Vermont Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Vermont Democratic Party is the affiliate branch of the United States Democratic Party
in the state of Vermont
. The party advocates progressivism
, American liberalism and social democracy
in the Vermont government. It holds the governorship and the majority in both houses of the state legislature. The party is dominant in Vermont.
In recent years, the Democrats have entered into various electoral agreements with the Progressive Party
, which has led to Progressives Anthony Pollina
and Timothy Ashe being elected to the State Senate, and to several members in the House of Representatives and the presence of independent Bernie Sanders
in the U.S. Senate.
In 2011, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the Democratic-led government of Governor Peter Shumlin called for federal assistance in Vermont. Shumlin and his administration have also called for Vermont to be the first state to use only renewable energy sources.
who caucuses with the Democrats) and the state's At-Large congressional seat.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The party advocates progressivism
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
, American liberalism and social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
in the Vermont government. It holds the governorship and the majority in both houses of the state legislature. The party is dominant in Vermont.
In recent years, the Democrats have entered into various electoral agreements with the Progressive Party
Vermont Progressive Party
The Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party. It was founded in 1999 and is active only in the U.S. state of Vermont. In terms of the dominant two parties in the United States, it enjoys support from "traditional liberal" Democrats and working class Republicans. The party is...
, which has led to Progressives Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina is a Progressive American politician, who has run several times for elected office in the state of Vermont.-1984 US Congressional Election:...
and Timothy Ashe being elected to the State Senate, and to several members in the House of Representatives and the presence of independent Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
in the U.S. Senate.
Ideology and policies
The Vermont Democrats advocate for socialized universal health care, equality for all and social justice. . Many of the party's proposals have been adopted, including universal health care (Green Mountain Care), gay marriage and the abolition of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station. The party tends towards environmentalism, favoring measures to protect Vermont's natural resources and ecosystem.In 2011, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the Democratic-led government of Governor Peter Shumlin called for federal assistance in Vermont. Shumlin and his administration have also called for Vermont to be the first state to use only renewable energy sources.
Current elected officials
The Vermont Democratic Party controls four of the six statewide offices and holds supermajorities in the Vermont Senate and the Vermont House of Representatives. Democrats hold one of the state's U.S. Senate seats (the other being held by Independent Bernie SandersBernie Sanders
Bernard "Bernie" Sanders is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. He previously represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives...
who caucuses with the Democrats) and the state's At-Large congressional seat.
U.S. House of Representatives
- Peter Welch, At-Large DistrictVermont's at-large congressional districtVermont has been represented in the United States House of Representatives by a single at-large congressional district since the 1930 census, when the state lost its second seat. There were once six districts in Vermont. Bernie Sanders held the seat from 1991 until 2007, when he became a U.S....
Statewide offices
- Governor: Peter Shumlin
- Secretary of StateSecretary of State of VermontThe Office of the Secretary of State of Vermont is located at 128 State Street.The Secretary of State of Vermont is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. The Office of the Secretary of State is located at 128 State St. in...
: Jim Condos - Attorney GeneralVermont Attorney GeneralThe Vermont Attorney General is one of five cabinet-level constitutional officers in the U.S. state of Vermont which are elected every two years. It was created by an act of the Vermont General Assembly in 1790, repealed in 1797, and revived in 1904. The office began as a one-person operation...
: William SorrellWilliam SorrellWilliam H. Sorrell is the current attorney general of the U.S. state of Vermont, United States. Originally appointed by Governor Howard Dean in 1997, he has won re-election seven times since then in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010... - State TreasurerState TreasurerIn the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
: Jeb Spaulding
Legislative
- John F. CampbellJohn F. CampbellJohn F. Campbell is a Democratic member of the Vermont Senate, representing the Windsor Vermont Senate District since 2000. He became Senate Majority Leader in 2003...
(President Pro Tempore of the SenateVermont SenateThe Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
) - Shap SmithShap SmithShapleigh "Shap" Smith, Jr. isan American politician currently serving as the Democratic Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. Smith is a 5-term member representing the Lamoille-Washington 1 District, which includes the Towns of Elmore and Morristown in Lamoille County and Woodbury and...
(Speaker of the HouseVermont House of RepresentativesThe Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
) - William Carris (Senate Majority Leader)
- Lucy Leriche (House Majority Leader)
- Hinda MillerHinda MillerHinda Miller is currently a Democratic member of the Vermont State Senate, representing the Chittenden senate district....
(Senate Assistant Majority Leader) - Willem Jewett (House Assistant Majority Leader)
Governors
- John S. RobinsonJohn S. Robinson (governor)John Staniford Robinson was the 22nd Governor of Vermont from 1853 to 1854. He was the first Democratic governor of Vermont and remained the only Democrat elected to the governorship for 110 years. He placed second in the election but was chosen by legislature over first place finisher and Whig,...
, 1853–1854 - Philip H. HoffPhilip H. HoffPhilip Henderson Hoff is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont where he served as the 73rd Governor of Vermont from 1963 to 1969. At the time of his election, he was the first Democrat elected Governor of Vermont in 108 years.-Life and career:Hoff was born in Turners Falls,...
, 1963–1969 - Thomas P. SalmonThomas P. SalmonThomas Paul Salmon , U.S. Democratic Party politician, served as the 75th Governor of the U.S. state of Vermont from 1973 to 1977....
, 1973–1977 - Madeleine M. KuninMadeleine M. KuninMadeleine May Kunin is a Swiss-American diplomat and politician. She was the 77th Governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor...
, 1985–1991 - Howard DeanHoward DeanHoward Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
, 1991–2003 - Peter Shumlin, 2011–
Representatives
- Isaac FletcherIsaac FletcherIsaac Fletcher was a United States Representative from Vermont. He was born in Dunstable, Massachusetts. He pursued classical studies, and was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire in 1808. He taught in the academy at Chesterfield, New Hampshire...
, 1837–1841 - John Smith, 1839–1841
- Paul Dillingham, Jr., 1843–1847
- Lucius Benedict PeckLucius Benedict PeckLucius Benedict Peck was a U.S. Representative from Vermont.Born in Waterbury, Vermont, Peck pursued classical studies and attended the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, for one year.He studied law....
, 1847–1851 - Thomas Bartlett, Jr.Thomas Bartlett, Jr.Thomas Bartlett, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from Vermont.Born in Sutton, Vermont, Bartlett attended the common schools.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1833 and commenced practice in Groton, Vermont....
, 1851–1853 - William H. MeyerWilliam H. MeyerWilliam Henry Meyer , was a Member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont....
, 1959–1961 - Peter Welch, 2007–