Vermont Political History & Voting Patterns
Most Republican NE state through 1984; shifted to most D state. A complete guide to how Vermont has voted in presidential elections, which coalitions have driven results, and how the state has shifted over time.
Historical Overview
Vermont’s political transformation is uniquely American. The most Republican state in New England for most of the 20th century (Yankee Republican), it has become one of the most reliably Democratic states in the nation. The transformation began with the ’Chittenden County revolution’ — Burlington’s growth as a countercultural hub attracting progressives from New York and Massachusetts. Bernie Sanders won Burlington’s mayoral race in 1981 and House seat in 1990 as an independent socialist, becoming the longest-serving independent in congressional history. Phil Scott, the moderate Republican governor, has won by 30+ points in a Biden+35 state — because Vermont voters distinguish between their very progressive federal preferences and pragmatic local governance.
Key Elections & Turning Points
| Year | Significance |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Bush won VT |
| 1990 | Bernie Sanders won House as Independent |
| 1996 | Clinton won VT — first D presidential win |
| 2000 | VT became first state to legalize civil unions |
| 2016 | Bernie Sanders ran for president |
| 2022 | Becca Balint won Congress — first woman and first LGBT member from VT |
Geographic Voting Patterns
Democratic Strongholds
Chittenden County (Burlington, D+40+), Windham County (Brattleboro, D+30+)
Republican Strongholds
Orange County, Orleans County (rural north, more R), Caledonia County
Realignment Driver
Primary factor: Countercultural migration from NYC/MA, progressive values dominance, Bernie Sanders movement