No elected incumbents running in Bennington, Grand Isle, Orleans and Caledonia counties

by Guy Page

Six Democrats elected to the Senate in 2022 are not on next Tuesday’s General Election ballot. In their four districts, all of the Democratic nominees face opposition from Republicans and, in some cases, independents. 

The Vermont GOP hopes the election returns next Tuesday will break the supermajority stranglehold on Gov. Phil Scott’s veto power. The GOP holds seven seats now. None of the Republican incumbents face a neck-and-neck re-election threat. Holding all seven seats and picking up four more would achieve a statistical minority capable of upholding Scott’s future vetos.

Further pickups could result in a Republican majority, especially if GOP Lt. Gov. candidate John Rodgers wins – a real possibility given a recent influx of campaign donations, the fervent, well-advertised backing of Scott, and the endorsements of two former governors, Jim Douglas and Peter Shumlin.

Another possibility of a strong GOP showing is a shuffling of Senate leadership to featuring centrist Democrats. 

Here’s a county-by-county breakdown of the four Senate races in which there are no elected incumbents:

Bennington County – The retirement of Brian Campion and death of Richard Sears leaves the recently deep-blue county wide open to four non-Democrat challengers: Republican Joe Gervais and independents Steve Berry, former gadly Democratic Rep. Cynthia Browning, and Spike Whitmore. Gervais and the three independents all stress affordability and tax relief. They’re running against Rep. Seth Bongartz, a former state senator, and Rob Plunkett. 

Caledonia County – With the retirement of longtime incumbent Democrat Jane Kitchel, Republican Rep. Scott Beck, the most outspoken foe of the education/property tax increase in the 2024 House, is considered to have the inside track. He faces non-profit exec Amanda Cochrane. 

Grand Isle County/Colchester – Although Sen. Andy Julow is technically the incumbent, he held the seat for only a few days in the 2024 session following his appointment to fill the vacancy left by the resignation and death of longtime Democrat Sen. Richard Mazza. He faces Republican Rep. Pat Brennan, who hails from more populous Colchester, like Mazza operated a Malletts Bay general store, and is endorsed by Mike Mazza, the son of Dick Mazza and also a longtime Malletts Bay store owner. 

Orleans County – Longtime Democrat Sen. Robert Starr has retired, leaving the seat open to either Republican Sam Douglass, who ran against Starr in 2022, or Democrat Rep. Katherine Sims of Craftsbury. Starr has endorsed Sims, while Douglass has benefited from the endorsement and campaign appearances of Gov. Phil Scott. 

In Windsor County, Sen. Dick McCormick declined to seek re-election. Joe Major is the new Democrat nominee. He, Alison Clarkson, and Becca White are the Dems facing Republican Andrea Murray, Jack Williams, and Jonathan Gleason, and independent Marc Nemeth.

For a review of changes in the Vermont House, see 34 House of Representatives incumbents not seeking re-election. Below is a list of Senate incumbents and Election Day candidates.