| Election Name: | 2010 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Vermont |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 2008 |
| Election Date: | November 2, 2010 |
| Next Election: | 2012 Vermont gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 2012 |
| Image1: | File:Peter Shumlin (cropped).jpg |
| Nominee1: | Peter Shumlin |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 119,543 |
| Percentage1: | 49.48% |
| Electoral Vote1: | 145 |
| Nominee2: | Brian Dubie |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 115,212 |
| Percentage2: | 47.69% |
| Electoral Vote2: | 28 |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Jim Douglas |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Peter Shumlin |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 2010 Vermont gubernatorial general election took place on November 2.[1] Vermont and New Hampshire are the only two states where the governor serves a two-year term instead of four.[2] Primary elections took place on August 24.[1]
Incumbent Republican governor Jim Douglas was not a candidate for re-election.[3] Brian Dubie, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, was the Republican nominee.[1] The Democratic nomination was won by Peter Shumlin, the President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate.[1]
The result was a 119,543 (49.5 percent) to 115,212 (47.7 percent) plurality for Shumlin.[1] Several minor candidates got between 600 and 2,000 votes each.[1] In accordance with the Vermont Constitution, if no candidate receives a majority, the contest is decided by the Vermont General Assembly.[4] In such races, the combined Vermont House and Senate almost always chooses the candidate who won a plurality.[4] Dubie indicated on November 3 that he did not intend to ask for a recount or contest the election in the legislature, and conceded to Shumlin.[5] On January 6, 2011, with 173 of 180 members voting, 87 votes were necessary for a choice.[6] The General Assembly elected Shumlin on the first ballot, 145-28.[6]
Peter Shumlin won the Democratic primary according to the uncertified tabulation of statewide votes released by the Office of the Secretary of State on August 27, 2010, by 197 votes over Doug Racine, who requested a recount.[12] The recount began September 8.[13] Racine conceded on September 10.[14]
| Source | Ranking | As of | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Political Report[17] | October 14, 2010 | ||
| Rothenberg[18] | October 28, 2010 | ||
| RealClearPolitics[19] | November 1, 2010 | ||
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[20] | October 28, 2010 | ||
| CQ Politics[21] | October 28, 2010 |
| Poll source | Dates administered | Brian Dubie (R) | Peter Shumlin (D) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen Reports | October 28, 2010 | 45% | align=center | 50% | |
| Vermont Public Radio | October 12, 2010 | align=center | 44% | 43% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 13, 2010 | 46% | align=center | 49% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | June 17, 2010 | align=center | 55% | 36% | |
| Rasmussen Reports | March 18, 2010 | align=center | 51% | 33% |
Vermont's Constitution requires the Vermont General Assembly to select if no candidate obtains a majority. The combined Vermont House and Senate almost always chooses the candidate who won a plurality. The legislature officially elected Peter Shumlin on January 6, 2011.