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Mark MacDonald

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Mark MacDonald
Image of Mark MacDonald
Prior offices
Vermont House of Representatives

Vermont State Senate Orange District

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Clark University

Other

Norwich University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1968 - 1970

Personal
Profession
Farmer/Teacher

Mark MacDonald (Democratic Party) was a member of the Vermont State Senate, representing Orange District. He assumed office in 2003. He left office on January 8, 2025.

MacDonald (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Vermont State Senate to represent Orange District. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

MacDonald earned his B.A. from Clark University in 1972. He went on to earn his Teacher Certification from Norwich University from 1975 to 1976.

MacDonald has worked as a farmer and a teacher in the past. He also served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

MacDonald was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

MacDonald was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

MacDonald was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Vermont committee assignments, 2017
Finance, Vice chair
Natural Resources and Energy
Rules
Administrative Rules, Chair
Joint Energy

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, MacDonald served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, MacDonald served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, MacDonald served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2024

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Larry Hart Sr. defeated incumbent Mark MacDonald in the general election for Vermont State Senate Orange District on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Larry Hart Sr.
Larry Hart Sr. (R)
 
56.5
 
7,218
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald (D)
 
43.1
 
5,512
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
46

Total votes: 12,776
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald
 
96.3
 
1,051
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.7
 
40

Total votes: 1,091
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Larry Hart Sr. advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 13, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Larry Hart Sr.
Larry Hart Sr.
 
99.4
 
790
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
5

Total votes: 795
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for MacDonald in this election.

2022

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald defeated John Klar in the general election for Vermont State Senate Orange District on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald (D)
 
55.5
 
5,685
Image of John Klar
John Klar (R) Candidate Connection
 
44.1
 
4,519
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
40

Total votes: 10,244
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald
 
97.1
 
2,588
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.9
 
78

Total votes: 2,666
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

John Klar advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Klar
John Klar Candidate Connection
 
97.7
 
970
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.3
 
23

Total votes: 993
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2020

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald defeated Bill Huff in the general election for Vermont State Senate Orange District on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald (D)
 
54.5
 
6,420
Bill Huff (R)
 
45.2
 
5,321
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.3
 
33

Total votes: 11,774
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald defeated Susan Hatch Davis in the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald
 
63.2
 
2,168
Image of Susan Hatch Davis
Susan Hatch Davis
 
36.0
 
1,233
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.8
 
28

Total votes: 3,429
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Bill Huff advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Bill Huff
 
97.8
 
1,780
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.2
 
40

Total votes: 1,820
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald defeated Bill Huff in the general election for Vermont State Senate Orange District on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald (D)
 
57.3
 
5,167
Bill Huff (R)
 
42.6
 
3,842
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
11

Total votes: 9,020
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Incumbent Mark MacDonald advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Mark MacDonald
Mark MacDonald
 
100.0
 
1,750

Total votes: 1,750
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District

Bill Huff advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Orange District on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Bill Huff
 
100.0
 
1,002

Total votes: 1,002
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 26, 2016.

Incumbent Mark MacDonald defeated Stephen Webster in the Vermont State Senate Orange District general election.[1][2]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Mark MacDonald Incumbent 56.48% 5,723
     Republican Stephen Webster 43.52% 4,409
Total Votes 10,132
Source: Vermont Secretary of State


Incumbent Mark MacDonald ran unopposed in the Vermont State Senate Orange District Democratic primary.[3][4]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Mark MacDonald Incumbent (unopposed)


Stephen Webster ran unopposed in the Vermont State Senate Orange District Republican primary.[3][4]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Stephen Webster  (unopposed)

2014

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2014. Incumbent Mark MacDonald was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Robert Frenier is unopposed in the Republican primary. MacDonald defeated Frenier in the general election.[5]

Vermont State Senate Orange District, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMark A. MacDonald Incumbent 54.3% 3,797
     Republican Robert C. Frenier 45.7% 3,200
Total Votes 6,997

2012

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2012

MacDonald won re-election in the 2012 election for Vermont State Senate Orange District. MacDonald defeated Tig Tillinghast in the August 28 Democratic primary and unopposed in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngMark MacDonald Incumbent 71.8% 1,708
Tig Tillinghast 28.2% 671
Total Votes 2,379

2010

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2010

MacDonald ran for re-election to the 19th District Seat (Orange District) in 2010. He ran unopposed in the primary. He defeated Stephen Webster (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[6]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District, General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mark A. MacDonald (D) '4,524 Stephen W. Webster (R) 3,517

2008

On November 4, 2008, MacDonald won re-election by finishing first for the single-seat Orange District of the Vermont State Senate, receiving 7,397 votes ahead of Constitution Party candidate Charlie Russell (2,691) and write-ins (21).[6]

MacDonald raised $1,925 for his campaign.[7]

Vermont State Senate, Orange District
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mark MacDonald (D) 7,397
Charlie Russell (Constitution) 2,691
Write-ins 21

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mark MacDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Mark MacDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Mark MacDonald did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Mark MacDonald campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Vermont State Senate Orange DistrictLost general$12,121 $4,210
2022Vermont State Senate Orange DistrictWon general$16,722 $12,643
2020Vermont State Senate Orange DistrictWon general$6,550 N/A**
2016Vermont State Senate, District OrangeWon $6,990 N/A**
2014Vermont State Senate, District OrangeWon $10,079 N/A**
2012Vermont State Senate, District OrangeWon $10,246 N/A**
2010Vermont State Senate, District OrangeWon $2,610 N/A**
2008Vermont State Senate, District OrangeWon $1,925 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Vermont

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Vermont scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.


2024

In 2024, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 10.

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues.
  • Vermont Public Interest Research Group: Senate and House
Legislators are scored by VPIRG on bills related to public interest issues.


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

MacDonald and his wife, Roberta Pilk, have three children.

See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Vermont State Senate Orange District
2003-2025
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Vermont State Senate Orange District
1996-1998
Succeeded by
-
Preceded by
-
Vermont House of Representatives
1983-1984
Succeeded by
-


Current members of the Vermont State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Kesha Ram Hinsdale
Senators
Addison District
Bennington District
Caledonia District
Chittenden Central District
Chittenden North District
Chittenden Southeast District
Essex District
Franklin District
Grand Isle District
Lamoille District
Orange District
Orleans District
Rutland District
Washington District
Windham District
Windsor District
Joe Major (D)
Democratic Party (16)
Republican Party (13)
Vermont Progressive Party (1)