2018 Vermont gubernatorial election

The 2018 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Vermont, concurrently with the election of Vermont's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other 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 Republican Governor Phil Scott, who was first elected in 2016, was re-elected to a second term in office. Hallquist's 40.3% was also the worst performance for a Democratic Party candidate since 2008. This was one of eight Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

Despite initial expectations of a potentially close race due to national blue wave, Scott easily won reelection in what became a difficult year for Republicans, winning by 15 percentage points. As of 2022, this election marked the last time a Democratic candidate won a county in a gubernatorial election in Vermont.

Background
Along with New Hampshire, Vermont is one of only two states where governors are elected to two-year terms. Republican Phil Scott was elected in the 2016 election.

Declared

 * Phil Scott, incumbent governor

Eliminated in primary

 * Keith Stern, businessman, Republican candidate for U.S. Representative in 2010, Independent candidate for U.S. Representative in 2006, Independent candidate for U.S. Senator in 2004

Debates and forums

 * CCTV Channel 17 Republican Primary Forum for Governor 7/25/2018
 * WCAX Democratic+Republican forum 7/31/2018

Nominated

 * Christine Hallquist, CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative

Eliminated in primary

 * James Ehlers, executive director of Lake Champlain International and environmentalist
 * John S. Rodgers, current State Senator from Essex County, former State Representative, and construction business owner (write-in candidate)
 * Brenda Siegel, opioid epidemic and Brattleboro hurricane relief activist and worker, former community organizer for Bernie Sanders, southern Vermont nonprofit executive and founding director (also ran in Progressive primary)
 * Ethan Sonneborn, freshman in high school who began his campaign when he was 13 years old. The election was held a few weeks before he entered his freshman year of high school. His campaign was focused on healthcare for all, the environment, economy, and education. Had he won, he would have been the youngest governor in American history. Vermont (as well as Kansas) does not have a minimum age requirement for governor.

Debates and forums

 * Brattleboro Community TV Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Forum 6/6/2018
 * CCTV Channel 17 Democratic Primary Forum for Governor hosted by VTDigger 8/2/2018
 * WCAX Democratic+Republican forum 7/31/2018

Results


With this result, Christine Hallquist became the first openly transgender candidate for governor nominated by a major political party in the United States.

Write-in

 * Brenda Siegel (also ran in Democratic primary)

Debates and forums

 * Brattleboro Community TV Meet the Candidates for VT Governor 7/18/2018

Withdrawn

 * Seth Cournoyer (running for State Senate instead)

Declared

 * Emily Peyton, candidate for governor in 2014

Declared

 * Trevor Barlow, business and startup executive and founder, coach, as well as community and nonprofit board volunteer
 * Cris Ericson, activist and perennial candidate also ran for congress.
 * Charles Laramie, activist, roofing architect, school teacher, United States Navy veteran, and Vermont Air National Guard
 * Stephen Marx, environmentalist

Write-in

 * Tarl Warwick, far-right  author, internet personality, and YouTuber

Withdrawn

 * Joseph Barney, auto and agricultural mechanic, member of the Vermont Army National Guard, and school teacher

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, October 17, 2018

Predictions

 * Notes

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Chittenden (largest municipality: Burlington)
 * Windsor (largest municipality: Hartford)