The 2022 Vermont Senate election took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennial United States elections. The election coincided with elections for other offices including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and State House. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 16 districts, with each district electing between one and three senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. Primary elections were held on August 9, 2022. This election would be the first to use new districts adopted by the Vermont General Assembly to allocate for population changes across the state after the 2020 census.
Democrats and Progressives retained their combined 23-seat supermajority. Because Democrats and Progressives simultaneously won a supermajority in the Vermont House of Representatives for the first time ever, this meant that they could pass bills that were vetoed by Republican governor Phil Scott. Republicans lost one seat during redistricting, as Joe Benning's Caledonia County seat was eliminated, but they made up for this loss by gaining a seat from Democrats in Rutland County. Democrats still managed a net gain of one seat, as they won the newly created Chittenden North district and gained a seat from Progressives in Washington County. This left newly elected senator Tanya Vyhovsky as the only Progressive in the Senate, although four of the elected Democrats were also nominated by the Progressive Party and appeared on the ballot as "Democratic/Progressive."
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball May 19, 2022
Results -->PartyCandidatesVotes%Primary seatsSecondary seatsPrimarySecondaryBeforeAfter+/−BeforeAfter+/−Democratic273365,88265.12122+153-2Republican241165,92129.577–21-1Progressive1412,3772.221-134+1Libertarian0100–00–Independent4010,8861.900–00–Write-ins7,0211.2Total569562,087100.03030±0108-2
District Incumbent Party DistrictElected senator PartyAddison Christopher Bray DemAddison Christopher Bray Dem Ruth Hardy Dem Ruth Hardy DemBennington Dick Sears Dem Bennington Dick Sears Dem/Rep Brian Campion Dem Brian Campion DemCaledonia Jane Kitchel DemCaledonia Jane Kitchel Dem Joe Benning RepSeat abolishedChittenden Phil Baruth Dem/ProgChittenden Central Phil Baruth Dem/ProgNew seat Martine Gulick Dem Christopher Pearson Prog/Dem Tanya Vyhovsky Prog/DemNew seat Chittenden North Irene Wrenner Dem Kesha Ram Hinsdale DemChittenden Southeast Kesha Ram Hinsdale Dem/Prog Thomas Chittenden Dem Thomas Chittenden Dem Ginny Lyons Dem Ginny Lyons Dem Michael Sirotkin Dem Seat abolishedEssex-Orleans Russ Ingalls Rep Essex Russ Ingalls Rep/Dem Robert Starr Dem Orleans Robert Starr DemFranklin Randy Brock Rep/DemFranklin Randy Brock Rep Corey Parent Rep/Dem Robert Norris Rep Grand Isle Richard Mazza Dem/Rep Grand Isle Richard Mazza Dem Lamoille Richard Westman Rep/Dem Lamoille Richard Westman Rep/Dem Orange Mark MacDonald Dem Orange Mark MacDonald DemRutland Brian Collamore RepRutland Brian Collamore Rep Joshua Terenzini Rep Terry Williams Rep Cheryl Hooker Dem/Prog Dave Weeks Rep Washington Ann Cummings DemWashington Ann Cummings Dem Anthony Pollina Prog/Dem Anne Watson Dem/Prog Andrew Perchlik Dem/Prog Andrew Perchlik Dem/Prog Windham Becca Balint DemWindham Wendy Harrison Dem Jeanette White Dem Nader Hashim DemWindsor Alison Clarkson DemWindsor Alison Clarkson Dem Alice Nitka Dem Rebecca White Dem Richard McCormack Dem Richard McCormack Dem
Retiring incumbents Ten incumbent senators (five Democrats, three Republicans and both Progressives) had announced they would not seek reelection.
Caledonia: Joe Benning (R) (ran for lieutenant governor) Chittenden: Christopher Pearson (P/D) Chittenden: Michael Sirotkin (D) Franklin: Corey Parent (R) Rutland: Joshua Terenzini (R) Rutland: Cheryl Hooker (D/P) Washington: Anthony Pollina (P/D) Windham: Becca Balint (D) (ran for U.S. House) Windham: Jeanette White (D) Windsor: Alice Nitka (D)
Leadership selection With incumbent Democratic president pro tempore Becca Balint retiring to run for U.S. House, Democrats had to nominate a new candidate who would take the position in the event they retained their majority. Ahead of the November 13 leadership vote, Philip Baruth of Chittenden was running unopposed. Andrew Perchlik of Washington had expressed interest in running but decided against it, and told VTDigger that the president pro tempore election was "not much of a race." Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Chittenden and Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson of Windsor, who had been speculated as potential candidates by media, both said they would not run and endorsed Baruth's bid. Democrats retained their Senate majority and Baruth was unanimously elected as the new president pro tempore, becoming the second president pro tempore to caucus with both Democrats and Progressives after Tim Ashe. Additionally, Clarkson was reelected as Majority Leader and Perchlik was elected Majority Whip, succeeding the retiring Cheryl Hooker.
Detailed results Addison • Bennington • Caledonia • Chittenden Central • Chittenden North • Chittenden Southeast • Essex • Franklin • Grand Isle • Lamoille • Orange • Orleans • Rutland • Washington • Windham • Windsor__NOTOC__
Addison
Elects two senators. Incumbent Democrats Ruth Hardy, who had represented the district since 2019, and Christopher Bray, who had represented the district since 2013, both ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Christopher Bray, incumbent senator Ruth Hardy, incumbent senator
Republican primary Robert Burton, farmer and former U.S. Navy pilot (write-in) Lloyd Dike, nursing assistant and U.S. Army veteran (write-in)
Independents Mason Wade, homesteader and candidate for this district in 2018 and 2020
General election
Bennington
Elects two senators. Incumbent Democrats Dick Sears, who had represented the district since 1993, and Brian Campion, who had represented the district since 2015, both ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Brian Campion, incumbent senator Dick Sears, incumbent senator
Republican primary
General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Gerald Malloy (7), Mary Morrissey (7), Christina Nolan (5), Donald Trump (5), and Ericka Redic (3).
Caledonia
Elects one senator. Following statewide redistricting, the Caledonia district now only elects one senator instead of two. Incumbent Democrat Jane Kitchel, who had represented the district since 2005, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Joe Benning, who had represented the district since 2011, retired to run for lieutenant governor.
Democratic primary Jane Kitchel, incumbent senator
Republican primary J.T. Dodge, systems engineer, former vice chair of the Vermont Libertarian Party, and Libertarian nominee for this district in 2020
General election
Chittenden Central
Elects three senators. Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrat Phil Baruth, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2011, ran for re-election here. Incumbent Progressive Christopher Pearson, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2017, retired.
Democratic primary Phil Baruth, incumbent senator Andrew Brown, president of the Essex Junction Board of Trustees (withdrew, remained on ballot) Dawn Ellis, member of the Vermont Human Rights Commission and candidate for this district in 2014 and 2016 Martine Gulick, Burlington school board member Erhard Mahnke, former president of the Burlington city council and candidate for this district in 2020 Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative
Independents Infinite Culcleasure, community advocate and candidate for mayor of Burlington in 2018
General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Kurt Wright (17), Erhard Mahnke (14), Irene Wrenner (14), Ericka Redic (11), Leland Morgan (6), Richard Mazza (5), Liam Madden (4), Miriam Berry (3), Gerald Malloy (3), and Thomas Chittenden (3).
Chittenden North
Elects one senator. Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. The new Chittenden North district had no incumbent.
Democratic primary Brian Shelden, chair of Essex Democrats and former director of the Essex Economic Development Commission Irene Wrenner, journalist and former Essex selectman
Republican primary Leland Morgan, state representative
General election
Brian Shelden, the runner-up in the Democratic primary, received 21 write-in votes.
Chittenden Southeast
Elects three senators. Following statewide redistricting, the former Chittenden district, which elected six senators, was split up into three new districts: Chittenden Central, which elects three senators; Chittenden North, which elects one senator; and Chittenden Southeast, which elects three senators. Incumbent Democrats Thomas Chittenden and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, who had both represented the Chittenden district since 2021, and Ginny Lyons, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2001, all ran for re-election here. Incumbent Democrat Michael Sirotkin, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2014, retired.
Democratic primary Thomas Chittenden, incumbent senator Ginny Lyons, incumbent senator Steve May, social worker, former Richmond and Bolton selectman, and candidate for this district in 2018 and 2020 Lewis Mudge, Charlotte selectman Kesha Ram Hinsdale, incumbent senator
Republican primary
After no one won the Republican nomination, two replacement candidates filed to run:
Dean Rolland, small business owner and candidate for this district in 2020 Rohan St. Marthe, video producerRohan for VT Senate
General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Lewis Mudge (10), Philip Baruth (3), Randy Brock (3), Gerald Malloy (3), and Christina Nolan (3).
Essex
Elects one senator. Following statewide redistricting, the former Essex-Orleans district, which elected two senators, has been split up into the Essex and Orleans districts, which each elect one senator. Incumbent Republican Russ Ingalls, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2021, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Russ Ingalls, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
General election
People who received three or more write-in votes include Robert Starr (12), John Rodgers (9), J.T. Dodge (6), Joe Benning (5), Jane Kitchel (4), Brenda Siegel (4), Patrick Leahy (3), Brian Smith (3), and Peter Welch (3).
Franklin
Elects two senators. Incumbent Republican Randy Brock, who had represented this district since 2017, ran for re-election. Incumbent Republican Corey Parent, who had represented this district since 2019, retired.
Republican primary Randy Brock, incumbent senator Robert Norris, state representative and former Franklin County Sheriff
Democratic primary Pam McCarthy, former nonprofit executive, mother of state representative Mike McCarthy, and candidate for this district in 2018 Jessie Palczewski, small business owner
General election
Leland Morgan received three write-in votes.
Grand Isle
Elects one senator. Incumbent Democrat Richard Mazza, who had represented this district since 1985, ran for re-election.
Democratic primary Richard Mazza, incumbent senator
Republican primary Stephen Bellows, landscaping contractor (also ran for governor)
General election
Lamoille
Elects one senator. Incumbent Republican Richard Westman, who had represented this district since 2011, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Richard Westman, incumbent senator
Democratic primary
General election