List of governors of Vermont facts for kids
The governor of Vermont is like the main leader of the U.S. state of Vermont. They are in charge of the state government. Since 1994, Vermont and New Hampshire are the only two states that elect their governors for two-year terms. Before 1870, Vermont governors were elected for just one year at a time. Some governors, like Isaac Tichenor and Thomas Chittenden, served more than one term, but not always right after each other.
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The "Mountain Rule" Explained
For about 100 years, from the 1850s to the 1960s, only members of the Republican Party won big elections in Vermont. This was partly because of an unwritten rule called the "Mountain Rule." It was an informal way to choose who could run for office.
The rule tried to make sure that leaders came from both sides of the Green Mountains. For example, one U.S. senator would be from the east side, and the other from the west. The governor and lieutenant governor jobs would also switch between people from the east and west. This helped keep the Republican Party united.
Over time, this rule became less important. There were disagreements within the Republican Party itself. Also, people started choosing candidates through primary elections instead of party meetings. New roads, like Interstate 89, also changed how people saw Vermont's different areas. The rise of the Vermont Democratic Party in the 1960s also helped end the "Mountain Rule."
Who Were Vermont's Governors?
Governors of the Vermont Republic
Vermont was its own independent country, called the Vermont Republic, before it joined the United States. It declared independence from Great Britain on January 15, 1777.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Thomas Chittenden (1730–1797) |
March 13, 1778 – October 13, 1789 (lost election) |
No party | 1778 | Joseph Marsh |
1779 | Benjamin Carpenter | |||||
1780 | ||||||
1781 | Elisha Payne | |||||
1782 | Paul Spooner | |||||
1783 | ||||||
1784 | ||||||
1785 | ||||||
1786 | Joseph Marsh | |||||
1787 | ||||||
1788 | ||||||
2 | ![]() |
Moses Robinson (1741–1813) |
October 13, 1789 – October 20, 1790 (lost election) |
No party | 1789 | |
3 | ![]() |
Thomas Chittenden (1730–1797) |
October 20, 1790 – March 4, 1791 (became state governor) |
No party | 1790 | Peter Olcott |
Governors of the State of Vermont
Vermont officially joined the United States on March 4, 1791. Here is a list of all the governors who have served the state since then.
No. | Governor | Term in office | Party | Election | Lt. Governor | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Thomas Chittenden (1730–1797) |
March 5, 1791 – August 25, 1797 (died in office) |
No party | 1791 | Peter Olcott | ||
1792 | ||||||||
1793 | ||||||||
1794 | Jonathan Hunt | |||||||
1795 | ||||||||
1796 | Paul Brigham | |||||||
2 | ![]() |
Paul Brigham (1746–1824) |
August 25, 1797 – October 16, 1797 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
3 | ![]() |
Isaac Tichenor (1754–1838) |
October 16, 1797 – October 9, 1807 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1797 | Paul Brigham | ||
1798 | ||||||||
1799 | ||||||||
1800 | ||||||||
1801 | ||||||||
1802 | ||||||||
1803 | ||||||||
1804 | ||||||||
1805 | ||||||||
1806 | ||||||||
4 | ![]() |
Israel Smith (1759–1810) |
October 9, 1807 – October 14, 1808 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1807 | |||
5 | ![]() |
Isaac Tichenor (1754–1838) |
October 14, 1808 – October 14, 1809 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1808 | |||
6 | ![]() |
Jonas Galusha (1753–1834) |
October 14, 1809 – October 23, 1813 (lost election) |
Democratic- Republican |
1809 | |||
1810 | ||||||||
1811 | ||||||||
1812 | ||||||||
7 | ![]() |
Martin Chittenden (1763–1840) |
October 23, 1813 – October 14, 1815 (lost election) |
Federalist | 1813 | William Chamberlain | ||
1814 | ||||||||
8 | ![]() |
Jonas Galusha (1753–1834) |
October 14, 1815 – October 13, 1820 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1815 | Paul Brigham | ||
1816 | ||||||||
1817 | ||||||||
1818 | ||||||||
1819 | ||||||||
9 | ![]() |
Richard Skinner (1778–1833) |
October 13, 1820 – October 10, 1823 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1820 | William Cahoon | ||
1821 | ||||||||
1822 | Aaron Leland | |||||||
10 | ![]() |
Cornelius P. Van Ness (1782–1852) |
October 10, 1823 – October 13, 1826 (did not run) |
Democratic- Republican |
1823 | |||
1824 | ||||||||
1825 | ||||||||
11 | ![]() |
Ezra Butler (1763–1838) |
October 13, 1826 – October 10, 1828 (did not run) |
National Republican |
1826 | |||
1827 | Henry Olin | |||||||
12 | ![]() |
Samuel C. Crafts (1768–1853) |
October 10, 1828 – October 18, 1831 (did not run) |
National Republican |
1828 | |||
1829 | ||||||||
1830 | Mark Richards | |||||||
13 | ![]() |
William A. Palmer (1781–1860) |
October 18, 1831 – November 2, 1835 (lost election) |
Anti-Masonic | 1831 | Lebbeus Egerton | ||
1832 | ||||||||
1833 | ||||||||
1834 | ||||||||
14 | ![]() |
Silas H. Jennison (1791–1849) |
November 2, 1835 – October 18, 1841 (did not run) |
Whig | 1835 | Acting as governor | ||
1836 | David M. Camp | |||||||
1837 | ||||||||
1838 | ||||||||
1839 | ||||||||
1840 | ||||||||
15 | Charles Paine (1799–1853) |
October 18, 1841 – October 13, 1843 (did not run) |
Whig | 1841 | Waitstill R. Ranney | |||
1842 | ||||||||
16 | ![]() |
John Mattocks (1777–1847) |
October 13, 1843 – October 11, 1844 (did not run) |
Whig | 1843 | Horace Eaton | ||
17 | ![]() |
William Slade (1786–1859) |
October 11, 1844 – October 9, 1846 (did not run) |
Whig | 1844 | |||
1845 | ||||||||
18 | ![]() |
Horace Eaton (1804–1855) |
October 9, 1846 – October 19, 1848 (did not run) |
Whig | 1846 | Leonard Sargeant | ||
1847 | ||||||||
19 | ![]() |
Carlos Coolidge (1792–1866) |
October 19, 1848 – October 12, 1850 (did not run) |
Whig | 1848 | Robert Pierpoint | ||
1849 | ||||||||
20 | ![]() |
Charles K. Williams (1782–1853) |
October 12, 1850 – October 18, 1852 (did not run) |
Whig | 1850 | Julius Converse | ||
1851 | ||||||||
21 | ![]() |
Erastus Fairbanks (1792–1864) |
October 18, 1852 – November 1, 1853 (lost election) |
Whig | 1852 | William C. Kittredge | ||
22 | ![]() |
John S. Robinson (1804–1860) |
November 1, 1853 – October 13, 1854 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1853 | Jefferson P. Kidder | ||
23 | ![]() |
Stephen Royce (1787–1868) |
October 13, 1854 – October 10, 1856 (did not run) |
Whig | 1854 | Ryland Fletcher | ||
Republican | 1855 | |||||||
24 | ![]() |
Ryland Fletcher (1799–1885) |
October 10, 1856 – October 15, 1858 (did not run) |
Republican | 1856 | James M. Slade | ||
1857 | ||||||||
25 | ![]() |
Hiland Hall (1795–1885) |
October 15, 1858 – October 12, 1860 (did not run) |
Republican | 1858 | Burnham Martin | ||
1859 | ||||||||
26 | ![]() |
Erastus Fairbanks (1792–1864) |
October 12, 1860 – October 22, 1861 (did not run) |
Republican | 1860 | Levi Underwood | ||
27 | ![]() |
Frederick Holbrook (1813–1909) |
October 22, 1861 – October 9, 1863 (did not run) |
Republican | 1861 | |||
1862 | Paul Dillingham | |||||||
28 | ![]() |
J. Gregory Smith (1818–1891) |
October 9, 1863 – October 13, 1865 (did not run) |
Republican | 1863 | |||
1864 | ||||||||
29 | ![]() |
Paul Dillingham (1799–1891) |
October 13, 1865 – October 13, 1867 (did not run) |
Republican | 1865 | Abraham B. Gardner | ||
1866 | ||||||||
30 | ![]() |
John B. Page (1826–1885) |
October 13, 1867 – October 16, 1869 (did not run) |
Republican | 1867 | Stephen Thomas | ||
1868 | ||||||||
31 | ![]() |
Peter T. Washburn (1814–1870) |
October 16, 1869 – February 7, 1870 (died in office) |
Republican | 1869 | George W. Hendee | ||
32 | ![]() |
George Whitman Hendee (1832–1906) |
February 7, 1870 – October 6, 1870 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
33 | ![]() |
John Wolcott Stewart (1825–1915) |
October 6, 1870 – October 3, 1872 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1870 | George N. Dale | ||
34 | ![]() |
Julius Converse (1798–1885) |
October 3, 1872 – October 8, 1874 (did not run) |
Republican | 1872 | Russell S. Taft | ||
35 | ![]() |
Asahel Peck (1803–1879) |
October 8, 1874 – October 5, 1876 (did not run) |
Republican | 1874 | Lyman G. Hinckley | ||
36 | ![]() |
Horace Fairbanks (1820–1888) |
October 5, 1876 – October 3, 1878 (did not run) |
Republican | 1876 | Redfield Proctor | ||
37 | ![]() |
Redfield Proctor (1831–1908) |
October 3, 1878 – October 7, 1880 (did not run) |
Republican | 1878 | Eben Pomeroy Colton | ||
38 | ![]() |
Roswell Farnham (1827–1903) |
October 7, 1880 – October 5, 1882 (did not run) |
Republican | 1880 | John L. Barstow | ||
39 | ![]() |
John L. Barstow (1832–1913) |
October 5, 1882 – October 2, 1884 (did not run) |
Republican | 1882 | Samuel E. Pingree | ||
40 | ![]() |
Samuel E. Pingree (1832–1922) |
October 2, 1884 – October 7, 1886 (did not run) |
Republican | 1884 | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee | ||
41 | ![]() |
Ebenezer J. Ormsbee (1834–1924) |
October 7, 1886 – October 4, 1888 (did not run) |
Republican | 1886 | Levi K. Fuller | ||
42 | ![]() |
William P. Dillingham (1843–1923) |
October 4, 1888 – October 2, 1890 (did not run) |
Republican | 1888 | Urban A. Woodbury | ||
43 | ![]() |
Carroll S. Page (1843–1925) |
October 2, 1890 – October 6, 1892 (did not run) |
Republican | 1890 | Henry A. Fletcher | ||
44 | ![]() |
Levi K. Fuller (1841–1896) |
October 6, 1892 – October 4, 1894 (did not run) |
Republican | 1892 | F. Stewart Stranahan | ||
45 | ![]() |
Urban A. Woodbury (1838–1915) |
October 4, 1894 – October 8, 1896 (did not run) |
Republican | 1894 | Zophar M. Mansur | ||
46 | Josiah Grout (1841–1925) |
October 8, 1896 – October 6, 1898 (did not run) |
Republican | 1896 | Nelson W. Fisk | |||
47 | ![]() |
Edward Curtis Smith (1854–1935) |
October 6, 1898 – October 4, 1900 (did not run) |
Republican | 1898 | Henry C. Bates | ||
48 | ![]() |
William W. Stickney (1853–1932) |
October 4, 1900 – October 3, 1902 (did not run) |
Republican | 1900 | Martin F. Allen | ||
49 | ![]() |
John G. McCullough (1835–1915) |
October 3, 1902 – October 6, 1904 (did not run) |
Republican | 1902 | Zed S. Stanton | ||
50 | ![]() |
Charles J. Bell (1845–1909) |
October 6, 1904 – October 4, 1906 (did not run) |
Republican | 1904 | Charles H. Stearns | ||
51 | ![]() |
Fletcher D. Proctor (1860–1911) |
October 4, 1906 – October 8, 1908 (did not run) |
Republican | 1906 | George H. Prouty | ||
52 | ![]() |
George H. Prouty (1862–1918) |
October 8, 1908 – October 6, 1910 (did not run) |
Republican | 1908 | John A. Mead | ||
53 | ![]() |
John A. Mead (1841–1920) |
October 6, 1910 – October 3, 1912 (did not run) |
Republican | 1910 | Leighton P. Slack | ||
54 | ![]() |
Allen M. Fletcher (1853–1922) |
October 3, 1912 – January 7, 1915 (did not run) |
Republican | 1912 | Frank E. Howe | ||
55 | ![]() |
Charles W. Gates (1856–1927) |
January 7, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (did not run) |
Republican | 1914 | Hale K. Darling | ||
56 | ![]() |
Horace F. Graham (1862–1941) |
January 4, 1917 – January 10, 1919 (did not run) |
Republican | 1916 | Roger W. Hulburd | ||
57 | ![]() |
Percival W. Clement (1846–1927) |
January 10, 1919 – January 7, 1921 (did not run) |
Republican | 1918 | Mason S. Stone | ||
58 | ![]() |
James Hartness (1861–1934) |
January 7, 1921 – January 4, 1923 (did not run) |
Republican | 1920 | Abram W. Foote | ||
59 | ![]() |
Redfield Proctor Jr. (1879–1957) |
January 4, 1923 – January 8, 1925 (did not run) |
Republican | 1922 | Franklin S. Billings | ||
60 | ![]() |
Franklin S. Billings (1862–1935) |
January 8, 1925 – January 6, 1927 (did not run) |
Republican | 1924 | Walter K. Farnsworth | ||
61 | ![]() |
John E. Weeks (1853–1949) |
January 6, 1927 – January 8, 1931 (did not run) |
Republican | 1926 | Hollister Jackson (died November 2, 1927) |
||
Vacant | ||||||||
1928 | Stanley C. Wilson | |||||||
62 | ![]() |
Stanley C. Wilson (1879–1967) |
January 8, 1931 – January 10, 1935 (did not run) |
Republican | 1930 | Benjamin Williams | ||
1932 | Charles Manley Smith | |||||||
63 | ![]() |
Charles Manley Smith (1868–1937) |
January 10, 1935 – January 7, 1937 (did not run) |
Republican | 1934 | George D. Aiken | ||
64 | ![]() |
George Aiken (1892–1984) |
January 7, 1937 – January 9, 1941 (did not run) |
Republican | 1936 | William Henry Wills | ||
1938 | ||||||||
65 | ![]() |
William Henry Wills (1882–1946) |
January 9, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (did not run) |
Republican | 1940 | Mortimer R. Proctor | ||
1942 | ||||||||
66 | ![]() |
Mortimer R. Proctor (1889–1968) |
January 4, 1945 – January 9, 1947 (lost nomination) |
Republican | 1944 | Lee E. Emerson | ||
67 | ![]() |
Ernest W. Gibson Jr. (1901–1969) |
January 9, 1947 – January 16, 1950 (resigned) |
Republican | 1946 | |||
1948 | Harold J. Arthur | |||||||
68 | ![]() |
Harold J. Arthur (1904–1971) |
January 16, 1950 – January 4, 1951 (did not run) |
Republican | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
69 | ![]() |
Lee E. Emerson (1898–1976) |
January 4, 1951 – January 6, 1955 (did not run) |
Republican | 1950 | Joseph B. Johnson | ||
1952 | ||||||||
70 | ![]() |
Joseph B. Johnson (1893–1986) |
January 6, 1955 – January 15, 1959 (did not run) |
Republican | 1954 | Consuelo N. Bailey | ||
1956 | Robert T. Stafford | |||||||
71 | ![]() |
Robert Stafford (1913–2006) |
January 15, 1959 – January 5, 1961 (did not run) |
Republican | 1958 | Robert S. Babcock | ||
72 | ![]() |
F. Ray Keyser Jr. (1927–2015) |
January 5, 1961 – January 10, 1963 (lost election) |
Republican | 1960 | Ralph A. Foote | ||
73 | ![]() |
Philip H. Hoff (1924–2018) |
January 10, 1963 – January 9, 1969 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1962 | |||
1964 | John J. Daley | |||||||
1966 | ||||||||
74 | ![]() |
Deane C. Davis (1900–1990) |
January 9, 1969 – January 4, 1973 (did not run) |
Republican | 1968 | Thomas L. Hayes | ||
1970 | John S. Burgess | |||||||
1972 | 75 | ![]() |
Thomas P. Salmon (1932–2025) |
January 4, 1973 – January 6, 1977 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1972 | ||
1974 | Brian D. Burns | |||||||
76 | ![]() |
Richard A. Snelling (1927–1991) |
January 6, 1977 – January 10, 1985 (did not run) |
Republican | 1976 | T. Garry Buckley | ||
1978 | Madeleine Kunin | |||||||
1980 | ||||||||
1982 | Peter P. Smith | |||||||
77 | ![]() |
Madeleine Kunin (b. 1933) |
January 10, 1985 – January 10, 1991 (did not run) |
Democratic | 1984 | |||
1986 | Howard Dean | |||||||
1988 | ||||||||
78 | ![]() |
Richard A. Snelling (1927–1991) |
January 10, 1991 – August 13, 1991 (died in office) |
Republican | 1990 | |||
79 | ![]() |
Howard Dean (b. 1948) |
August 13, 1991 – January 9, 2003 (did not run) |
Democratic | Succeeded from lieutenant governor |
Vacant | ||
1992 | Barbara W. Snelling | |||||||
1994 | ||||||||
1996 | Doug Racine | |||||||
1998 | ||||||||
2000 | ||||||||
80 | ![]() |
Jim Douglas (b. 1951) |
January 9, 2003 – January 6, 2011 (did not run) |
Republican | 2002 | Brian Dubie | ||
2004 | ||||||||
2006 | ||||||||
2008 | ||||||||
81 | ![]() |
Peter Shumlin (b. 1956) |
January 6, 2011 – January 5, 2017 (did not run) |
Democratic | 2010 | Phil Scott | ||
2012 | ||||||||
2014 | ||||||||
82 | ![]() |
Phil Scott (b. 1958) |
January 5, 2017 – Incumbent |
Republican | 2016 | David Zuckerman | ||
2018 | ||||||||
2020 | Molly Gray | |||||||
2022 | David Zuckerman | |||||||
2024 | John S. Rodgers |
More to Explore
- Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Vermont
- List of Vermont General Assemblies