2006 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont

The 2006 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 7, 2006, for representation of Vermont's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2009.

Incumbent Congressman Bernie Sanders, an independent member of Congress who caucused with the Democrats, did not seek a ninth term in the House, instead running successfully for the United States Senate.

To replace Congressman Sanders, Democrat Peter Welch defeated Republican Martha Rainville by a somewhat narrow margin (just under 10%) in staunchly-liberal Vermont. As of 2022, this is the last federal election in which a Republican received more than a third of the vote.

Democratic primary Candidates Peter Welch, state senate president pro tempore, nominee for Governor in 1990, and candidate for this seat in 1988

Results

Republican primary Candidates Martha Rainville, former Vermont National Guard adjutant general Mark Shepard, state senator

Results

Third-party and independent candidates Declined David Zuckerman, member of the Vermont House of Representatives, farmer, businessman, environmentalist (Progressive Party)

General election Polling Source Date PeterWelch (D) MarthaRainville (R) JaneNewton (LU)Research 2000 October 23–24, 200651% 41%Greenburg QuinlanGreenburg Quinlan October 8–9, 200652% 41%Research 2000 September 18–19, 200645% 39%American Research GroupAmerican Research Group September 14, 200648% 45% 2%American Research Group July 27, 2006 41%42%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 6, 2006 Rothenberg November 6, 2006 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 6, 2006 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2006 CQ Politics November 7, 2006

Results

By county County Peter WelchDemocratic Martha RainvilleRepublican All others Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # % Addison 8,784 53.7% 7,252 44.4% 313 2.0% 1,532 9.3% 16,349 Bennington 7,915 55.3% 5,412 37.8% 997 6.0% 2,503 17.5% 14,324 Caledonia 5,400 44.3% 6,502 53.4% 275 2.2% -1,102 -9.1% 12,177 Chittenden 36,965 55.7% 28,630 43.1% 800 1.3% 8,335 12.6% 66,395 Essex 970 38.2% 1,466 57.8% 100 3.9% -496 -19.6% 2,536 Franklin 7,388 41.9% 10,018 56.9% 210 1.2% -2,630 -15.0% 17,616 Grand Isle 1,644 44.6% 2,005 54.4% 37 1.0% -361 -9.8% 3,686 Lamoille 5,565 53.1% 4,726 45.1% 182 1.7% 839 8.0% 10,473 Orange 6,452 51.8% 5,767 46.3% 232 1.9% 685 5.5% 12,451 Orleans 4,665 44.9% 5,520 53.2% 200 1.9% -855 -8.3% 10,385 Rutland 12,245 47.8% 12,847 50.2% 518 2.0% -602 -2.4% 25,610 Washington 15,223 55.8% 11,582 42.5% 462 1.7% 3,641 13.3% 27,267 Windham 11,778 63.6% 5,806 31.4% 922 5.0% 5,972 32.2% 18,506 Windsor 14,821 59.4% 9,490 38.0% 640 2.5% 5,331 21.4% 24,951Totals139,81553.2%117,02344.5%5,8882.2%22,7928.7%262,726

Counties that flipped from Independent to Democratic Addison (largest municipality: Middlebury) Bennington (largest municipality: Bennington) Chittenden (largest municipality: Burlington) Lamoille (largest municipality: Morristown) Orange (largest city: Randolph) Washington (largest municipality: Barre) Windham (largest municipality: Brattleboro) Windsor (largest municipality: Hartford)

Counties that flipped from Independent to Republican Rutland (largest municipality: Rutland) Grand Isle (largest municipality: Alburgh) Caledonia (largest municipality: St. Johnsbury) Orleans (largest municipality: Derby) Essex (largest city: Lunenburg) Franklin (largest city: St. Albans)

References