2012 Vermont gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2012 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2012 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, to elect the Governor of Vermont. Incumbent Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin won re-election to a second term, making this the only one of his gubernatorial elections in which he won a majority of the vote. In his 2010 and 2014 races, the Vermont General Assembly was required to choose a winner in accordance with the state constitution, because no candidate won a majority.

2012 Vermont gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →

Nominee Peter Shumlin Randy Brock Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 170,749 110,940 Percentage 57.80% 37.55%

County results Municipality results Precinct results Shumlin:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90% Brock:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

Governor before election Peter Shumlin Democratic Elected Governor Peter Shumlin Democratic

Democratic nomination

Candidates

• Peter Shumlin, incumbent^[1]

Republican nomination

Candidates

• Randy Brock, state senator and former state auditor^[2][3]

Declined

• Brian Dubie, former lieutenant governor and 2010 gubernatorial nominee^[2]
• Thom Lauzon, mayor of Barre^[4]
• Patricia McDonald, Vermont Republican Party Chairwoman and former state representative^[2]
• Roy Newton, newspaper publisher (did not file)^[5]
• Tom Salmon, state auditor^[6]
• Phil Scott, lieutenant governor^[3]
• Mark Snelling, 2010 candidate for lieutenant governor and son of former governor Richard Snelling^[2]

Progressive nomination

Candidates

• Martha Abbott, chairwoman of the Vermont Progressive Party^[7] (resigned nomination in order to aid Shumlin by avoiding split in progressive/liberal votes)

General election

Candidates

• Randy Brock (R), state senator and former state auditor
• Dave Eagle (Liberty Union)
• Cris Ericson (U.S. Marijuana), perennial candidate who also ran for the U.S. Senate^[8]
• Emily Peyton (Independent)^[9]
• Peter Shumlin (D), incumbent

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 13, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[10]	Solid D	November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11]	Safe D	November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[12]	Safe D	November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[13]	Safe D	November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Randy Brock (R)	Undecided
Castleton Polling[14]	August 11–21, 2012	477	± 4.5%	60%	26%	13%
Vermont Business Magazine[15]	May 7–16, 2012	607	± 4.0%	60%	27%	11%
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	51%	29%	20%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Brian Dubie (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	48%	40%	12%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Thom Lauzon (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	52%	25%	23%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Tom Salmon (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	50%	31%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Phil Scott (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	50%	33%	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Peter Shumlin (D)	Mark Snelling (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[16]	July 28–31, 2011	1,233	± 2.8%	50%	29%	21%

Hypothetical polling

Results

2012 Vermont gubernatorial election^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Peter Shumlin (incumbent)	170,749	57.80%	+8.36%
	Republican	Randy Brock	110,940	37.55%	−10.14%
	Independent	Emily Peyton	5,868	1.99%	+1.71%
	Marijuana	Cris Ericson	5,583	1.89%	+1.14%
	Liberty Union	Dave Eagle	1,303	0.44%	+0.26%
	Write-in		969	0.33%	+0.06%
Total votes			295,412	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Grand Isle (largest municipality: Alburgh)
• Lamoille (largest municipality: Morristown)
• Rutland (largest municipality: Rutland)

See also

• 2012 United States presidential election in Vermont

References

1. "Shumlin Announces His Re-election Bid". Vermont Public Radio. June 12, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
2. Galloway, Anne (December 7, 2011). "Vermont GOP backs Brock for 2012 gubernatorial bid". VTDigger.org. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
3. Steimle, Susie (December 7, 2011). "Brock to run for governor". WCAX. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
4. Marcy, Darren; Kumka, Cristina (December 21, 2011). "Lauzon wants 2 more years in Barre". Vermont Today. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
5. Hallenbeck, Terri (April 25, 2012). "Rutland publisher seeks GOP bid for governor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
6. Remsen, Nancy (September 23, 2011). "Salmon says he wants to remain as Vermont Auditor". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved September 24, 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
7. Heintz, Paul (May 21, 2012). "Prog Candidate to Challenge Gov. Shumlin — At Least For Now". Seven Days. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
8. McCarty, Alicia (November 13, 2011). "A look ahead to the key races in the Northeast in 2012". USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
9. Dobbs, Taylor (June 13, 2012). "Sanders' papers filed, Peyton running for governor". VTDigger.org. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
10. "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
11. "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
12. "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
13. "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
14. Castleton Polling
15. Vermont Business Magazine
16. Public Policy Polling
17. "American Airlines - Login". Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.

External links

• Elections and Campaign Finance Division at the Vermont Secretary of State

Campaign sites (Archived)

• Randy Brock (R) for Governor
• Peter Shumlin (D) for Governor