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Vermont House of Representatives Bennington-1 District
Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District is represented by Jonathan Cooper (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Vermont state representatives represented an average of 4,290 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 4,202 residents.
About the office
Members of the Vermont House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Vermont legislators assume office the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January.
Qualifications
The Vermont Constitution states, "No person shall be elected a Representative or a Senator until the person has resided in this State two years, the last year of which shall be in the legislative district for which the person is elected."[1]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[2] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $843.32/week during session | No per diem paid during session. Members can receive $168.66/day in per diem outside of session. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Vermont General Assembly, the governor must select a replacement to fill the vacant seat.
The governor must select a replacement that will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. There are no deadlines set by statute on when a vacancy has to be filled.[3][4]
See sources: Vermont Const. Chap. 2, Art. 45, Vermont Stat. Ann. tit. 2, §4, and Vermont Stat. Ann. tit. 2, §9
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed H722 on April 6, 2022, enacting new legislative districts for the state House and Senate.[5] The Vermont House of Representatives voted 129-13 to advance the state legislative redistricting bill on March 16.[6] On March 25, the Vermont State Senate unanimously approved H722, sending it to Scott.[7] These maps took effect for Vermont's 2022 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Vermont work? Because Vermont has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district lines with the assistance of an advisory commission. This advisory commission consists of the following members:[8]
- The governor appoints one member each from the state's political parties. To qualify for consideration in this context, a political party must have had "at least three state legislators for six of the previous 10 years."
- The chairs of the aforementioned political parties each appoint an additional member.
- The chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court appoints the commission's chair.
Commissioners cannot be legislators, nor can they be employed by the legislature. The commission may make recommendations to the legislature, but these recommendations are non-binding.[8]
State law requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact and that they "adhere to county and other political subdivision boundaries, except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements." In addition, state statutes specify that districts should account for "patterns of geography, social interaction, trade, political ties, and common interests."[8]
Vermont House of Representatives Bennington-1 District
until January 3, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Vermont House of Representatives Bennington-1 District
starting January 4, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: Vermont House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Jonathan Cooper defeated Bruce Busa in the general election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jonathan Cooper (D) | 50.5 | 1,265 |
 | Bruce Busa (R) | 49.5 | 1,242 | |
| Total votes: 2,507 | |||
 = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Jonathan Cooper advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jonathan Cooper | 100.0 | 255 |
| Total votes: 255 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Bruce Busa advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bruce Busa (Write-in) | 77.0 | 67 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 23.0 | 20 | ||
| Total votes: 87 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Incumbent Nelson Brownell defeated Bruce Busa in the general election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell (D) | 50.4 | 974 | |
| Bruce Busa (R) | 49.0 | 948 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 1,934 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Incumbent Nelson Brownell advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell | 95.7 | 379 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.3 | 17 | ||
| Total votes: 396 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Bruce Busa advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bruce Busa (Write-in) | 68.7 | 68 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 31.3 | 31 | ||
| Total votes: 99 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Incumbent Nelson Brownell won election in the general election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell (D) | 83.3 | 1,324 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 16.7 | 265 | ||
| Total votes: 1,589 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Incumbent Nelson Brownell advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell | 96.7 | 347 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 3.3 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 359 | |||
| = 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
General election
General election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Nelson Brownell defeated Jim O'Connor and Frederick Miller in the general election for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell (D) | 47.2 | 681 | |
| Jim O'Connor (R) | 27.3 | 394 | ||
| Frederick Miller (Independent) | 25.2 | 364 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 4 | ||
| Total votes: 1,443 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Bennington 1 District
Nelson Brownell advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nelson Brownell | 100.0 | 304 | |
| Total votes: 304 | |||
| = 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
Elections for the Vermont House of Representatives 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 Bill Botzow defeated James O'Connor in the Vermont House of Representatives Bennington-1 District general election.[9][10]
| Vermont House of Representatives, Bennington-1 District General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Bill Botzow Incumbent |
84.49% | 1,503 | |
| Independent | James O'Connor | 15.51% | 276 | |
| Total Votes | 1,779 | |||
| Source: Vermont Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Bill Botzow ran unopposed in the Vermont House of Representatives Bennington-1 District Democratic primary.[11][12]
| Vermont House of Representatives, Bennington-1 District Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Bill Botzow Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Vermont House of Representatives 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 Bill Botzow was unopposed in the Democratic primary. James O'Connor ran as an independent candidate.[13][14][15][16] Both Botzow and O'Connor earned enough votes in their respective primaries to proceed to the general election, where Botzow came out ahead of O'Connor for the district's single seat.[17]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bill Botzow Incumbent |
81.6% | 1,101 | |
| Independent | James O'Connor | 18.4% | 249 | |
| Total Votes | 1,350 | |||
2012
Elections for the office of Vermont House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 28, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. Democratic incumbent Bill Botzow was unchallenged in the general election. Botzow was unopposed in the Democratic primary election.[18][19][20][21]
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District raised a total of $42,311. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $2,351 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Vermont House of Representatives Bennington 1 District | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $8,318 | 2 | $4,159 |
| 2022 | $448 | 2 | $224 |
| 2018 | $1,630 | 2 | $815 |
| 2016 | $4,710 | 2 | $2,355 |
| 2014 | $6,014 | 2 | $3,007 |
| 2012 | $4,113 | 1 | $4,113 |
| 2008 | $2,005 | 1 | $2,005 |
| 2006 | $2,558 | 1 | $2,558 |
| 2004 | $5,529 | 2 | $2,765 |
| 2002 | $5,175 | 2 | $2,588 |
| 2000 | $1,810 | 1 | $1,810 |
| Total | $42,311 | 18 | $2,351 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Vermont Constitution, "Chapter II, Section 15," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Legislative Council of the General Assembly for the State of Vermont, "Vermont Statutes Unannotated and Vermont Court Rules," accessed February 3, 2021 (Statute, 2-1-4, Vermont Statutes)
- ↑ Legislative Council of the General Assembly for the State of Vermont, "Vermont Statutes Unannotated and Vermont Court Rules," accessed February 3, 2021 (Statute, 2-1-9, Vermont Statutes)
- ↑ VTDigger, "Scott signs new legislative maps into law, solidifying Vermont’s political playing field for next decade," April 6, 2022
- ↑ VTDigger, "House advances redistricting bill by a wide margin," March 16, 2022
- ↑ VTDigger, "Senate unanimously approves new district maps with little debate," March 25, 2022
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 All About Redistricting, "Vermont," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Candidate listings," accessed November 4, 2016
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2016 general election results," accessed November 28, 2016
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Qualified candidates for the statewide primary - August 9, 2016," accessed May 26, 2016
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "Vermont Election Night Results," accessed August 9, 2016
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election Candidate Listing," accessed June 19, 2014
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2014 Independent Candidates and Minor Party Candidates Nominated by Party Committee," accessed June 19, 2014
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2014 Major Party Nomination Candidate Listing," accessed June 19, 2014
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2014 Candidate Listing," June 13, 2014
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, "2014 General Election Candidate Listing," accessed October 11, 2014
- ↑ Vermont Elections, 2012 General Election Results, accessed October 23, 2013
- ↑ Vermont Elections, Official Primary Election Results, accessed October 23, 2013
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, Major party primary candidate list, accessed October 23, 2013
- ↑ Vermont Secretary of State, 2012 draft, independent, and minor party candidate list, accessed October 23, 2013
