2012 Vermont gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2012 Vermont gubernatorial election
Country:	Vermont
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2010 Vermont gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2014 Vermont gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2014
Image1:	File:Peter Shumlin (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Peter Shumlin
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	170,749
Percentage1:	57.80%
Nominee2:	Randy Brock
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	110,940
Percentage2:	37.55%
Governor
Before Election:	Peter Shumlin
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Peter Shumlin
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2012 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Vermont. Incumbent Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin won re-election to a second term, making this the only one of his gubernatorial elections in which he won a majority of the vote. In his 2010 and 2014 races, the Vermont General Assembly was required to choose a winner in accordance with the state constitution, because no candidate won a majority.

Democratic nomination

Candidates

• Peter Shumlin, incumbent^[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

• Randy Brock, state senator and former state auditor^{[2] [3]}

Declined

• Brian Dubie, former lieutenant governor and 2010 gubernatorial nominee^[2]
• Thom Lauzon, mayor of Barre^[4]
• Patricia McDonald, Vermont Republican Party Chairwoman and former state representative^[2]
• Roy Newton, newspaper publisher (did not file)^[5]
• Tom Salmon, state auditor^[6]
• Phil Scott, lieutenant governor^[3]
• Mark Snelling, 2010 candidate for lieutenant governor and son of former governor Richard Snelling^[2]

Progressive nomination

Candidates

• Martha Abbott, chairwoman of the Vermont Progressive Party^[7] (resigned nomination in order to aid Shumlin by avoiding split in progressive/liberal votes)

General election

Candidates

• Randy Brock (R), state senator and former state auditor
• Dave Eagle (Liberty Union)
• Cris Ericson (U.S. Marijuana), perennial candidate who also ran for the U.S. Senate^[8]
• Emily Peyton (Independent)^[9]
• Peter Shumlin (D), incumbent

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 13, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[10]		November 1, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[11]		November 5, 2012
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[12]		November 2, 2012
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[13]		November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Randy Brock (R)	Undecided
Castleton Polling	August 11–21, 2012	477	± 4.5%	align=center	60%	26%	13%
Vermont Business Magazine	May 7–16, 2012	607	± 4.0%	align=center	60%	27%	11%
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	51%	29%	20%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Brian Dubie (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	48%	40%	12%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Thom Lauzon (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	52%	25%	23%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Tom Salmon (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	50%	31%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Phil Scott (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	50%	33%	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Mark Snelling (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	align=center	50%	29%	21%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Grand Isle (largest municipality: Alburgh)
• Lamoille (largest municipality: Morristown)
• Rutland (largest municipality: Rutland)

See also

• 2012 United States presidential election in Vermont

External links

• Elections and Campaign Finance Division at the Vermont Secretary of State

Campaign sites (Archived)

• Randy Brock (R) for Governor
• Peter Shumlin (D) for Governor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Shumlin Announces His Re-election Bid. June 12, 2012. June 12, 2012. Vermont Public Radio.
2. Web site: Vermont GOP backs Brock for 2012 gubernatorial bid. December 7, 2011. December 11, 2011. VTDigger.org. Anne. Galloway.
3. Web site: Brock to run for governor. December 7, 2011. December 11, 2011. WCAX. Susie. Steimle. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406101612/http://www.wcax.com/story/16207108/brock-to-announce-political-plans-today. April 6, 2012. dead.
4. Web site: Lauzon wants 2 more years in Barre. December 21, 2011. February 15, 2012. Vermont Today. Darren. Marcy. Cristina. Kumka.
5. Web site: Rutland publisher seeks GOP bid for governor. April 25, 2012. April 27, 2012. The Burlington Free Press. Terri. Hallenbeck.
6. Web site: Salmon says he wants to remain as Vermont Auditor. September 23, 2011. September 24, 2011. The Burlington Free Press. Nancy. Remsen.
7. Web site: Prog Candidate to Challenge Gov. Shumlin — At Least For Now. May 21, 2012. May 23, 2012. Seven Days. Paul. Heintz.
8. News: A look ahead to the key races in the Northeast in 2012. November 13, 2011. February 15, 2012. USA Today. Alicia. McCarty.
9. Web site: Sanders' papers filed, Peyton running for governor. June 13, 2012. June 23, 2012. VTDigger.org. Taylor. Dobbs.
10. Web site: 2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 . The Cook Political Report . November 30, 2018.
11. Web site: PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 30, 2018 . December 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201094552/http://crystalball.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/ . dead .
12. Web site: 2012 Gubernatorial Ratings . Gubernatorial Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . November 30, 2018.
13. Web site: 2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races . Real Clear Politics . November 30, 2018.