The 2010 Vermont gubernatorial general election took place on November 2. Vermont and New Hampshire are the only two states where the governor serves a two-year term instead of four. Primary elections took place on August 24.

Incumbent Republican governor Jim Douglas was not a candidate for re-election. Brian Dubie, the incumbent lieutenant governor, was the Republican nominee. The Democratic nomination was won by Peter Shumlin, the President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate.

The result was a 119,543 (49.5 percent) to 115,212 (47.7 percent) plurality for Shumlin. Several minor candidates got between 600 and 2,000 votes each. In accordance with the Vermont Constitution, if no candidate receives a majority, the contest is decided by the Vermont General Assembly. In such races, the combined Vermont House and Senate almost always chooses the candidate who won a plurality. Dubie indicated on November 3 that he did not intend to ask for a recount or contest the election in the legislature, and conceded to Shumlin. On January 6, 2011, with 173 of 180 members voting, 87 votes were necessary for a choice. The General Assembly elected Shumlin on the first ballot, 145–28.

Republican primary

Candidate Brian Dubie, lieutenant governor

Democratic primary

Candidates Susan Bartlett, state senator Matt Dunne, Google executive and former state senator Deborah Markowitz, secretary of state of Vermont Doug Racine, state senator, former lieutenant governor and nominee for governor in 2002 Peter Shumlin, Senate president pro tempore

Peter Shumlin won the Democratic primary according to the uncertified tabulation of statewide votes released by the Office of the Secretary of State on August 27, 2010, by 197 votes over Doug Racine, who requested a recount. The recount began September 8.Judge will speed up Vt. primary recount , Bennington Banner, September 3, 2010 Racine conceded on September 10.

Results

Progressive primary

Candidates Martha Abbott, state party chair; Abbott won the primary, then withdrew from the election, so the party did not have a candidate on the ballot. The party had promised not to play a "spoiler" role in the election if Shumlin supported single-payer health care, which he did.

Results

Independent and third-party candidates Cris Ericson, United States Marijuana Party Dan Feliciano, Independent Ben Mitchell, Liberty Union Party Em Payton, Independent Dennis Steele, Independent

General election Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Report October 14, 2010 Rothenberg October 28, 2010 RealClearPolitics November 1, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 CQ Politics October 28, 2010

Polling Poll source Dates administered BrianDubie (R) PeterShumlin (D)Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 28, 2010 45% 50%Vermont Public RadioVermont Public Radio October 12, 2010 44% 43%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 13, 2010 46% 49%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports June 17, 2010 55% 36%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports March 18, 2010 51% 33%

Results

By county CountyPeter ShumlinDemocraticBrian DubieRepublicanVarious candidatesOther parties#%#%#%Addison7,73950.8%7,12946.8%3702.4%Bennington7,66255.3%5,70041.2%4843.4%Caledonia4,35339.0%6,39257.3%4093.7%Chittenden32,28052.4%28,05045.6%1,2162.0%Essex79734.4%1,41361.0%1074.6%Franklin5,99936.8%9,84060.4%4512.8%Grand Isle1,49542.8%1,90654.6%922.6%Lamoille4,56447.6%4,75549.6%2742.9%Orange5,67849.5%5,41247.2%3783.3%Orleans3,87441.1%5,23555.5%3253.4%Rutland9,48341.6%12,58355.2%7383.3%Washington13,27553.1%10,97343.9%7583.0%Windham10,44260.6%6,27836.4%5153.0%Windsor11,90253.7%9,54643.0%7333.3% Totals119,54349.5%115,21247.7%6,8502.8% Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Addison (largest municipality: Middlebury) Bennington (largest municipality: Bennington) Chittenden (largest municipality: Burlington) Orange (largest city: Randolph) Washington (largest municipality: Barre) Windham (largest municipality: Brattleboro) Windsor (largest municipality: Hartford)

General Assembly results Vermont's Constitution requires the Vermont General Assembly to select if no candidate obtains a majority. The combined Vermont House and Senate almost always chooses the candidate who won a plurality. The legislature officially elected Peter Shumlin on January 6, 2011.

See also List of governors of Vermont 2010 United States gubernatorial elections

References

External links Vermont Secretary of State – Elections & Campaign Finance Division Vermont Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart Campaign contributions for 2010 Vermont Governor from Follow the Money Vermont Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: Vermont Governor from Rasmussen Reports 2010 Vermont Governor Race from Real Clear Politics 2010 Vermont Governor's Race from CQ Politics Race Profile in The New York Times Vermont League of Conservation Voters 2010 candidates Q&A from VT LCV Official campaign websites (archived) Brian Dubie for Governor Trav Fryer for Governor Cris Ericson for Governor Emily Peyton For Governor Peter Shumlin for Governor Dennis Steele for Governor