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List of governors of Vermont facts for kids

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The governor of Vermont is the head of government of the U.S. state of Vermont. Since 1994, Vermont is one of only two U.S. states (New Hampshire being the other) that elects governors for two-year terms. Until 1870, Vermont elected its governors for one-year terms. Isaac Tichenor, Jonas Galusha, Erastus Fairbanks, and Richard A. Snelling each served non-consecutive terms, while Thomas Chittenden served non consecutive terms as Governor of the Vermont Republic.

Mountain Rule

From the founding of the Republican Party in the 1850s until the 1960s, only Republicans won general elections for Vermont's statewide offices. One method that made this possible was the Republican Party's imposition of the "Mountain Rule," an informal mechanism which restricted the pool of candidates.

Under the original provisions of the Mountain Rule, one U.S. senator was a resident of the east side of the Green Mountains and one resided on the west side. The expanded version of the rule called for the governorship and lieutenant governorship to alternate between residents of the east and west side. Nominees for governor and lieutenant governor were originally allowed two one-year terms, and later one two-year term. For nearly 100 years, likely Republican candidates for office in Vermont agreed to abide by the expanded Mountain Rule in the interests of party unity. Several factors led to the eventual weakening of the Mountain Rule, including the long political dispute between the Proctor (conservative) and AikenGibson (progressive) wings of the party; primaries rather than conventions to select nominees; the direct election of U.S. Senators; and several active third parties, including the Progressives, the Prohibition Party, and the Local Option movement. In the 1960s, the rise of the Vermont Democratic Party and the construction of Interstate 89 also contributed to the end of the Mountain Rule. Although I-89 is a north–south route, it traverses Vermont from southeast to northwest for the majority of its length within the state and changed the way residents view how it is divided.

List of governors

Vermont Republic

The Vermont Republic declared independence from Great Britain on January 15, 1777.

Governors of the Republic of Vermont
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 ThomasChittenden.png Thomas Chittenden
(1730–1797)
March 13, 1778

October 13, 1789
(lost election)
No party 1778 Marsh, JosephJoseph Marsh
1779 Carpenter, BenjaminBenjamin Carpenter
1780
1781 Payne, ElishaElisha Payne
1782 Spooner, PaulPaul Spooner
1783
1784
1785
1786 Marsh, JosephJoseph Marsh
1787
1788
2 Mosesrobinson.jpg Moses Robinson
(1741–1813)
October 13, 1789

October 20, 1790
(lost election)
No party 1789
3 ThomasChittenden.png Thomas Chittenden
(1730–1797)
October 20, 1790

March 4, 1791
(became state governor)
No party 1790 Olcott, PeterPeter Olcott

State of Vermont

Vermont was admitted to the Union on March 4, 1791.

Governors of the State of Vermont
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 ThomasChittenden.png   Thomas Chittenden
(1730–1797)
March 5, 1791

August 25, 1797
(died in office)
No party 1791   Olcott, PeterPeter Olcott
1792
1793
1794 Hunt, JonathanJonathan Hunt
1795
1796 Brigham, PaulPaul Brigham
2 Paul Brigham Vermont Governor.jpg Paul Brigham
(1746–1824)
August 25, 1797

October 16, 1797
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
3 Isaac Tichenor.jpg Isaac Tichenor
(1754–1838)
October 16, 1797

October 9, 1807
(lost election)
Federalist 1797 Brigham, PaulPaul Brigham
1798
1799
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
4 Israel Smith.jpg Israel Smith
(1759–1810)
October 9, 1807

October 14, 1808
(lost election)
Democratic-
Republican
1807
5 Isaac Tichenor.jpg Isaac Tichenor
(1754–1838)
October 14, 1808

October 14, 1809
(lost election)
Federalist 1808
6 Jonas Galusha.jpg Jonas Galusha
(1753–1834)
October 14, 1809

October 23, 1813
(lost election)
Democratic-
Republican
1809
1810
1811
1812
7 Martin Chittenden.jpg Martin Chittenden
(1763–1840)
October 23, 1813

October 14, 1815
(lost election)
Federalist 1813 Chamberlain, WilliamWilliam Chamberlain
1814
8 Jonas Galusha.jpg Jonas Galusha
(1753–1834)
October 14, 1815

October 13, 1820
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
1815 Brigham, PaulPaul Brigham
1816
1817
1818
1819
9 Richard Skinner.jpg Richard Skinner
(1778–1833)
October 13, 1820

October 10, 1823
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
1820 Cahoon, WilliamWilliam Cahoon
1821
1822 Leland, AaronAaron Leland
10 Cornelius P Van Ness.jpg Cornelius P. Van Ness
(1782–1852)
October 10, 1823

October 13, 1826
(did not run)
Democratic-
Republican
1823
1824
1825
11 Ezra Butler (Vermont Governor).jpg Ezra Butler
(1763–1838)
October 13, 1826

October 10, 1828
(did not run)
National
Republican
1826
1827 Olin, HenryHenry Olin
12 Samuel Crafts.jpg Samuel C. Crafts
(1768–1853)
October 10, 1828

October 18, 1831
(did not run)
National
Republican
1828
1829
1830 Richards, MarkMark Richards
13 William A. Palmer.jpg William A. Palmer
(1781–1860)
October 18, 1831

November 2, 1835
(lost election)
Anti-Masonic 1831 Egerton, LebbeusLebbeus Egerton
1832
1833
1834
14 Silas Hemenway Jenison.jpg Silas H. Jennison
(1791–1849)
November 2, 1835

October 18, 1841
(did not run)
Whig 1835 Acting as governor
1836 Camp, David M.David M. Camp
1837
1838
1839
1840
15 VshPaine.JPG Charles Paine
(1799–1853)
October 18, 1841

October 13, 1843
(did not run)
Whig 1841 Ranney, Waitstill R.Waitstill R. Ranney
1842
16 John Mattocks.jpg John Mattocks
(1777–1847)
October 13, 1843

October 11, 1844
(did not run)
Whig 1843 Eaton, HoraceHorace Eaton
17 William Slade.jpg William Slade
(1786–1859)
October 11, 1844

October 9, 1846
(did not run)
Whig 1844
1845
18 Horace Eaton.jpg Horace Eaton
(1804–1855)
October 9, 1846

October 19, 1848
(did not run)
Whig 1846 Sargeant, LeonardLeonard Sargeant
1847
19 Carlos Coolidge.gif Carlos Coolidge
(1792–1866)
October 19, 1848

October 12, 1850
(did not run)
Whig 1848 Pierpoint, RobertRobert Pierpoint
1849
20 Charles K Williams.jpg Charles K. Williams
(1782–1853)
October 12, 1850

October 18, 1852
(did not run)
Whig 1850 Converse, JuliusJulius Converse
1851
21 Erastus Fairbanks.jpg Erastus Fairbanks
(1792–1864)
October 18, 1852

November 1, 1853
(lost election)
Whig 1852 Kittredge, William C.William C. Kittredge
22 John S Robinson.jpg John S. Robinson
(1804–1860)
November 1, 1853

October 13, 1854
(did not run)
Democratic 1853 Kidder, Jefferson P.Jefferson P. Kidder
23 Stephen Royce.jpg Stephen Royce
(1787–1868)
October 13, 1854

October 10, 1856
(did not run)
Whig 1854 Fletcher, RylandRyland Fletcher
Republican 1855
24 Ryland Fletcher (Vermont Governor).jpg Ryland Fletcher
(1799–1885)
October 10, 1856

October 15, 1858
(did not run)
Republican 1856 Slade, James M.James M. Slade
1857
25 Hiland Hall.jpg Hiland Hall
(1795–1885)
October 15, 1858

October 12, 1860
(did not run)
Republican 1858 Martin, BurnhamBurnham Martin
1859
26 Erastus Fairbanks.jpg Erastus Fairbanks
(1792–1864)
October 12, 1860

October 22, 1861
(did not run)
Republican 1860 Underwood, LeviLevi Underwood
27 Frederick Holbrook.jpg Frederick Holbrook
(1813–1909)
October 22, 1861

October 9, 1863
(did not run)
Republican 1861
1862 Dillingham, PaulPaul Dillingham
28 J. Gregory Smith.jpg J. Gregory Smith
(1818–1891)
October 9, 1863

October 13, 1865
(did not run)
Republican 1863
1864
29 Paul Dillingham.jpg Paul Dillingham
(1799–1891)
October 13, 1865

October 13, 1867
(did not run)
Republican 1865 Gardner, Abraham B.Abraham B. Gardner
1866
30 John b page.jpg John B. Page
(1826–1885)
October 13, 1867

October 16, 1869
(did not run)
Republican 1867 Thomas, StephenStephen Thomas
1868
31 Peter T Washburn.jpg Peter T. Washburn
(1814–1870)
October 16, 1869

February 7, 1870
(died in office)
Republican 1869 Hendee, George W.George W. Hendee
32 GeorgeWHendee.jpg George Whitman Hendee
(1832–1906)
February 7, 1870

October 6, 1870
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
33 John Wolcott Stewart.jpg John Wolcott Stewart
(1825–1915)
October 6, 1870

October 3, 1872
(lost nomination)
Republican 1870 Dale, George N.George N. Dale
34 Julius Converse.gif Julius Converse
(1798–1885)
October 3, 1872

October 8, 1874
(did not run)
Republican 1872 Taft, Russell S.Russell S. Taft
35 Asahel Peck.jpg Asahel Peck
(1803–1879)
October 8, 1874

October 5, 1876
(did not run)
Republican 1874 Hinckley, Lyman G.Lyman G. Hinckley
36 Horace Fairbanks.jpg Horace Fairbanks
(1820–1888)
October 5, 1876

October 3, 1878
(did not run)
Republican 1876 Proctor, RedfieldRedfield Proctor
37 Redfield Proctor, 37th United States Secretary of War.jpg Redfield Proctor
(1831–1908)
October 3, 1878

October 7, 1880
(did not run)
Republican 1878 Colton, Eben PomeroyEben Pomeroy Colton
38 Roswell Farnham.jpg Roswell Farnham
(1827–1903)
October 7, 1880

October 5, 1882
(did not run)
Republican 1880 Barstow, John L.John L. Barstow
39 John L Barstow.gif John L. Barstow
(1832–1913)
October 5, 1882

October 2, 1884
(did not run)
Republican 1882 Pingree, Samuel E.Samuel E. Pingree
40 Samuel E. Pingree.jpg Samuel E. Pingree
(1832–1922)
October 2, 1884

October 7, 1886
(did not run)
Republican 1884 Ormsbee, Ebenezer J.Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
41 Ebenezer Jolls Ormsbee.jpg Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
(1834–1924)
October 7, 1886

October 4, 1888
(did not run)
Republican 1886 Fuller, Levi K.Levi K. Fuller
42 William P. Dillingham, governor 1888-1890 (Republican).jpg William P. Dillingham
(1843–1923)
October 4, 1888

October 2, 1890
(did not run)
Republican 1888 Woodbury, Urban A.Urban A. Woodbury
43 Carroll Smalley Page, 1920.jpg Carroll S. Page
(1843–1925)
October 2, 1890

October 6, 1892
(did not run)
Republican 1890 Fletcher, Henry A.Henry A. Fletcher
44 Fuller.jpg Levi K. Fuller
(1841–1896)
October 6, 1892

October 4, 1894
(did not run)
Republican 1892 Stranahan, F. StewartF. Stewart Stranahan
45 Urban A Woodbury.jpg Urban A. Woodbury
(1838–1915)
October 4, 1894

October 8, 1896
(did not run)
Republican 1894 Mansur, Zophar M.Zophar M. Mansur
46 VshJosiahGrout.JPG Josiah Grout
(1841–1925)
October 8, 1896

October 6, 1898
(did not run)
Republican 1896 Fisk, Nelson W.Nelson W. Fisk
47 Edward Curtis Smith (Vermont governor).jpg Edward Curtis Smith
(1854–1935)
October 6, 1898

October 4, 1900
(did not run)
Republican 1898 Bates, Henry C.Henry C. Bates
48 William Wallace Stickney (Vermont governor).jpg William W. Stickney
(1853–1932)
October 4, 1900

October 3, 1902
(did not run)
Republican 1900 Allen, Martin F.Martin F. Allen
49 John G McCullough.jpg John G. McCullough
(1835–1915)
October 3, 1902

October 6, 1904
(did not run)
Republican 1902 Stanton, Zed S.Zed S. Stanton
50 Charles J. Bell.jpg Charles J. Bell
(1845–1909)
October 6, 1904

October 4, 1906
(did not run)
Republican 1904 Stearns, Charles H.Charles H. Stearns
51 Fletcher D. Proctor.jpg Fletcher D. Proctor
(1860–1911)
October 4, 1906

October 8, 1908
(did not run)
Republican 1906 Prouty, George H.George H. Prouty
52 GeorgeProuty.jpg George H. Prouty
(1862–1918)
October 8, 1908

October 6, 1910
(did not run)
Republican 1908 Mead, John A.John A. Mead
53 John Abner Mead USA politician Governor Vermont-crop.jpg John A. Mead
(1841–1920)
October 6, 1910

October 3, 1912
(did not run)
Republican 1910 Slack, Leighton P.Leighton P. Slack
54 Allen Miller Fletcher.jpg Allen M. Fletcher
(1853–1922)
October 3, 1912

January 7, 1915
(did not run)
Republican 1912 Howe, Frank E.Frank E. Howe
55 Charles W. Gates.jpg Charles W. Gates
(1856–1927)
January 7, 1915

January 4, 1917
(did not run)
Republican 1914 Darling, Hale K.Hale K. Darling
56 Horace French Graham.jpg Horace F. Graham
(1862–1941)
January 4, 1917

January 10, 1919
(did not run)
Republican 1916 Hulburd, Roger W.Roger W. Hulburd
57 Percivalclement.jpg Percival W. Clement
(1846–1927)
January 10, 1919

January 7, 1921
(did not run)
Republican 1918 Stone, Mason S.Mason S. Stone
58 James Hartness.jpg James Hartness
(1861–1934)
January 7, 1921

January 4, 1923
(did not run)
Republican 1920 Foote, Abram W.Abram W. Foote
59 RedfieldProctorjr.jpg Redfield Proctor Jr.
(1879–1957)
January 4, 1923

January 8, 1925
(did not run)
Republican 1922 Billings, Franklin S.Franklin S. Billings
60 Franklin S. Billings.jpg Franklin S. Billings
(1862–1935)
January 8, 1925

January 6, 1927
(did not run)
Republican 1924 Farnsworth, Walter K.Walter K. Farnsworth
61 John Eliakim Weeks.jpg John E. Weeks
(1853–1949)
January 6, 1927

January 8, 1931
(did not run)
Republican 1926 Jackson, HollisterHollister Jackson
(died November 2, 1927)
Vacant
1928 Wilson, Stanley C.Stanley C. Wilson
62 Stanley Calef Wilson.jpg Stanley C. Wilson
(1879–1967)
January 8, 1931

January 10, 1935
(did not run)
Republican 1930 Williams, BenjaminBenjamin Williams
1932 Smith, Charles ManleyCharles Manley Smith
63 Charles Manley Smith 2.jpg Charles Manley Smith
(1868–1937)
January 10, 1935

January 7, 1937
(did not run)
Republican 1934 Aiken, George D.George D. Aiken
64 GeorgeAiken-VTSEN-.jpg George Aiken
(1892–1984)
January 7, 1937

January 9, 1941
(did not run)
Republican 1936 Wills, William HenryWilliam Henry Wills
1938
65 Wm Henry Wills.jpg William Henry Wills
(1882–1946)
January 9, 1941

January 4, 1945
(did not run)
Republican 1940 Proctor, Mortimer R.Mortimer R. Proctor
1942
66 Mortimer R. Proctor (Vermont governor).jpg Mortimer R. Proctor
(1889–1968)
January 4, 1945

January 9, 1947
(lost nomination)
Republican 1944 Emerson, Lee E.Lee E. Emerson
67 Ernest W. Gibson Jr. (VT).jpg Ernest W. Gibson Jr.
(1901–1969)
January 9, 1947

January 16, 1950
(resigned)
Republican 1946
1948 Arthur, Harold J.Harold J. Arthur
68 Harold J. Arthur.jpg Harold J. Arthur
(1904–1971)
January 16, 1950

January 4, 1951
(did not run)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
69 Lee Emerson Vermont 2.jpg Lee E. Emerson
(1898–1976)
January 4, 1951

January 6, 1955
(did not run)
Republican 1950 Johnson, Joseph B.Joseph B. Johnson
1952
70 Joseph Blaine Johnson.jpg Joseph B. Johnson
(1893–1986)
January 6, 1955

January 15, 1959
(did not run)
Republican 1954 Bailey, Consuelo N.Consuelo N. Bailey
1956 Stafford, Robert T.Robert T. Stafford
71 Robert Stafford.jpg Robert Stafford
(1913–2006)
January 15, 1959

January 5, 1961
(did not run)
Republican 1958 Babcock, Robert S.Robert S. Babcock
72 F. Ray Keyser Jr. (VT).png F. Ray Keyser Jr.
(1927–2015)
January 5, 1961

January 10, 1963
(lost election)
Republican 1960 Foote, Ralph A.Ralph A. Foote
73 Philip H. Hoff (VT).jpg Philip H. Hoff
(1924–2018)
January 10, 1963

January 9, 1969
(did not run)
Democratic 1962
1964 Daley, John J.John J. Daley
1966
74 Deane C. Davis (VT).png Deane C. Davis
(1900–1990)
January 9, 1969

January 4, 1973
(did not run)
Republican 1968 Hayes, Thomas L.Thomas L. Hayes
1970 Burgess, John S.John S. Burgess
75 Thomas P. Salmon.jpg Thomas P. Salmon
(b. 1932)
January 4, 1973

January 6, 1977
(did not run)
Democratic 1972
1974 Burns, Brian D.Brian D. Burns
76 Richard A Snelling.jpg Richard A. Snelling
(1927–1991)
January 6, 1977

January 10, 1985
(did not run)
Republican 1976 Buckley, T. GarryT. Garry Buckley
1978 Kunin, MadeleineMadeleine Kunin
1980
1982 Smith, Peter P.Peter P. Smith
77 Madeleine Kunin (D-VT).jpg Madeleine Kunin
(b. 1933)
January 10, 1985

January 10, 1991
(did not run)
Democratic 1984
1986 Dean, HowardHoward Dean
1988
78 Richard A Snelling.jpg Richard A. Snelling
(1927–1991)
January 10, 1991

August 13, 1991
(died in office)
Republican 1990
79 Howard Dean (cropped).jpg Howard Dean
(b. 1948)
August 13, 1991

January 9, 2003
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
1992 Snelling, Barbara W.Barbara W. Snelling
1994
1996 Racine, DougDoug Racine
1998
2000
80 Jim Douglas-2009 (cropped).jpg Jim Douglas
(b. 1951)
January 9, 2003

January 6, 2011
(did not run)
Republican 2002 Dubie, BrianBrian Dubie
2004
2006
2008
81 Peter Shumlin (cropped).jpg Peter Shumlin
(b. 1956)
January 6, 2011

January 5, 2017
(did not run)
Democratic 2010 Scott, PhilPhil Scott
2012
2014
82 Phil Scott 2019 (cropped).jpg Phil Scott
(b. 1958)
January 5, 2017

Incumbent
Republican 2016 Zuckerman, DavidDavid Zuckerman
2018
2020 Gray, MollyMolly Gray
2022 Zuckerman, DavidDavid Zuckerman

See also

  • Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Vermont
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