0.41		14,355		41.00		35,016
	Windham		13,781		54.05		10,308		40.43		334		1.31		1,021		4.00		55		0.22		3,473		13.62		25,499
	Windsor		22,737		67.10		9,681		28.57		416		1.23		921		2.72		129		0.38		13,056		38.53		33,884
Totals	248,412	68.49	99,214	27.35	4,576	1.26	8,910	2.46	1,599	0.44	149,198	41.13	362,711

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Windham (largest municipality: Brattleboro)

External links

Official campaign websites

• Phil Scott (R) for Governor
• David Zuckerman (P/D) for Governor

Notes and References

1. News: Scott says he's undecided on 2020 — but he's already fundraising. Landen. Xander. Vermont Digger. December 4, 2019.
2. Web site: Gov. Scott seeks a third term, but will forego a campaign and fundraising. Baird. Joel Banner. Burlington Free Press. en. 2020-05-28.
3. Web site: Vermont 2020 Candidate List .
4. Web site: Margolis: 'Rural populist' and GOP newcomer announces candidacy for governor. 2019-10-28. VTDigger. en-US. Margolis. Jon. 2019-10-30.
5. Web site: Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman Confirms The Speculation: He's Running For Governor In 2020. Vermont Public Radio. Kinzel. Bob. January 13, 2020. February 7, 2020.
6. Web site: David Zuckerman Wins Vermont Progressive Party Gubernatorial Nomination by Write-in Votes. Ballot Access News. Winger. Richard. August 18, 2020.
7. Web site: Former Ed Secretary Rebecca Holcombe to Run for Governor of Vermont. Heintz. Paul. Seven Days. en. July 16, 2019. 2019-07-16.
8. Web site: Winburn for Governor | Winburn2020.com | United States. Mysite.
9. News: Landen. Xander. Norton. Kit. Meyn. Colin. Attorney general eyes run for governor in 2020. 'I've had conversations.'. VTDigger. June 5, 2019. June 6, 2019.
10. News: Landen. Xander. Hallquist isn't ruling out another run. But for now, she's job hunting.. VTDigger. November 21, 2018. March 10, 2019.
11. News: Elder-Connors . Liam . Progressive Party Asks For Write-In To Beat Gubernatorial Candidates On Its Ballot . 13 August 2020 . www.vpr.org . en.
12. Web site: Progressive governor race still too close to call. August 13, 2020. VTDigger.
13. Web site: Election Information & Resources. sos.vermont.gov. 2020-05-28.
14. Web site: VT Elections Database » Candidate Profile.... VT Elections Database.
15. Web site: VT Elections Database » Candidate Profile.... VT Elections Database.
16. Web site: 2020 Gubernatorial Ratings. insideelections.com. March 11, 2021.
17. Web site: 2020 Gubernatorial Elections Map . 270towin.
18. Web site: 2020 Gubernatorial race ratings . November 2, 2020 . Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball . March 13, 2021.
19. Web site: 2020 Governor Race Ratings for October 23, 2020. The Cook Political Report. en. March 11, 2021.
20. Web site: We rated every gubernatorial race in 2020. Here's who we think will win.. Politico. November 19, 2019.
21. Web site: June 13, 2020 . 2020 Governor Races. June 14, 2020 . RealClearPolitics.
22. Web site: 2020 Governor Race Ratings . . June 1, 2020 . June 5, 2020.