2020 Vermont Senate election

2020 Vermont Senate election

← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →

All 30 seats in the Vermont Senate
16 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Tim Ashe
(retired)
Joe Benning Anthony Pollina
Party Democratic Republican Progressive
Leader since January 6, 2017 January 4, 2018 2013
Leader's seat Chittenden Caledonia Washington
Last election 22 6 2
Seats won 21 7 2
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1 Steady
Popular vote 481,506[a] 311,329[b] 56,397[c]
Percentage 53.7% 34.7% 6.3%
Swing Decrease 7.1% Increase 8.7% Decrease 0.3%

Results:
     Democratic hold
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     Progressive hold

President pro tempore before election

Tim Ashe
Democratic

Elected President pro tempore

Becca Balint
Democratic

The 2020 Vermont Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 13 districts, with each district electing between one and six senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. A primary election on August 11, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the November 3 general election ballot. All the members elected will serve in the Vermont General Assembly.

Summary of results[edit]

District Incumbent Party Elected senator Party
Addison Ruth Hardy Dem Ruth Hardy Dem
Christopher Bray Dem Christopher Bray Dem
Bennington Brian Campion Dem Brian Campion Dem
Dick Sears Dem Dick Sears Dem
Caledonia Joe Benning Rep Joe Benning Rep
Jane Kitchel Dem Jane Kitchel Dem
Chittenden Tim Ashe Dem/Prog Thomas Chittenden Dem
Phil Baruth Dem/Prog Phil Baruth Dem/Prog
Debbie Ingram Dem Kesha Ram Hinsdale Dem
Ginny Lyons Dem Ginny Lyons Dem
Christopher Pearson Prog/Dem Christopher Pearson Prog/Dem
Michael Sirotkin Dem Michael Sirotkin Dem
Essex-Orleans John Rodgers Dem Russ Ingalls Rep
Robert Starr Dem Robert Starr Dem
Franklin Corey Parent Rep Corey Parent Rep/Dem
Randy Brock Rep Randy Brock Rep/Dem
Grand Isle Richard Mazza Dem Richard Mazza Dem/Rep
Lamoille Richard Westman Rep Richard Westman Rep/Dem
Orange Mark MacDonald Dem Mark MacDonald Dem
Rutland Brian Collamore Rep Brian Collamore Rep
James McNeil Rep Joshua Terenzini Rep
Cheryl Hooker Dem/Prog Cheryl Hooker Dem
Washington Andrew Perchlik Dem/Prog Andrew Perchlik Dem/Prog
Ann Cummings Dem Ann Cummings Dem
Anthony Pollina Prog/Dem Anthony Pollina Prog/Dem
Windham Becca Balint Dem Becca Balint Dem
Jeanette White Dem Jeanette White Dem
Windsor Alison Clarkson Dem Alison Clarkson Dem
Richard McCormack Dem Richard McCormack Dem
Alice Nitka Dem Alice Nitka Dem/Rep

Source:[1]

Retiring incumbents[edit]

Three incumbent senators (two Democrats and one Republican) did not seek reelection.

  1. Chittenden: Tim Ashe (D/P) [Ran for Lieutenant Governor (lost primary)]
  2. Chittenden: Debbie Ingram (D)
  3. Rutland: James McNeil (R)

Defeated incumbents[edit]

In the primary[edit]

No incumbent senator was defeated in the August 11 primary.

In the general election[edit]

One incumbent senator sought reelection but was defeated in the general election.

  1. Essex-Orleans: John S. Rodgers (D) (sought reelection as an independent)

Predictions[edit]

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[2] Safe D October 21, 2020

Detailed results[edit]

AddisonBenningtonCaledoniaChittendenEssex-OrleansFranklinGrand IsleLamoilleOrangeRutlandWashingtonWindhamWindsor

Source for all election results:[3]

Addison[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Addison general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ruth Hardy (incumbent) 13,063 32.8
Democratic Christopher A. Bray (incumbent) 12,522 31.4
Republican Peter Briggs 8,007 20.1
Republican John Christiano 5,442 13.6
Libertarian Archie Flower 773 1.9
Write-in Write-ins 62 0.2
Total votes 39,869 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold

Bennington[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Bennington general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard W. Sears (incumbent) 11,063 31.2
Democratic Brian Campion (incumbent) 10,483 29.5
Republican Meg Hansen 6,275 17.7
Republican Mike Hall 5,657 15.9
Independent Kevin Hoyt 1,943 5.5
Write-in Write-ins 57 0.2
Total votes 35,478 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold

Caledonia[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Caledonia general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jane Kitchel (incumbent) 10,285 29.9
Republican Joe Benning (incumbent) 10,057 29.2
Democratic Matthew Choate 7,342 21.3
Republican Charles Wilson 5,442 15.8
Libertarian J.T. Dodge 1,255 3.6
Write-in Write-ins 62 0.2
Total votes 34,443 100.0
Democratic hold
Republican hold

Chittenden[edit]

  • Elects six senators.
Democratic primary
Chittenden Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Virginia V. Lyons (incumbent) 21,198 13.9
Democratic Kesha Ram 20,181 13.2
Democratic Michael Sirotkin (incumbent) 15,208 10.0
Democratic Philip Baruth (incumbent) 14,677 9.6
Democratic Thomas Chittenden 13,556 8.9
Democratic Christopher Pearson (incumbent) 11,764 7.7
Democratic June Heston 11,719 7.7
Democratic David Scherr 9,562 6.3
Democratic Dylan Giambatista 9,331 6.1
Democratic Erhard Mahnke 7,878 5.2
Democratic Adam Roof 7,785 5.1
Democratic Louis Meyers 4,838 3.2
Democratic Steve May 4,371 2.9
Democratic Write-ins 271 0.2
Total votes 152,339 100.0
General election
Chittenden general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas Chittenden 50,974 12.9
Democratic Virginia V. Lyons (incumbent) 48,602 12.3
Democratic Kesha Ram 46,513 11.8
Democratic Michael Sirotkin (incumbent) 45,819 11.6
Democratic Philip Baruth (incumbent)[d] 43,923 11.1
Progressive Christopher Pearson (incumbent)[e] 33,445 8.5
Republican Susan Bowen 21,900 5.5
Republican Tom Chastenay 19,300 4.9
Republican Ericka Redic 18,945 4.8
Republican Kase Long 18,763 4.7
Republican Dean Rolland 17,604 4.5
Republican Kylie Hollingsworth 16,319 4.1
Independent James Ehlers 11,919 3.0
Write-in Write-ins 631 0.2
Total votes 394,657 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
Progressive hold

Essex-Orleans[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Essex-Orleans general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Robert A. Starr (incumbent) 8,668 27.1
Republican Russ Ingalls 7,739 24.2
Republican Jonathan Morin 5,354 16.7
Democratic Ron Horton 5,100 16.0
Independent John S. Rodgers (incumbent)[f] 5,033 15.7
Write-in Write-ins 64 0.2
Total votes 31,958 100.0
Democratic hold
Republican gain from Democratic

Franklin[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Franklin general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Corey Parent (incumbent)[g] 16,002 40.4
Republican Randy Brock (incumbent)[g] 15,508 39.1
Progressive Chloe Collins 3,777 9.5
Independent Wayne Billado III 2,245 5.7
Progressive Luke Richter 1,975 5.0
Write-in Write-ins 141 0.4
Total votes 39,648 100.0
Republican hold
Republican hold

Grand Isle[edit]

  • Elects one senator.
Grand Isle general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Richard Mazza (incumbent)[h] 11,241 97.8
Write-in Write-ins 256 2.2
Total votes 11,497 100.0
Democratic hold

Lamoille[edit]

  • Elects one senator.
Lamoille general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard A. Westman (incumbent)[g] 11,477 97.7
Write-in Write-ins 265 2.3
Total votes 11,742 100.0
Republican hold

Orange[edit]

  • Elects one senator.
Democratic primary
Orange Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark MacDonald (incumbent) 2,168 63.4
Democratic Susan Hatch Davis 1,223 35.8
Democratic Write-ins 28 0.8
Total votes 3,419 100.0
General election
Orange general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark MacDonald (incumbent) 6,420 54.5
Republican Bill Huff 5,321 45.2
Write-in Write-ins 31 0.3
Total votes 11,772 100.0
Democratic hold

Rutland[edit]

  • Elects three senators.
Democratic primary
Rutland Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Cheryl Hooker (incumbent) 5,507 37.3
Democratic Greg Cox 4,207 28.5
Democratic Larry Courcelle 3,305 22.4
Democratic Christopher Hoyt 1,592 10.8
Democratic Write-ins 155 1.0
Total votes 14,766 100.0
General election
Rutland general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Collamore (incumbent) 14,861 18.3
Republican Joshua Terenzini 14,008 17.3
Democratic Cheryl Hooker (incumbent) 13,196 16.2
Republican Terry Williams 11,828 14.6
Democratic Greg Cox 10,280 12.7
Democratic Larry Courcelle 8,334 10.3
Independent Brittany Cavacas 4,731 5.8
Independent Michael Shank 2,266 2.8
Independent Casey Jennings 1,009 1.2
Independent Richard "Sensei" Lenchus 552 0.7
Write-in Write-ins 99 0.1
Total votes 81,164 100.0
Republican hold
Republican hold
Democratic hold

Washington[edit]

  • Elects three senators.
Democratic primary
Washington Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ann Cummings (incumbent) 8,590 31.0
Democratic Andrew Perchlik (incumbent) 7,643 27.6
Democratic Anthony Pollina (incumbent) 6,558 23.6
Democratic Theo Kennedy 4,812 17.3
Democratic Write-ins 134 0.5
Total votes 27,737 100.0
Republican primary
Washington Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dawnmarie Tomasi 2,545 27.5
Republican Dwayne Tucker 2,545 27.5
Republican Ken Alger 2,388 25.8
Republican Brent Young 1,592 17.2
Republican Write-ins 181 1.9
Total votes 9,251 100.0
General election
Washington general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ann Cummings (incumbent) 21,159 25.2
Progressive Anthony Pollina (incumbent)[e] 17,200 20.5
Democratic Andrew Perchlik (incumbent)[d] 15,029 17.9
Republican Dwayne Tucker 9,258 11.0
Republican Dawnmarie Tomasi 9,191 11.0
Republican Ken Alger 9,113 10.9
Independent Paul Vallerand 2,678 3.2
Write-in Write-ins 186 0.2
Total votes 83,814 100.0
Democratic hold
Progressive hold
Democratic hold

Windham[edit]

  • Elects two senators.
Windham general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Becca Balint (incumbent) 14,520 37.8
Democratic Jeanette White (incumbent) 13,683 35.6
Republican Marcus Parish 4,359 11.3
Republican John Lyddy 4,265 11.1
Independent Tyler Colford 1,499 3.9
Write-in Write-ins 87 0.2
Total votes 38,413 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold

Windsor[edit]

  • Elects three senators.
Windsor general election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alison H. Clarkson (incumbent) 19,084 23.3
Democratic Richard McCormack (incumbent) 17,477 21.4
Democratic Alice Nitka (incumbent)[h] 16,726 20.4
Republican Jack Williams 9,702 11.9
Republican Michael Jasinski Sr. 9,632 11.8
Independent Keith Stern 4,605 5.6
Independent Doug Wilberding 2,855 3.5
Independent Mason Wade 1,471 1.8
Write-in Write-ins 251 0.3
Total votes 81,803 100.0
Democratic hold
Democratic hold
Democratic hold

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Not counting Progressive and Republican candidates who were also nominated by the Democratic Party.
  2. ^ Not counting Democratic candidates who were also nominated by the Republican Party.
  3. ^ Not counting Democratic candidates who were also nominated by the Progressive Party.
  4. ^ a b Candidate received the nominations of both the Democratic and Progressive parties and was listed on the ballot as "Democratic/Progressive" (candidate is primarily a Democrat).
  5. ^ a b Candidate received the nominations of both the Progressive and Democratic parties and was listed on the ballot as "Progressive/Democratic" (candidate is primarily a Progressive).
  6. ^ Elected as a Democrat in 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Candidate received the nominations of both the Republican and Democratic parties and was listed on the ballot as "Republican/Democratic" (candidate is primarily a Republican).
  8. ^ a b Candidate received the nominations of both the Democratic and Republican parties and was listed on the ballot as "Democratic/Republican" (candidate is primarily a Democrat).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Vermont Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  2. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Official Election Results". Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2020.