2016 Vermont Senate election


The 2016 Vermont Senate election took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Vermont voters elected State Senators in all 30 seats. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. The election coincided with elections for other offices including the Presidency, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and State House. A primary election held on August 9, 2016 determined which candidates appeared on the November 6 general election ballot.
Following the 2014 Senate elections, Democrats maintained control of the Senate with 21 members in the majority caucus. To claim control of the chamber from Democrats, the Republicans would have needed to net gain six or seven seats depending on the winner of the 2016 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election, which was Progressive Dave Zuckerman. However, in these elections, the Democrats instead gained two seats from the Republicans. After these elections, Joe Benning stepped down as Minority Leader and was succeeded by Dustin Degree. Tim Ashe was elected as the new President pro tempore to succeed John Campbell, who had retired.

Results summary

Incumbents defeated in the primary election

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Open seats that changed parties

Detailed results


[|Addison] • [|Bennington] • [|Caledonia] • [|Chittenden] • [|Essex-Orleans] • [|Franklin] • [|Grand Isle] • [|Lamoille] • [|Orange] • [|Rutland] • [|Washington] • [|Windham] • [|Windsor]

Addison

  • Elects 2 senators.
Incumbent Democrats Claire Ayer, who had represented the Addison district since 2003, and Christopher Bray, who had represented the Addison district since 2013, were re-elected.

Bennington

  • Elects 2 senators.
Incumbent Democrats Dick Sears, who had represented the Bennington district since 1993, and Brian Campion, who had represented the Bennington district since 2015, were both re-elected.

Caledonia

Incumbent Democrat Jane Kitchel, who had represented the Caledonia district since 2005, and incumbent Republican Minority Leader Joe Benning, who had represented the Caledonia district since 2011, were both re-elected.
  • Elects 2 senators.

Chittenden

  • Elects 6 senators.
Incumbent Democrats Tim Ashe, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2009, Ginny Lyons, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2001, Michael Sirotkin, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2014, and Phil Baruth, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2011, were all re-elected. Incumbent Progressive David Zuckerman, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2013, retired to run for lieutenant governor. Incumbent Republican Helen Riehle, who had represented the Chittenden district since 2016, did not seek re-election. Progressive Christopher Pearson and Democrat Debbie Ingram won the open seats.

Essex-Orleans

  • Elects 2 senators.
Incumbent Democrats Robert Starr, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2005, and John Rodgers, who had represented the Essex-Orleans district since 2013, were both re-elected.

Franklin

  • Elects 2 senators.
Incumbent Republican Dustin Degree, who had represented the Franklin district since 2015, was re-elected. Incumbent Republican Norm McAllister, who had represented the Franklin district since 2013, lost re-nomination to fellow Republican Carolyn Whitney Branagan. Branagan won the open seat.

Grand Isle

  • Elects 1 senator.
Incumbent Democrat Richard Mazza, who had represented the Grand Isle district since 1985, was re-elected.

Lamoille

  • Elects 1 senator.
Incumbent Republican Richard Westman, who had represented the Lamoille district since 2011, was re-elected.

Orange

  • Elects 1 senator.
Incumbent Democrat Mark MacDonald, who had represented the Orange district since 2003, was re-elected.

Rutland

  • Elects 3 senators.
Incumbent Republicans Peg Flory, who had represented the Rutland district since 2011, Kevin Mullin, who had represented the Rutland district since 2003, and Brian Collamore, who had represented the Rutland district since 2015, were all re-elected.

Washington

  • Elects 3 senators.
Incumbent Democrat Ann Cummings, who had represented the Washington district since 1997, and incumbent Progressive Minority Leader Anthony Pollina, who had represented the Washington district since 2011, were both re-elected. Incumbent Republican Bill Doyle, who had represented the Washington district since 1969, lost re-election to Democrat Francis Brooks.

Windham

  • Elects 2 senators.
Incumbent Democrat Majority Leader Becca Balint, who had represented the Windham district since 2015, and incumbent Democrat Jeanette White, who had represented the Windham district since 2003, were both re-elected.

Windsor

  • Elects 3 senators.
Incumbent Democrats Alice Nitka, who had represented the windsor district since 2007, and Richard McCormack, who had represented the Windsor district since 2007, were both re-elected. Incumbent Democratic Senate President pro tempore John Campbell, who had represented the Windsor district since 2001, retired. Fellow Democrat Alison Clarkson won the open seat.