2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election

2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 5, 2024

Nominee David Zuckerman John Rodgers Party Progressive Republican Alliance Democratic

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman Progressive

The 2024 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024, to elect the lieutenant governor of Vermont, 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. Incumbent Progressive lieutenant governor David Zuckerman is running for re-election to a fourth non-consecutive term in office.

Primary elections will take place on August 13, 2024.

Progressive primary

Candidates

Withdrew after nomination

• Zoraya Hightower, former Burlington city councilor

Replacement nominee

• David Zuckerman, incumbent lieutenant governor (2017–2021, 2023–present)

Results

Progressive primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	Zoraya Hightower	257	62.08
	Progressive	Undervotes	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, incumbent lieutenant governor (2017–2021, 2023–present)

Eliminated in primary

• Thomas Renner, deputy mayor of Winooski

Endorsements

Thomas Renner

State legislators

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

David Zuckerman

State legislators

• Philip Baruth, president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate

Organizations

• Our Revolution

Campaign

Renner has largely avoided criticizing Zuckerman, instead pointing to the representation he would bring to the role as a black gay man. Renner has 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 has described himself as "progressive, with a small 'p'." Zuckerman is running on his experience, pointing to the many years he served in the state legislature before his election as lieutenant governor.

Zuckerman has 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 claims that these donations were unsolicited and came as a surprise to him.

Results

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Zuckerman (incumbent)	28,729	55.28
	Democratic	Thomas Renner	18,838	36.25
	Democratic	Undervotes	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)

Eliminated in primary

• Gregory Thayer, former Rutland city councilor and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022

Endorsements

John Rodgers

Statewide officials

• Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont

Campaign

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

Results

Republican primary

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

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe D	January 31, 2024