The 2018 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 6, 2018, alongside a gubernatorial election, U.S. House election, and other state and local elections. Incumbent independent Senator Bernie Sanders won re-election to a third term, defeating Republican nominee Lawrence Zupan. The primaries were held on August 14. This was one of two independent-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.
Background Two-term independent Senator Bernie Sanders was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2012. Sanders, a candidate for president in the 2016 primary election and one of only three independent members of Congress, is a self-described democratic socialist.
Sanders had caucused with the Democratic Party since taking office in 2007, and was the chairman of the Budget Committee. He was 77 years old in 2018. Sanders ran for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. After failing to win the nomination, he announced that he would run for re-election for his Senate seat in 2018.
Independents Candidates Brad Peacock, farmer Bernie Sanders, incumbent U.S. senator (caucuses with Democrats)
Endorsements
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Bernie Sanders, incumbent U.S. senator (declined nomination)
Eliminated in primary Folasade Adeluola, activist
Not on ballot Jon Svitavsky, homelessness activist
Withdrawn Al Giordano, journalist
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Lawrence Zupan, real estate broker
Withdrew nomination H. Brooke Paige, former CEO of Remmington News Service
Eliminated in primary Rocky De La Fuente, businessman Jasdeep Pannu, attorney
Did not file John MacGovern, former Massachusetts state representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Scott Milne, businessman, nominee for governor in 2014 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016
Results
Post-primary H. Brooke Paige, who also won the Republican nominations for U.S. House, state Attorney General, state Secretary of State, state Treasurer, and state Auditor, withdrew from all but the secretary of state race on August 24, in order to allow the Vermont Republican Party to name replacement candidates. The Vermont Republican Party picked Lawrence Zupan, who came in second place in the primary, to be the Republican nominee.
General election
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofCNNJuly 12, 2018Fox NewsJuly 9, 2018RealClearPoliticsJune 6, 2018The Cook Political ReportOctober 11, 2017Inside ElectionsSeptember 29, 2017Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 27, 2017 *Highest rating given
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BernieSanders (I) LawrenceZupan (R) Other UndecidedGravis MarketingGravis Marketing October 30 – November 1, 2018 885 ± 3.3% 66% 30% – 4%Braun ResearchBraun Research October 5–14, 2018 495 ± 4.4% 60% 19% 7%Russell Beste (I), Bruce Busa (I), Reid Kane (LU), and Brad Peacock (I) with 1%; Folasade Adeluola and Jon Svitavsky with 0%; none/write in/other with 3% 16%Tulchin Research (D-Vermont Democratic Party)Tulchin Research (D-Vermont Democratic Party) September 23–26, 2018 406 ± 4.9% 75% 20% – –
Results
Sanders won re-election with 67.4% of the vote against eight other candidates.
By county
CountyBernie SandersIndependentLawrence ZupanRepublicanVarious candidatesOther parties#%#%#%Addison11,96569.56%4,43925.81%7984.63%Bennington8,97160.89%3,91026.54%1,85112.57%Caledonia6,80358.31%4,29636.82%5674.87%Chittenden55,66973.74%16,44121.78%3,3804.48%Essex1,05948.67%97644.85%1416.48%Franklin10,49257.6%6,78237.24%9405.16%Grand Isle2,30762.61%1,22933.35%1494.04%Lamoille7,98970.36%2,93125.81%4353.83%Orange8,09964.6%3,79030.23%6495.17%Orleans5,57156.41%3,85339.01%4534.58%Rutland13,58755.78%9,57639.31%1,1964.91%Washington19,39571.14%6,51723.9%1,3534.96%Windham14,38675.66%3,67319.32%9555.02%Windsor17,35669.28%6,40225.55%1,2945.17% Totals183,64967.36%74,81527.44%14,1605.2%
See also 2018 United States Senate elections 2018 Vermont gubernatorial election
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia Campaign finance at FEC Campaign finance at OpenSecrets
Official campaign websites Russell Beste (I) for Senate Edward Gilbert Jr. (I) for Senate Reid Kane (LUP) for Senate Brad Peacock (I) for Senate Bernie Sanders (I) for Senate Jon Svitavsky (I) for Senate Lawrence Zupan (R) for Senate