2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election

See also: 2024 United States lieutenant gubernatorial elections

The 2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024. Republican former state Senator John Rodgers defeated incumbent Progressive Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman who was running for re-election to a fourth non-consecutive term in office.^[2][3]

2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election

← 2022 November 5, 2024 January 9, 2025 (contingent election) 2026 →

Nominee John Rodgers David Zuckerman Party Republican Progressive Alliance Democratic Electoral vote 158[1] 18 Popular vote 171,854 165,876 Percentage 48.76% 47.07%

County results Municipality results Rodgers:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Zuckerman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

Lieutenant Governor before election David Zuckerman Progressive Elected Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers Republican

The election was held concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on August 13, 2024.^[4]

Zuckerman conceded to Rodgers on November 7, but suggested that the legislature could still elect him as the Constitution of Vermont allows lawmakers to vote to install any of the top three vote-getters in an election when no candidate reaches 50 percent of the vote. On January 9, 2025, the Vermont General Assembly elected Rodgers by a vote of 158 to 18. This marked the first time since 2008 that Vermont had a Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the same party.

Progressive primary

Candidates

Withdrew after nomination

• Zoraya Hightower, former Burlington city councilor^[5][6]

Replacement nominee

• David Zuckerman,^[a] incumbent lieutenant governor (2017–2021, 2023–present)^[7]

Results

Progressive primary^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	Zoraya Hightower	257	62.08
	Progressive	Undervotes[b]	72	17.39
	Democratic	David Zuckerman (write-in)	55	13.29
	Write-in		29	7.01
	Progressive	Overvotes	1	0.24
Total votes			414	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• David Zuckerman,^[a] lieutenant governor (2017–2021, 2023–2025)^[2]

Eliminated in primary

• Thomas Renner, deputy mayor of Winooski^[9]

Endorsements

Thomas Renner

State legislators

• Christopher Bray, state senator^[10]
• Kesha Ram Hinsdale, state senator^[10]
• Kitty Toll, former state representative (Renner's campaign treasurer)^[10]

David Zuckerman

State legislators

• Philip Baruth, president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate^[10]

Organizations

• Our Revolution^[10]

Campaign

Renner largely avoided criticizing Zuckerman, instead pointing to the representation he would bring to the role as a black gay man. Renner also promised not to "switch parties or add other party affiliations after the primary," which VTDigger interpreted as a dig against Zuckerman's membership in the Vermont Progressive Party. Renner described himself as "progressive, with a small 'p'." Zuckerman ran on his experience, pointing to the many years he served in the state legislature before his election as lieutenant governor.^[10]

Zuckerman outraised Renner significantly, taking in over $111,000 compared to roughly $43,000 for Renner. VTDigger pointed out that more than a third of Renner's fundraising came from wealthy Republicans; Renner claimed that these donations were unsolicited and came as a surprise to him.^[10]

Results

Democratic primary^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Zuckerman (incumbent)	28,729	55.28
	Democratic	Thomas Renner	18,838	36.25
	Democratic	Undervotes[b]	3,760	7.24
	Write-in		603	1.16
	Democratic	Overvotes	39	0.08
Total votes			51,969	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Rodgers, former Democratic state senator (2013–2021)^[11]

Eliminated in primary

• Gregory Thayer, former Rutland city councilor and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022^[9]

Endorsements

John Rodgers

Statewide officials

• Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont^[12]

Campaign

Rodgers campaigned as a moderate, saying he does not plan to vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Thayer positioned himself as the more conservative candidate, calling himself "the only Republican in this race."^[13]

Results

Republican primary^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Rodgers	13,840	55.39
	Republican	Gregory Thayer	8,619	34.50
	Republican	Undervotes[b]	2,257	9.03
	Write-in		234	0.94
	Republican	Overvotes	35	0.14
Total votes			24,985	100.0

General election

Candidates

• Ian Diamondstone, trade consultant (Green Mountain Peace and Justice)^[14]
• John Rodgers, former Democratic state senator (2013–2021)^[11] (Republican)
• David Zuckerman,^[a] lieutenant governor (2017–2021, 2023–2025)^[2] (Progressive, Democratic)

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[15]	Safe D	July 25, 2024

Results

On November 5, Rodgers received a plurality of the vote over Zuckerman.^[16]

2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election^[17]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Rodgers	171,854	48.76%
	Progressive/Democratic	David Zuckerman (incumbent)	165,876	47.07%
	Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party	Ian Diamondstone	13,671	3.88%
	Write-in		1,013	0.29%
Total votes			352,414	100.00%
	Republican gain from Progressive

Contingent election

Because the Constitution of Vermont requires a majority vote for election as lieutenant governor, the Vermont General Assembly voted on January 9, 2025, to determine the winner. Although the General Assembly has always voted to ratify the winner of the popular vote since 1976, Diamondstone has urged the General Assembly to elect Zuckerman on the grounds that a majority of voters supported the two more liberal candidates in the race. Zuckerman conceded the popular election on November 7, 2024, but expressed agreement with Diamondstone's argument and said he would "point out those facts" to the legislators, though he said he would not make a "strong effort" on his own behalf and "[didn't] think [the Assembly was] going to decide to do that".^[16] The Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party called on the legislature to elect Zuckerman.^[18] Ultimately, the legislature chose to elect Rodgers despite these calls.

2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial contingent election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Rodgers	158	87.77%
	Progressive/Democratic	David Zuckerman (incumbent)	18	10.23%
	Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party	Ian Diamondstone	0	0%
Total votes

Notes

1. Zuckerman is a member of the Progressive Party, but also runs with the Democratic Party's nomination via Vermont's electoral fusion system
2. Blank ballots