Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Jim Douglas (Vermont)
James H. "Jim" Douglas (born June 21, 1951 in Springfield, Massachusetts) was the Republican governor of Vermont from 2003 to 2011.
Biography
Douglas was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where he had been active in the College Republicans. At Middlebury College, Douglas was a Russian Studies major, and still speaks Russian, even using these skills in establishing a sister-city relationship with Karelia, Russia.[1]
Political career
In November 1972, Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, where he became the House Majority Leader during his third two-year term at the age of 25. He left the Vermont General Assembly in 1979, afterwards serving as a top aide to Governor Richard A. Snelling. Douglas was elected Secretary of State in November 1980, a post which he held until 1992. That year he sought election to the U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy. In November 1994 he was elected State Treasurer, after receiving the endorsement of both major parties.
Governor of Vermont (2003-2011)
In the 2002 gubernatorial election to succeed five-term Governor Howard Dean, Douglas narrowly defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, 45 to 42 percent. Although the Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select the governor if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes, both Douglas and Racine had agreed to bow out in the case gaining fewer votes than the other and neither candidate gaining the 50% majority. Racine honored his pledge and conceded to after which Douglas was officially selected by the legislature as required by the state constitution.
Douglas won re-election to a second two-year term in 2004, defeating Democrat Peter Clavelle, 59 to 38 percent.
Civil rights bill
On May 22, 2007, Governor Douglas signed a landmark civil rights bill banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity by employers, financial institutions, housing, public accommodations, and other contexts.[2] Douglas had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2006.[3]
Elections
2008
On November 4, 2008, Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Gaye Symington (D) and 5 third-party candidates in the general election.
| Governor of Vermont, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jim Douglas Incumbent |
53.4% | 170,492 | |
| Democratic | Gaye Symington | 21.8% | 69,534 | |
| Independent | Anthony Pollina | 21.9% | 69,791 | |
| Cheap Renewable Energy | Tony O'Connor | 1% | 3,106 | |
| Independent | Sam Young | 0.8% | 2,490 | |
| Liberty Union | Peter Diamondstone | 0.5% | 1,710 | |
| Independent | Cris Ericson | 0.5% | 1,704 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.1% | 258 | |
| Total Votes | 319,085 | |||
| Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. | ||||
2006
In early 2005, Douglas announced that he would not run against Democratic-leaning Independent Jim Jeffords in the 2006 Senate race. In April 2005, Jeffords announced that he would not seek re-election, which led to speculation that Douglas would throw his hat into the ring against Vermont independent socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders, who had announced his candidacy for the seat. On April 30, Douglas announced again that he would not seek Jeffords' seat, and simultaneously announced that he would run for re-election for governor in 2006. Many pundits believed that Douglas was the only Republican who could possibly defeat Sanders, and his decision to run for governor effectively handed the open Senate seat to Sanders.
Douglas was re-elected governor on Nov. 7th, 2006 with 57% of the vote.
On November 7, 2006, Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Scudder Parker and 4 third-party candidates in the general election.
| Governor of Vermont, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jim Douglas Incumbent |
56.4% | 148,014 | |
| Democratic | Scudder Parker | 41.2% | 108,090 | |
| Independent | Cris Ericson | 0.9% | 2,477 | |
| Vermont Green | Jim Hogue | 0.7% | 1,936 | |
| Vermont Localist | Benjamin Clarke | 0.5% | 1,216 | |
| Liberty Union | Bob Skold | 0.2% | 638 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.1% | 153 | |
| Total Votes | 262,524 | |||
| Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. | ||||
2004
On November 2, 2004, Jim Douglas won re-election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Peter Clavelle (D) and 4 third-party candidates in the general election.
| Governor of Vermont, 2004 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jim Douglas Incumbent |
58.7% | 181,540 | |
| Democratic | Peter Clavelle | 37.9% | 117,327 | |
| Independent | Patricia Hejny | 0.8% | 2,431 | |
| Marijuana | Cris Ericson | 1.4% | 4,221 | |
| Libertarian | Hardy Machia | 0.7% | 2,263 | |
| Liberty Union | Peter Diamondstone | 0.4% | 1,298 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.1% | 205 | |
| Total Votes | 309,285 | |||
| Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. | ||||
2002
On November 5, 2002, Jim Douglas won election to the office of Governor of Vermont. He defeated Doug Racine (D) and 8 third-party candidates in the general election.
| Governor of Vermont, 2002 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Jim Douglas |
44.9% | 103,436 | |
| Democratic | Doug Racine | 42.4% | 97,565 | |
| Independent | Cornelius "Con" Hogan | 9.7% | 22,353 | |
| Progressive | Michael J. Badamo | 0.6% | 1,380 | |
| Restore-Justice Freedom | Marilynn "Mom" Christian | 0.3% | 638 | |
| Liberty Union | Pete Diamondstone | 0.3% | 625 | |
| Make Marijuana Legal | Cris Ericson | 0.8% | 1,737 | |
| Vermont Grassroots | Patricia Hejny | 0.3% | 771 | |
| Independent | Brian Pearl | 0.2% | 569 | |
| Libertarian | Joel Williams | 0.4% | 938 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.1% | 149 | |
| Total Votes | 230,161 | |||
| Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. | ||||
2000
On November 7, 2000, James H. Douglas won re-election to the office of Vermont Treasurer. He defeated Claude Delucia (Progressive) in the general election.
| Vermont Treasurer, 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican/Democratic | James H. Douglas Incumbent |
86.1% | 234,331 | |
| Progressive | Claude Delucia | 13.7% | 37,153 | |
| Write-In | Various | 0.3% | 694 | |
| Total Votes | 272,178 | |||
| Election results via Vermont Secretary of State. | ||||
External links
- Governor of Vermont Jim Douglas Official state site
- National Governors Association - Governor of Vermont James H. Douglas (dead link) biography
- Follow the Money - Jim Douglas 2006 campaign contributions
- On the Issues - Jim Douglas issue positions and quotes
- Project Vote Smart - Governor James H. 'Jim' Douglas (VT) profile
Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.vermont.gov/tools/whatsnew2/index.php?topic=GovPressReleases&id=776&v=Article
- ↑ Acts and Resolves of the 2007-2008 session of the Vermont General Assembly, Act 41 (S.51). The text of this act is available here.
- ↑ H.865 from the 2005-2006 legislative session. The text of the bill as passed by the General Assembly is available here.
 |
State of Vermont Montpelier (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
