State of Vermont Archives: on Principles & Values
Bernie Sanders:
Lost campaigns in 1972, 1974 & 1988 before winning in 1990
If At First You Don't Succeed... The CQ Roll Call members database reveals that 18 members of the 113th Congress mounted multiple unsuccessful campaigns before finally winning a seat.AMONG TWO-TIME LOSERS:- Rep. Steve Stockman, R-TX, elected in
1994, lost primary in 1990, general election in 1992.
- Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, elected to the House in 1998, lost primary in 1982, general election in 1988
THREE-TIME LOSERS:- Rep. Paul Broun, R-GA, elected in 2006, lost general election in
1990, primary in 1992, Senate primary in 1996
- Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-HI, elected in 2010, lost primary in 2006, special elections in 2003 and 2010
- Rep. Collin Peterson, D-MN, elected in 1990, lost primaries in 1982 and 1988, general elections in
1984 and 1986.
- Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-VT, elected to the House in 1990, lost general elections for the Senate in 1972 and 1974 and for the House in 1988.
- Rep. Juan Vargas, D-CA, elected in 2012, lost primaries in 1992, 1996 and 2006.
Source: Cong. Quarterly Rollcall mag. on 2014 Vermont Senate race
Mar 20, 2014
Brooke Paige:
Nominee for Secretary of State (won 4 other nominations too)
Brooke Paige is a Republican candidate running for Vermont Secretary of State. Paige advanced to the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary election on August 14, 2018. Paige also advanced from the
August 14 primary in the following races: U.S. House, Attorney General, State Auditor, and State Treasurer. He withdrew from these races in August 2018.Candidates in Vermont can file to run in the primary contests for multiple offices.
They may only choose one office for which to run in the general election, after which the party may nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy on the general election ballot.
Paige was a Democratic candidate for governor of Vermont in the 2016 election.
He was also a 2016 candidate for state attorney general. He lost both races in the August 9 primary. Paige previously ran for the same two positions in 2014. He was also a 2012 candidate for the U.S. Senate, running as a Republican in that campaign.
Source: Ballotpedia.org on 2018 Vermont Senate race
Aug 14, 2018
Christine Hallquist:
Monthly town halls and weekly audio broadcasts as governor
Hold monthly town halls in rotating counties across the state to receive feedback from Vermonters. In a weekly audio broadcast available to all Vermonters, Christine will explain what she did
each week and will recap what is going on in Montpelier. Launch a digital platform for State Employees and citizens to share ideas on improving state government.
Source: 2018 VT governor Campaign website ChristineForVermont.com
Sep 1, 2018
Gerald Malloy:
Wants to get US back on track, make it strong again
Malloy, 60, who has only lived in Vermont for two years, is a retired U.S. Army veteran. He says he is a conservative Republican and a Trump supporter, though he refused to participate in political debates or press interviews so his policy positions are
vague with the exception of a few tidbits he let out in press releases. He uses the standard conservative GOP rhetoric of setting the U.S. "back on track" and "making it strong again."
Source: Addison County Independent on 2022 Vermont Senate race
Aug 11, 2022
John MacGovern:
Served four terms in the Massachusetts legislature
MacGovern grew up on a vegetable farm in Massachusetts, graduated from Dartmouth College and then pursued a business career. In the mid-1980s he served four terms in the Massachusetts legislature, lost a close race for a
U.S. House seat in Massachusetts and moved with his wife to Vermont in the 1990s. He has since unsuccessfully run for the Vermont legislature three times and is president of the Hanover Institute.
Source: Burlington Free Press, on 2012 Vermont Senate debate
Aug 27, 2012
John MacGovern:
Runs the Hanover Institute, a Dartmouth alumni group
MacGovern, 61, a graduate of Dartmouth College, served in the Massachusetts Legislature during the 1980s. He moved to Vermont in 1999. He currently runs the Hanover Institute, which he describes as an independent group of
Dartmouth alumni formed to protect their voice in an expanded governing board. This is his first run for statewide elected office in Vermont.
Source: Boston Globe on 2012 Vermont Senate debate
Oct 18, 2012
John MacGovern:
Raised on an organic communal dairy farm
According to the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine profile, MacGovern grew up on a dairy farm that "bore a striking resemblance to a hippie commune. Children wore robes, milked cows, tilled an organic farm." MacGovern told the magazine: "The goal was to be
totally self-sufficient. There was no contact with the outside; no newspapers, no radio, no television."MacGoverns' parents belonged to the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to the magazine article, which is a
Catholic sect founded by a Jesuit activist who was ultimately ex-communicated. MacGovern's father died when he was young, the article says, and his mother became a nun within the order. "Which might not have been as
traumatic as it would have been in a secular context," the article's author writes, "given that the order's common practice was to dissolve the parental bond early anyway."
Source: SevenDaysVT.com on 2018 Vermont Senate race
Mar 9, 2012
Lawrence Zupan:
Running on principles of life, liberty and private property
Lawrence Zupan's platform is built on restoring the fundamental principles of America's greatness,
including Constitutionally guaranteed respect for life, liberty and private property.
Source: VT Digger on 2018 Vermont Senate race
Sep 7, 2018
Patrick Leahy:
Co-sponsored Do No Harm Act: keep church and state separate
The Do No Harm Act, a bill that's designed to ensure that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) continues to provide important protections for religious exercise while clarifying that RFRA may not be used to discriminate against or
otherwise harm others, was introduced in the Senate in May. Patrick Leahy co-introduced the legislation.Americans United supports the legislation. AU's President said that "the Do No Harm Act will ensure that we honor two core
American values: religious freedom and the promise of equal protection under the law."
Congress enacted the federal RFRA in 1993 with the goal of protecting religious freedom, especially for religious minorities. At that time, a broad coalition of
progressive & conservative groups supported the law. But since then, the federal RFRA has been misinterpreted by some courts and has become a vehicle for those who want to use religion to undermine protections for civil rights and access to health care.
Source: Church & State Magazine, AU.org, on 2016 Vermont Senate race
Aug 8, 2018
Patrick Leahy:
Lifelong Batman fan; has done cameos in several movies
A lifelong Batman fan, Leahy provided the voice for a governor in the Old West on Batman: The Animated Series (1992), made a cameo appearance as himself in Batman & Robin (1997), and appeared in Batman Forever (1995), The Dark Knight Rises (2012),
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), and The Dark Knight (2008). He wrote an introduction for "The Dark Knight Archives," a 1992 compilation, and a preface for "Batman: Death of Innocents," a 1996 graphic novel about land mines.
Source: IMDB Biography for 2022 Vermont Senate race
Jun 22, 2021
Peter Shumlin:
Retiring after three terms to return to the business world
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says he won't run for a fourth, two-year term next year. Shumlin announced his plans at a news conference where he outlined the successes of his administration and identified challenges still to come.
The Democrat had survived a tough re-election fight in November, outspending little-known business owner Scott Milne but still drawing less than 50% of the vote and forcing the Legislature to decide the outcome in January.
Shumlin also had to abandon one of his signature efforts: a universal, government-backed health care system often referred to as single-payer.
The 59-year-old Shumlin, who was first elected in 2010, said he never had any desire to be a full-time politician. He said he'll return to the business world.
Source: Washington Times on 2016 Vermont gubernatorial race
Jun 8, 2015
Peter Welch:
January 6th was an attack on our democracy
I was there on January 6th when the Capitol was stormed by a violent mob fueled by the former president's lies. Too many Senate Republicans stood behind him instead of telling the truth:
It was an attack on our democracy and an attempt to overturn a free and fair election. Senate Republicans continue to sow division for their own political gain instead of working together to get things done.
Source: Vermont Business Magazine on 2022 Vermont Senate race
Nov 22, 2021
Phil Scott:
The right leader at the right time
Q: Why are you running for this office?Phil Scott: I am running for Governor because I firmly believe that I am the right leader at the right time to move Vermont forward. As a lifelong Vermonter, small-business owner, and public servant,
I'm frustrated by business as usual in Montpelier. We need to focus on the fundamentals, like economic development and making Vermont more affordable. Throughout my political career,
I've been a consensus builder--working with Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and Independents to accomplish common-sense legislation that moves our state in the right direction.
As Governor, I will continue to reach across the aisle. I recognize that there are a lot of egos in Montpelier. But my focus has never been getting credit. My priority is getting things done for Vermonters.
Source: LWV's Vote411.org on 2016 Vermont Gubernatorial Race
Sep 19, 2016
Phil Scott:
Strength of our nation is diversity of people and opinion
We must lead by example: Show our youth how to engage in important, complex debates with both conviction and civility; prove that the strength of our nation is in its diversity of people and opinion; that
America is a global beacon of personal and economic freedom and opportunity; and that listening to, and learning from, each other is how we continue to build on our foundation as a nation.
Source: Gubernatorial press release for 2020 Vermont governor race
Sep 24, 2018
David Zuckerman:
Met with faith leaders to discuss effects of climate crisis
Yesterday, I met with leaders of the faith community @vtinterfaithaction and Vermont Interfaith Power & Light who came to Montpelier to advocate for a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all people, creatures, and ecosystems.
We must take strong, decisive action to protect our climate and mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.
Source: Instagram post on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Mar 30, 2023
Phil Scott:
Our decency to one another is our greatest strength
To me, it's our decency to one another, where we as Americans and Vermonters find our greatest strength. I've seen this my entire life. I saw it in my dad and in my mom, and in the people of my hometown when he passed away.
I've seen it in teachers and classmates, co-workers, friends, neighbors, colleagues in the legislature and dedicated state employees. Like many of you, I've tried to pass it on to my kids.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 4, 2024
Phil Scott:
Our decency to one another is our greatest strength
To me, it's our decency to one another, where we as Americans and Vermonters find our greatest strength. I've seen this my entire life. I saw it in my dad and in my mom, and in the people of my hometown when he passed away.
I've seen it in teachers and classmates, co-workers, friends, neighbors, colleagues in the legislature and dedicated state employees. Like many of you, I've tried to pass it on to my kids.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 4, 2024
Peter Duval:
I am going to lose the election; Phil will win
I am going to lose the election. Phil will win. Votes for Phil [Scott] or Brenda [Siegel] won't change the Red versus Blue political dynamic. The most impactful vote is voting for Earth--voting 'Peter Duval' for governor, which will elevate ecology
in Vermont politics. I offer a rapid transition to a climate-safe Vermont and modern, practical approaches to child care, education, health care, opioids, housing, and gun safety.
Source: 2022 VT Governor campaign website PeterForVermont.earth
Jun 26, 2022
Peter Duval:
Campaign applies an Earth perspective to every issue
In this campaign, an Earth perspective is applied to every issue. I look for underlying problems and connections between "crises." For example, the connection between the war in
Ukraine, the global climate emergency, and inflation in Vermont is oil consumption, addressed--right now--through organized energy conservation.
Source: 2024 VT Governor campaign website PeterForVermont.earth
Jun 11, 2024
Bernie Sanders:
I'd feel awful if America lost our 250 year old democracy
Q: How would you feel if former President Trump wins in November?SANDERS: Well, I would feel awful, as somebody who has opposed virtually all of Trump's policies. And I would feel awful if the
American people lost the democracy which we've had for 250 years. And I would feel awful if we turned our back on the existential threat of climate change.
Source: CBS Face the Nation on 2024 Vermont Senate race
Jul 7, 2024
Gerald Malloy:
Legacy: good husband and Christian
Q: What legacy would you like to leave?A: Being a good father and husband and Christian. Service to my Country. Service as a Senator that produced results to restore safety, a strong economy, and unity.
Q: What characteristics are most important
for an elected official?
A: Character; Duty, honor, country.
Q: What qualities would make you a successful officeholder?
A: Character; Duty, Honor, Country values. I believe in the US Constitution and one Nation under God.
Source: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection on 2024 Vermont Senate race
Aug 8, 2024
Gerald Malloy:
Religious liberty is at risk; no infringing religious rights
Q: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY: Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law?
A: Strongly Agree. The current administration is chipping away at all Constitutional rights. I will not support any infringement on Constitutional rights. None. Period.
Q: Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
A: Strongly Disagree.
Q: What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
A: Separate.
Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
A: I am a raised and practicing Roman Catholic. I wake up everyday to do the best I can for God, Country and Family.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2022 Vermont Senate race
Nov 8, 2022
Esther Charlestin:
First black woman to win VT gubernatorial nomination
Charlestin, 34, is a former Middlebury Selectboard member and school administrator. She is the first black woman in Vermont to win a major party gubernatorial nomination, and only the second in the country. If elected, Charlestin would also become
the first person of color and the second woman to hold the highest office in the state. She currently serves as co-chair of the Vermont Commission on Women. In 2023, she won a Leahy Award for exceptional community leadership.
Source: Burlington Free Press on 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Sep 16, 2024
Esther Charlestin:
Condemned with IFFY award for running "Issue-Free" campaign
OnTheIssues attempted and failed to compile the issue stances of Esther Charlestin--which means she actively sought to hide issue stances from the internet, the news media, and the voters.We consider "issue-free campaigners" to be untrustworthy of
holding elected office--the IFFY award means they are "iffy" officeholders. Voters need to know how the candidate will actually vote on key issues. Charlestin did not say--an insult to her constituency--and voters should complain loudly and often.
Charlestin is a municipal elected official and has no excuse as a novice "first-time candidate".
OnTheIssues undertook due diligence--over the entire course of 2024--we found only a 3-topic "platform" that ignored topics like abortion
and LGBT rights--Vermont has led America in the past on these issues, so why can't Charlestin? We managed only to answer 50% of VoteMatch questions by November 2024--our standard for first-time candidates is to find 70% of VoteMatch questions.
Source: IFFY disendorsement in 2024 Vermont Gubernatorial race
Nov 1, 2024
Phil Scott:
We can fiercely debate issues but be civil and respectful
But here's the good news: Vermont can be the example. We can fiercely debate the issues but do it in a way that's civil and respectful, so we get better policy--not better campaign material.
This is entirely in our hands. We don't need to be asked to do the right thing. We just need to do it.
Source: 2026 State of the State Address to the Vermont legislature
Jan 7, 2026
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026