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Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)

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Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: May 28, 2020
Primary: August 11, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Pre-election incumbent(s):
David Zuckerman (D)
How to vote
Poll times: Open between 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.; close at 7 p.m.
Voting in Vermont
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Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2020
Impact of term limits in 2020
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Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
Vermont
executive elections
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Lieutenant Governor
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Molly Gray defeated Timothy Ashe, Debbie Ingram, and Brenda Siegel in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020, receiving 46% of the vote. Ashe was second with 35%. Siegel and Ingram each received less than 10%. Incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman (D/P) ran for governor, leaving the position open.

Ashe, Gray, and Siegel led in noteworthy primary endorsements. VTDigger's Xander Landen wrote, "Ashe and ... Siegel have been splitting the endorsements on the progressive left," while "Gray ... has touted the support she has received from Vermont's Democratic establishment."[1]

Ashe, Vermont's Senate President, received endorsements from the Sierra Club and sixteen state legislators.[2] Siegel, a choreographer and small business owner, received endorsements from Progressives for Democracy in America and the Champlain Valley branch of the Democratic Socialists of America.[3] Gray, an assistant attorney general, listed former Govs. Peter Shumlin (D) and Madeleine Kunin (D) along with former Lt. Gov. Doug Racine (D) as endorsers.[4][1]

State Sen. Debbie Ingram also ran in the primary.

The 2016 election was the first time since 2000 that Vermonters had elected a non-Republican lieutenant governor. Vermont Public Radio's Peter Hirschfeld, commenting about the office, wrote, “Aside from presiding over the state senate … [the] job doesn’t carry much in the way of constitutional powers. But the statewide post has been an important stepping stone for many ambitious politicians.”[5] Vermont has had six governors since 1980, three of whom had previously served as lieutenant governor.

Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:


Ashe
Gray
Siegel


This page focuses on Vermont's Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary. For more in-depth information on Vermont's Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Vermont modified its primary election process as follows:

  • Candidate filing procedures: The candidate petition signature gathering requirements were suspended for the primary election.
  • Voting procedures: Mail-in ballots request forms sent to all registered voters in the primary election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Molly Gray
Molly Gray
 
46.0
 
47,636
Image of Timothy Ashe
Timothy Ashe
 
34.7
 
35,954
Image of Brenda Siegel
Brenda Siegel
 
9.6
 
9,945
Image of Debbie Ingram
Debbie Ingram
 
9.1
 
9,466
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.5
 
568

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 103,569
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.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[6] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Timothy Ashe

Image of Timothy Ashe

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Ashe received a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont in 1999 and a master's in public policy from Harvard University in 2004. He worked as a constituent services representative in Bernie Sanders' congressional office and as a project manager at Cathedral Square, an affordable housing organization.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

"Across the last two decades, I have seen 'two Vermonts' take hold: One Vermont for the economically secure ... The other Vermont for those struggling against the inequities of poverty, weight of addiction, lack of rural job opportunities, and/or social isolation ... We can close this gap, and I will lead the effort to: Take care of all Vermonters ... Protect and restore our environment ... [and] Make Vermont affordable for all."

"I have the experience to help lead our state out of the COVID crisis and back onto solid ground ... I have led the effort to raise the minimum wage, pass gun safety legislation, clean up our drinking water, protect women's choice, rebuild our mental health system, and much more."

Show sources

Sources: Ashe's 2020 campaign website, "Closing the Gap of Two Vermonts," April 28, 2020, League of Women Voters voter guide, "Lieutenant Governor," accessed August 8, 2020; Vote Smart, "Tim Ashe," accessed August 8, 2020, LinkedIn, "Tim Ashe," accessed August 8, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 2020.

Molly Gray

Image of Molly Gray

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Gray received a bachelor's in area and international studies and a J.D. from the University of Vermont and an L.L.M. from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. She worked as a congressional affairs associate and policy manager. At the time of the primary, Gray was an assistant attorney general and adjunct professor at Vermont Law School.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

"Vermont is at a crossroads. We can't go back, we must go forward, and we won't leave any Vermonter behind. It's time to put people before politics. Together we will transform our future and will take bold action to create a Vermont where our rural communities thrive, where our families are cared for ... and we care for the land and environment for future generations."

"We've allowed Vermonters to go without access to healthcare, child care, paid family and medical leave, food, clean water, safe and affordable housing, education, high-speed internet and a livable wage ... [W]e need a Lieutenant Governor who is committed to fighting for our families and communities."

Show sources

Sources: League of Women Voters voter guide, "Lieutenant Governor," accessed August 8, 2020, Facebook, "Molly Gray for Vermont," June 15, 2020; Vote Smart, "Molly Gray," accessed August 8, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 2020.

Brenda Siegel

Image of Brenda Siegel

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Siegel attended Hampshire College for dance, choreography, and alternative healing. She opened a dance and yoga program studio in 2002 and worked as a dance instructor at the Brattleboro School of Dance. At the time of the primary, she was chair of the Newfane Democratic Committee.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

"Vermont needs leaders who prioritize taking bold climate action, building a bottom-up economy, putting real resources into healing the opioid epidemic, and supporting and strengthening our education system ... Together we can ensure that all of us have a seat at the table."

"After a lifetime of working on the ground as a teacher, community leader, and political activist, I want to bring the people to the People's House. Vermont needs leaders who reflect experiences of regular Vermonters. We must expect our leaders to do more to support, reflect and make room for historically marginalized voices."

Show sources

Sources: Siegel's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed August 8, 2020; League of Women Voters voter guide, "Lieutenant Governor," accessed August 8, 2020, Vote Smart, "Brenda Siegel," accessed August 8, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 2020.


Noteworthy primary endorsements

This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.

Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Ashe Gray Ingram Siegel
Individuals
Ben and Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield[3] ✔
Democratic National Committeeman Tim Jerman (D)[4] ✔
Former Gov. and Lt. Gov. Madeleine Kunin (D)[4] ✔
Former Lt. Gov. Doug Racine (D)[4] ✔
Former Gov. Peter Shumlin (D)[4] ✔
Organizations
Justice for All[7] ✔
LGBTQ Victory Fund[7] ✔
LPAC[7] ✔
People's Action[3] ✔
Progressives for Democracy in America[3] ✔
Rights & Democracy[3] ✔
Sierra Club[2] ✔

Campaign finance

Primaries in Vermont

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Vermont utilizes an open primary system, in which registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[8][9]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

One of 14 Vermont counties—7.14 percent—is a Pivot County. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Essex County, Vermont 16.65% 13.40% 14.48%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Vermont with 56.7 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 30.3 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Vermont cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 60.0 percent of the time. In that same time frame, Vermont supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 70.0 to 26.7 percent. The state, however, favored Democrats in every election between between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Vermont. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[10][11]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won all 104 state House districts in Vermont with an average margin of victory of 35.6 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 92 out of 104 state House districts in Vermont with an average margin of victory of 29.4 points. Clinton won 27 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 12 out of 104 state House districts in Vermont with an average margin of victory of 6.1 points.


Previous elections

2018

See also: Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of David Zuckerman
David Zuckerman (Vermont Progressive Party / D)
 
58.4
 
158,530
Image of Donald Turner Jr.
Donald Turner Jr. (R)
 
40.0
 
108,417
Image of Murray Ngoima
Murray Ngoima (Liberty Union Party)
 
1.5
 
4,108
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
240

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 271,295
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.

State profile

See also: Vermont and Vermont elections, 2020
USA Vermont location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of August 8, 2020.

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

  • Democrats held a supermajority in the Vermont State Senate, with 22 members to Republicans' six members. Two additional members of the state Senate were affiliated with the Vermont Progressive Party.
  • Democrats held a majority in the Vermont House of Representatives with 95 seats to Republicans' 43 seats. Members of the Vermont Progressive Party held seven seats, and independents held five.

Vermont Party Control: 1992-2024
Ten years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R R R R R R R
Senate D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
House R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Vermont quick stats
  • Became a state in 1791
  • 14th state admitted to the United States
  • Montpelier, Vermont's capital, had a population of 7,855 as of the 2010
    U.S. census, making it the least populous state capital in the nation.[12]
  • Members of the Vermont State Senate: 30
  • Members of the Vermont House of Representatives: 150
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 1
More Vermont coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Vermont
 VermontU.S.
Total population:626,088316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):9,2173,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:94.9%73.6%
Black/African American:1.1%12.6%
Asian:1.4%5.1%
Native American:0.3%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:1.9%3%
Hispanic/Latino:1.7%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91.8%86.7%
College graduation rate:36%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$55,176$53,889
Persons below poverty level:13.2%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Vermont.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Vermont State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 VTDigger, "Ashe, Siegel fracture progressive support in lieutenant governor’s race," August 4, 2020
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ashe's 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed August 8, 2020
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Siegel's 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed August 6, 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Gray's 2020 campaign website, "Vermonters Stand with Molly," accessed August 8, 2020
  5. ↑ VPR, "Four Democrats Seek Party's Nomination For Lieutenant Governor," August 5, 2020
  6. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ingram's 2020 campaign website, "Blog," accessed August 8, 2020
  8. ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed October 4, 2024
  9. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State,"Party Organization," accessed October 4, 2024
  10. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  11. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  12. ↑ World Population Review, "Montpelier, Vermont Population 2019," accessed May 7, 2019
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