David Zuckerman (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Zuckerman
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Zuckerman in 2024
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| 82nd and 84th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 5, 2023 – January 9, 2025 |
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| Governor | Phil Scott |
| Preceded by | Molly Gray |
| Succeeded by | John S. Rodgers |
| In office January 5, 2017 – January 7, 2021 |
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| Governor | Phil Scott |
| Preceded by | Phil Scott |
| Succeeded by | Molly Gray |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from the Chittenden district |
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| In office January 9, 2013 – January 2, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Debbie Ingram Christopher Pearson |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-3-4 district |
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| In office January 5, 1997 – January 5, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1971 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Progressive |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic |
| Spouse | Rachel Nevitt |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of Vermont (BA) |
David E. Zuckerman (born August 16, 1971) is an American politician. He served as the 84th lieutenant governor of Vermont from 2023 to 2025. Before that, he was the 82nd lieutenant governor from 2017 to 2021. He is a member of the Vermont Progressive Party.
Zuckerman has also served in the Vermont House of Representatives for seven terms (1997–2011). He then served in the Vermont Senate for two terms (2013–2017). In 2020, Zuckerman ran for governor of Vermont but lost. He was supported by both the Progressive Party and the Democratic Party.
In 2016, Zuckerman ran for lieutenant governor. He won the Democratic primary and then defeated Republican State Senator Randy Brock in the general election. He was reelected in 2018 and again in 2022. He ran for re-election in 2024 but was defeated by John S. Rodgers.
Zuckerman was the first Progressive Party candidate to win a statewide office in Vermont. He was also the only third party candidate to win a statewide election in the 2022 United States elections.
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Early Life and Education
David Zuckerman was born in Boston on August 16, 1971. He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. He finished Brookline High School in 1989. His father is Jewish.
In 1995, he graduated from the University of Vermont. He earned a degree in environmental studies. He also studied chemistry.
Political Career
Serving in the House of Representatives
Before joining the House, Zuckerman worked on the Burlington Electric Commission. He first ran for the Vermont House of Representatives in 1994 while still in college. He lost that election by a small number of votes.
Two years later, he ran again and won. He became one of the first members of the Progressive Party to serve in the Vermont House. He held this position until 2011.
While in the House, he worked on important committees. He spent six years on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee. He also served six years on the Agriculture Committee, leading it for four years. Later, he worked on the Ways and Means Committee.
Serving in the State Senate
In 2012, Zuckerman ran for the Vermont State Senate from Chittenden County. He won a seat in this district, which has six members. In the Senate, he served on the Agriculture and Education committees. He was the vice chairperson of Agriculture.
During his time in the legislature, Zuckerman helped pass many laws. These included laws about civil unions and marriage equality. He also supported laws for workers' rights and increasing the minimum wage. He worked on policies for sustainable farming and election law changes. He also supported renewable energy and fair tax policies.
Becoming Lieutenant Governor
In 2016, Zuckerman ran for lieutenant governor. He was a Progressive candidate and received support from Bernie Sanders. He won the Progressive primary without opposition. He also won the Democratic nomination, defeating Shap Smith and Kesha Ram. He then won the general election against Republican Randy Brock.
Zuckerman was reelected in 2018. He defeated Republican Donald H. Turner with 57% of the votes. In 2020, he decided not to run for a third term as lieutenant governor. Instead, he ran for governor against the current governor, Phil Scott. He had support from both the Progressive and Democratic parties. However, he lost to Governor Scott in the election.
In 2022, the current Lieutenant Governor, Molly Gray, decided not to run again. Zuckerman then announced he would run for lieutenant governor for a third time. He won both the Democratic primary and the general election in 2022. He defeated Republican Joe Benning. This made him only the second person in Vermont history to be elected lieutenant governor for terms that were not in a row.
Zuckerman ran for re-election in 2024. However, he lost to John S. Rodgers. Rodgers received more votes, but not a majority. Because of Vermont's rules, the Vermont General Assembly had to vote to decide the winner. Zuckerman accepted his loss on November 7, 2024. On January 9, 2025, Rodgers was officially elected as the 85th Lieutenant Governor.
Agriculture
Since 1999, Zuckerman and his wife, Rachel Nevitt, have run an organic farm. Their farm is in Burlington's Intervale. This area has many farms that serve the city. Zuckerman has been involved with farming groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation. He is also a member of the Vermont Farm Bureau.
In 2009, Zuckerman and Nevitt moved their farm to Hinesburg. Their farm is about 150 acres. They grow vegetables and raise chickens. Their produce is mostly sold in Chittenden County. They have a summer and winter Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. They also sell their produce at the local Burlington farmers market all year.
Important Ideas and Policies
Supporting Workers
Zuckerman has always supported laws that protect workers. He has worked to raise the minimum wage. He also supports paid family leave and other ways to help workers.
Property Tax Changes
In 2015–16, Zuckerman supported a bill to lower property tax rates. This was for households earning less than $200,000. He also helped pass laws to prepare for this change by 2017.
Fair Pay Laws
In 2001, Zuckerman supported a bill called H.440. This bill aimed to make sure people get equal pay for equal work.
Food Labeling Laws
In 2014, Zuckerman was a main author in the Senate for Vermont's first-in-the-nation food-labeling law. This law required labels for certain foods.
Personal Life
Zuckerman and his wife Rachel live in Hinesburg, Vermont. They have one child. They continue to run their farm, Full Moon Farm. After leaving office in 2025, Zuckerman started hosting a segment on a radio show called WDEV's Vermont Viewpoint.
