2022 Vermont Senate election

The 2022 Vermont Senate election took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennial United States elections. The election coincided with elections for other offices including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and State House. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 16 districts, with each district electing between one and three senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. Primary elections were held on August 9, 2022. This election would be the first to use new districts adopted by the Vermont General Assembly to allocate for population changes across the state after the 2020 census.

Democrats and Progressives retained their combined 23-seat supermajority. Because Democrats and Progressives simultaneously won a supermajority in the Vermont House of Representatives for the first time ever, this meant that they could pass bills that were vetoed by Republican governor Phil Scott. Republicans lost one seat during redistricting, as Joe Benning's Caledonia County seat was eliminated, but they made up for this loss by gaining a seat from Democrats in Rutland County. Democrats still managed a net gain of one seat, as they won the newly created Chittenden North district and gained a seat from Progressives in Washington County. This left newly elected senator Tanya Vyhovsky as the only Progressive in the Senate, although four of the elected Democrats were also nominated by the Progressive Party and appeared on the ballot as "Democratic/Progressive."

Retiring incumbents
Ten incumbent senators (five Democrats, three Republicans and both Progressives) had announced they would not seek reelection.


 * 1) Caledonia: Joe Benning (R) (ran for lieutenant governor)
 * 2) Chittenden: Christopher Pearson (P/D)
 * 3) Chittenden: Michael Sirotkin (D)
 * 4) Franklin: Corey Parent (R)
 * 5) Rutland: Joshua Terenzini (R)
 * 6) Rutland: Cheryl Hooker (D/P)
 * 7) Washington: Anthony Pollina (P/D)
 * 8) Windham: Becca Balint (D) (ran for U.S. House)
 * 9) Windham: Jeanette White (D)
 * 10) Windsor: Alice Nitka (D)

Leadership selection
With incumbent Democratic president pro tempore Becca Balint retiring to run for U.S. House, Democrats had to nominate a new candidate who would take the position in the event they retained their majority. Ahead of the November 13 leadership vote, Philip Baruth of Chittenden was running unopposed. Andrew Perchlik of Washington had expressed interest in running but decided against it, and told VTDigger that the president pro tempore election was "not much of a race." Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Chittenden and Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson of Windsor, who had been speculated as potential candidates by media, both said they would not run and endorsed Baruth's bid. Democrats retained their Senate majority and Baruth was unanimously elected as the new president pro tempore, becoming the second president pro tempore to caucus with both Democrats and Progressives after Tim Ashe. Additionally, Clarkson was reelected as Majority Leader and Perchlik was elected Majority Whip, succeeding the retiring Cheryl Hooker.

Addison
Incumbent Democrats Ruth Hardy, who had represented the district since 2019, and Christopher Bray, who had represented the district since 2013, both ran for re-election.
 * Elects two senators.

Democratic primary

 * Christopher Bray, incumbent senator
 * Ruth Hardy, incumbent senator

Republican primary

 * Robert Burton, farmer and former U.S. Navy pilot (write-in)
 * Lloyd Dike, nursing assistant and U.S. Army veteran (write-in)

Independents

 * Mason Wade, homesteader and candidate for this district in 2018 and 2020

Bennington
Incumbent Democrats Dick Sears, who had represented the district since 1993, and Brian Campion, who had represented the district since 2015, both ran for re-election.
 * Elects two senators.

Democratic primary

 * Brian Campion, incumbent senator
 * Dick Sears, incumbent senator

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Gerald Malloy (7), Mary Morrissey (7), Christina Nolan (5), Donald Trump (5), and Ericka Redic (3).

Caledonia
Following statewide redistricting, the Caledonia district now only elects one senator instead of two. Incumbent Democrat Jane Kitchel, who had represented the district since 2005, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Joe Benning, who had represented the district since 2011, retired to run for lieutenant governor.
 * Elects one senator.

Democratic primary

 * Jane Kitchel, incumbent senator

Republican primary

 * J.T. Dodge, systems engineer, former vice chair of the Vermont Libertarian Party, and Libertarian nominee for this district in 2020

Chittenden Central
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrat Phil Baruth, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2011, ran for re-election here. Incumbent Progressive Christopher Pearson, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2017, retired.
 * Elects three senators.

Democratic primary

 * Phil Baruth, incumbent senator
 * Andrew Brown, president of the Essex Junction Board of Trustees (withdrew, remained on ballot)
 * Dawn Ellis, member of the Vermont Human Rights Commission and candidate for this district in 2014 and 2016
 * Martine Gulick, Burlington school board member
 * Erhard Mahnke, former president of the Burlington city council and candidate for this district in 2020
 * Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative

Independents

 * Infinite Culcleasure, community advocate and candidate for mayor of Burlington in 2018

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Kurt Wright (17), Erhard Mahnke (14), Irene Wrenner (14), Ericka Redic (11), Leland Morgan (6), Richard Mazza (5), Liam Madden (4), Miriam Berry (3), Gerald Malloy (3), and Thomas Chittenden (3).

Chittenden North
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. The new Chittenden North district had no incumbent.
 * Elects one senator.

Democratic primary

 * Brian Shelden, chair of Essex Democrats and former director of the Essex Economic Development Commission
 * Irene Wrenner, journalist and former Essex selectman

Republican primary

 * Leland Morgan, state representative

General election
Brian Shelden, the runner-up in the Democratic primary, received 21 write-in votes.

Chittenden Southeast
Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrats Thomas Chittenden and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, who had both represented the Chittenden district since 2021, and Ginny Lyons, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2001, all ran for re-election here. Incumbent Democrat Michael Sirotkin, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2014, retired.
 * Elects three senators.

Democratic primary

 * Thomas Chittenden, incumbent senator
 * Ginny Lyons, incumbent senator
 * Steve May, social worker, former Richmond and Bolton selectman, and candidate for this district in 2018 and 2020
 * Lewis Mudge, Charlotte selectman
 * Kesha Ram Hinsdale, incumbent senator

Republican primary
After no one won the Republican nomination, two replacement candidates filed to run:


 * Dean Rolland, small business owner and candidate for this district in 2020
 * Rohan St. Marthe, video producer

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Lewis Mudge (10), Philip Baruth (3), Randy Brock (3), Gerald Malloy (3), and Christina Nolan (3).

Essex
Following statewide redistricting, the former Essex-Orleans district, which elected two senators, has been split up into the Essex and Orleans districts, which each elect one senator. Incumbent Republican Russ Ingalls, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2021, ran for re-election.
 * Elects one senator.

Republican primary

 * Russ Ingalls, incumbent senator

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Robert Starr (12), John Rodgers (9), J.T. Dodge (6), Joe Benning (5), Jane Kitchel (4), Brenda Siegel (4), Patrick Leahy (3), Brian Smith (3), and Peter Welch (3).

Franklin
Incumbent Republican Randy Brock, who had represented this district since 2017, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Corey Parent, who had represented this district since 2019, retired.
 * Elects two senators.

Republican primary

 * Randy Brock, incumbent senator
 * Robert Norris, state representative and former Franklin County Sheriff

Democratic primary

 * Pam McCarthy, former nonprofit executive, mother of state representative Mike McCarthy, and candidate for this district in 2018
 * Jessie Palczewski, small business owner

General election
Leland Morgan received three write-in votes.

Grand Isle
Incumbent Democrat Richard Mazza, who had represented this district since 1985, ran for re-election.
 * Elects one senator.

Democratic primary

 * Richard Mazza, incumbent senator

Republican primary

 * Stephen Bellows, landscaping contractor (also ran for governor)

Lamoille
Incumbent Republican Richard Westman, who had represented this district since 2011, ran for re-election.
 * Elects one senator.

Republican primary

 * Richard Westman, incumbent senator

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Lucy Rogers (9), David Yacovone (4), Gerald Malloy (3), Bernie Sanders (3), and Shap Smith (3).

Orange
Incumbent Democrat Mark MacDonald, who had represented this district since 2003, ran for re-election.
 * Elects one senator.

Democratic primary

 * Mark MacDonald, incumbent senator

Republican primary

 * John Klar, attorney, farmer, and candidate for governor of Vermont in 2020

Orleans
Following statewide redistricting, the former Essex-Orleans district, which elected two senators, has been split up into the Essex and Orleans districts, which each elect one senator. Incumbent Democrat Robert Starr, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2005, ran for re-election here.
 * Elects one senator.

Democratic primary

 * Robert Starr, incumbent senator

Republican primary

 * Samuel Douglass, chair of Vermont Young Republicans

Rutland
Incumbent Republican Brian Collamore, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. Incumbent Democrat Cheryl Hooker, who had represented the district since 2019, and incumbent Republican Joshua Terenzini, who had represented the district since 2021, were both retiring.
 * Elects three senators.

Republican primary

 * Brian Collamore, incumbent senator
 * Dave Weeks, national security expert and military veteran
 * Terry Williams, Poultney selectman and candidate for this district in 2020

Democratic primary

 * Joshua Ferguson, sailboat repairman (write-in)
 * Bridgette Remington, attorney
 * Anna Tadio, Rutland city councilor and vice chair of the Rutland County Democratic Party

Washington
Incumbent Democrats Ann Cummings, who had represented the district since 1997, and Andrew Perchlik, who had represented the district since 2019, both sought re-election. Incumbent Progressive Leader Anthony Pollina, who had represented the district since 2011, retired.
 * Elects three senators.

Democratic primary

 * Ann Cummings, incumbent senator
 * Jared Duval, semiconductor manufacturing executive
 * Jeremy Hansen, Berlin selectman and Independent candidate for this district in 2012
 * Andrew Perchlik, incumbent senator
 * Anne Watson, mayor of Montpelier

Republican primary

 * Paul Bean
 * Dexter Lefavour, farmer, engineer, and candidate for this district in 2012 (write-in)
 * Dwayne Tucker, civil engineer and candidate for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2020

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include John Klar (36), Jared Duval (33), Jeremy Hansen (5), Richard Westman (4), Mark MacDonald (3), and Bernie Sanders (3).

Windham
Incumbent Democrat Senate President pro tempore Becca Balint, who had represented the district since 2015, retired to run for Congress. Incumbent Democrat Jeanette White, who had represented the district since 2003, also retired.
 * Elects two senators.

Democratic primary

 * Wichie Artu, farmer
 * Wendy Harrison, traveling municipal manager
 * Nader Hashim, former state representative

Republican primary

 * Mark Coester, logger (also ran for U.S. Senate as an independent)
 * Richard Kenyon, tax preparer
 * Richard Morton, chair of the Windham County Republican Party and nominee for Vermont State Treasurer in 2018 (also ran for state auditor)

After winning the primary, Mark Coester filed to run as an independent instead. The Windham County Republican Committee chose Richard Morton, the third-place primary finisher, to replace him as the second Republican on the general election ballot.

Independents

 * Mark Coester, logger
 * Tim Wessel, Brattleboro selectman

General election
Wichie Artu, the loser of the Democratic primary, received 20 write-in votes.

Windsor
Incumbent Democrats Alison Clarkson, who had represented the district since 2017, and Richard McCormack, who had represented the district since 2007, both sought re-election. Incumbent Democrat Alice Nitka, who had represented the district since 2007, retired.
 * Elects three senators.

Democratic primary

 * Alison Clarkson, incumbent senator
 * Richard McCormack, incumbent senator
 * Chris Morrow, former bookstore owner (withdrew, remained on ballot)
 * Rebecca White, state representative

Republican primary

 * Dana Colson, welding supplies company owner and candidate for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2020
 * Alice Flanders, former teacher and retired U.S. Navy engineer
 * Bill Huff, retired pilot and nominee for the Orange district in 2020 (write-in, also ran for state house)

General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include John Klar (11), Anna Tadio (4), Cris Ericson (3), Gerald Malloy (3), Chris Morrow (3), and David Zuckerman (3).