vermont gubernatorial election vermont gubernatorial election took place november elect governor vermont concurrently elections united states senate states elections united_states house_of_representatives state local elections incumbent democratic governor ran election term office republican businessman businessman minor party independent candidates based election polling large financial advantage state strong democratic lean expected win easily received majority vote polled votes cast constitution vermont requires member choose winner candidate receives popular vote january assembly chose vote result prompted debate analysis commentators political parties took place elections saw republicans sweeping gains federal state local offices country nearby democratic states maryland massachusetts republicans won unexpected gubernatorial victories june announced seek election background term republican governor run election race succeed democratic nominee president vermont senate received vote republican nominee lieutenant governor received candidate received majority general_assembly required pick winner january contest vote conceded race election night called vermont unite won assembly vote legislators voting elected republican state senator landslide vermont new_hampshire states country governors elected years incumbent governor vermont defeated election democrat beat republican votes democratic primary announced december running election term office said begin campaigning labor day months election faced opponent democratic primary august lifelong republican washington resident simultaneously ran democratic incumbent democratic primary election vermont attorney general unsuccessful effort losing candidates declared ceo republican candidate ran attorney general incumbent governor results republican primary republicans initially struggled recruit candidate governor douglas lieutenant governor announced early run march candidate entered race marijuana activist independent gubernatorial candidate spurred republicans recruit candidate struggled wall street banker announced running attention turned state senator nominee state representative businessman said run leaving party month june filing deadline find candidate traveling africa announced decide shortly deadline urged run considered revealed june morning filing deadline day announced run joined republican primary retired self described modern day running appearing ballot ran write candidate republican nomination nomination august primary nominated vote candidates declared retired businessman independent candidate governor write ran businessman candidate son state legislators don emily independent candidate governor ran independent declined state senator nominee governor governor banker state representative lieutenant governor vermont ran election results progressive primary satisfied support single health care efforts close vermont yankee nuclear power plant run candidate members discussed challenging proposed cuts social programs party openly admitted lacked money gubernatorial campaign candidate came forward run candidates declined party party state senator party chairman results primary founded run elected office dozen times unopposed candidates declared party founder perennial candidate results nomination businessman ran write candidate republican primary unopposed nomination candidates declared businessman independent candidate governor ran write republican primary independent candidates declared perennial candidate ran vermont large congressional district emily independent candidate governor ran republican primary declined banker general election debates general election debate attended party nominees independent candidates held october attracted considerable media attention described variously funny strange crazy election cycle special beard filled comments candidates apart drew media attention laughter studio audience describing generation born vermont correct state born brooklyn sported large bow topped hat suggesting poor use food stamps buy lottery tickets wore jean shorts long sported large beard calling revolutionary socialism drugs union comparing students slaves cost higher education responding question military regime answering question college vermont saying idea self described light worker shouting allegedly closing highway closing remarks ask choose money love additional debates candidates held drew attention governor described debates good thing state time magazine called breath fresh air pure entertainment final debate october candidates polling results results district vermont polling places report results separately corresponding state towns cities larger municipalities broken multiple won won tied won state biggest voting area representing gubernatorial voters margin state largest municipalities won won essex vermont multi member senate districts roughly state counties won won popular vote house districts won analysis candidate received majority vote required decide election choosing vote result came surprise observers expected win easily rated race likely democratic cook political report daily elections governing political report rated race safe democratic reported average lead polls model estimated beat probability win election analyzing results pointed relatively soft numbers opinion polls polls race evidence voters dissatisfied progress state single health care rising property taxes unsuccessful roll vermont health connect state federal health care exchange internal polls showed close race touted endorsement popular senator try comparison fundraising spending available compared million meant afford pay polling presence nominee ballot divided opinion republican governor saying split anti vote contrast said likely drawn voters dissatisfied voted agreed assessment saying republicans wondered push run strongly single nominee state run state party focused state legislative races analysis political experts pointed record low voter turnout fact people voted democratic congressman voted sign dissatisfaction political science professor said people showed angry ones unlike demonstrated appeal far democratic base news conference november stated result said listen learn reflect inclusive pledged ahead single health care address school spending property taxes budget gap general_assembly vote general_assembly selected place finisher gubernatorial election come recently received vote chosen republican democratic controlled legislature picked republican received democrat received assembly recently reversed vote lieutenant gubernatorial election republican controlled legislature picked republican democrat suspected later convicted insurance fraud second place finisher usually race happened refused considered requesting reasoning extremely unlikely candidate percent mark election said won support expect situation reversed election said clear want new governor new path forward votes needed elect governor member body democrats held seats considered unlikely win argued legislators decide election line individual districts voted calculated legislator voted according results district vote result tie disagreed calculation claimed voting according district outcome result winning republican legislative leaders said whip members vote leaving free vote republican lieutenant governor vote said vote republican state representative said initially democrats indicated vote democrats districts voted said vote citing win month comment considered lobby legislators votes governor douglas cautioned legislative campaign governor saying unlikely effective strategy seek preserve good acknowledge result come fight day december held press conference defied suggestions officially announcing asking state legislators vote went pro actively trying convince legislators vote start twisting arms door open called legislators consider record incumbent best vermont responded honored received votes election want serve governor went believed legislature honor long democratic tradition candidate received votes announcement liberal district voted margin announced vote democrat state representative said vote citing district support political science professors house minority leader expected general_assembly vote roughly follow party lines receiving votes including republicans democrats december announced dropping plan implement single healthcare reforms required business personal tax increases advanced framework stage missed earlier financing said right time federal government offered funding expected potential economic disruption risks great small businesses working families state economy media cited controversy surrounding comments economist involved crafting advocating plan failure win majority election reasons cancellation decision called biggest disappointment career drew mixed response business groups lauded pragmatic supporters health care reform organized protests said end political career end december newly formed group honest government raised air television advertisements aimed legislators vote group founder retired united_states navy captain said legislators vote promised lot failed deliver round reveal source group funding said connection group appreciated sentiment contrast said absolutely run advertisements campaign legislators votes spend money added worried vote early january reiterated actively campaigning legislators votes said felt odds victory getting better weekly basis daily basis said win vermont paralyzed new administration lacked time needed assemble new staff draft budget fiscal year offered support state constitution long winner received vote assembly required decide election january general_assembly voted elect votes legislator voting stated grateful opportunity continue serving state love expect productive session addressing issues care deeply said good day vermont happy think road led lot people feeling like person difference rule running results aftermath june announced run fourth term said seen politics lifelong career decided decision want months work said decision driven poll numbers driven politics leaving office january return family business candidates announced intention run democrats state senator gubernatorial candidate secretary state representative speaker republicans retired banker lieutenant governor running saying unlikely run scott entered race later reported governor race scott later clarified expected scott win nomination september officially endorsed nominee joined republican_party mid january considering running republican nomination
Vermont gubernatorial election, 2014