2026 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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The 2026 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the lieutenant governor of Vermont. The primary election will be held on August 11. One-term incumbent Republican lieutenant governor John Rodgers is running for re-election.[1]
Republican primary
[edit]Incumbent Lieutenant Governor John Rodgers is running for re-election. He is uncontested in the Primary after no one chose to challenge him.[2]
Candidates
[edit]Presumptive nominee
[edit]- John Rodgers, incumbent lieutenant governor[2]
Endorsements
[edit]John Rodgers
- Statewide officials
- Jim Douglas, former governor of Vermont (2003–2011)[3]
- Phil Scott, governor of Vermont (2017–present)[3]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Esther Charlestin, chair of the Vermont Commission on Women and nominee for governor in 2024[4]
- Molly Gray, former lieutenant governor (2021–2023) and candidate for Vermont's at-large congressional district in 2022[5]
- Ryan McLaren, member of the Democratic National Committee[6]
Endorsements
[edit]Molly Gray
- Statewide officials
- Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont (1991–2003) and chair of the Democratic National Committee (2005–2009)[7]
- State legislators
- Organizations
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Esther Charletin |
Molly Gray |
Ryan McLaren |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[10] | June 15–20, 2026 | 560 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 9% | 39% | 11% | 1%[b] | 41% |
| University of New Hampshire[11] | June 18–23, 2026 | 511 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 11% | 39% | 7% | 1%[b] | 42% |
Third party candidates
[edit]Freedom and Unity Party
[edit]Declared
[edit]- Charlie Bass, high school student[12]
General election
[edit]Polling
[edit]- Esther Charlestin vs. John Rodgers
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Esther Charlestin (D) |
John Rodgers (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[10] | June 15–20, 2026 | 954 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 40% | 30% | 5%[c] | 25% |
| University of New Hampshire[11] | June 18–23, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 35% | 30% | 2%[d] | 33% |
- Molly Gray vs. John Rodgers
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Molly Gray (D) |
John Rodgers (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[10] | June 15–20, 2026 | 954 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 49% | 29% | 2%[e] | 20% |
| University of New Hampshire[11] | June 18–23, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 45% | 29% | 1%[f] | 26% |
- Ryan McLaren vs. John Rodgers
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Ryan McLaren (D) |
John Rodgers (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[10] | June 15–20, 2026 | 954 (LV) | ± 3.2% | 43% | 27% | 3%[g] | 26% |
| University of New Hampshire[11] | June 18–23, 2026 | 887 (LV) | ± 3.3% | 32% | 30% | 1%[h] | 37% |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- 1 2 Robinson, Shaun (August 14, 2025). "Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas say they're running for reelection". VTDigger. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
- 1 2 "Lt. Gov. John Rodgers announces re-election campaign; Democrats announced previously". Bennington Banner. February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
- ↑ Pastor, Adrian (January 28, 2026). "Esther Charlestin launches 2026 bid for Vermont Lieutenant Governor". WPTZ. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ↑ Flanders, Colin (November 18, 2025). "Molly Gray to Run for Lieutenant Governor Again". Seven Days. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
- ↑ Robinson, Shaun (January 15, 2026). "Ryan McLaren, former top aide to Peter Welch, enters lieutenant governor race". VTDigger. Retrieved January 16, 2026.
- 1 2 Robinson, Shaun (January 5, 2026). "Molly Gray is running for Vermont lieutenant governor — again". VTDigger. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- 1 2 Walters, John (January 6, 2026). "With a Friendly Affect and Some Damn Sharp Elbows, Molly Gray Officially Enters the Race for LG". The Vermont Political Observer. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ↑ Breen, Ben (July 5, 2026). "Sanders denies endorsing Molly Gray for Lt. Governor". myChamplainValley. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 McKinley, Sean; Azem, Zachary; Andrew, Smith; Keirns, Tracy (July 21, 2026). "Vermont Divided on Scott's Job Performance as VT Dems Undecided on Candidate to Face Him". University of New Hampshire. Retrieved July 21, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 McKinley, Sean P.; Smith, Andrew E.; Azem, Zachary S.; Keirns, Tracy (June 30, 2026). "SCOTT SEES JOB APPROVAL FALL TO NEW LOW IN VERMONT BUT HOLDS EARLY LEAD OVER PROSPECTIVE DEM CHALLENGERS". UNH Scholars Repository. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
- ↑ "Dean Roy is running for Governor, Charlie Bass running for Lieutenant Governor under the Freedom and Unity Party". The Times. April 15, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
Notes
[edit]External links
[edit]Official campaign websites