List of governors of Vermont facts for kids

The governor of Vermont is the leader of the government for the U.S. state of Vermont. Since 1994, Vermont and New Hampshire are the only two U.S. states where governors are elected for two-year terms. Before 1870, Vermont governors served one-year terms. Some governors, like Thomas Chittenden, Isaac Tichenor, Jonas Galusha, Erastus Fairbanks, and Richard A. Snelling, served terms that were not in a row. Thomas Chittenden was also governor of the Vermont Republic before it became a state.

The Mountain Rule

From the 1850s to the 1960s, the Republican Party usually won all the statewide elections in Vermont. They had an unwritten rule called the "Mountain Rule." This rule helped them decide who would run for office.

The Green Mountains divide Vermont into eastern and western parts. The original Mountain Rule said that one U.S. senator should be from the east side of the mountains, and the other from the west side. Later, this rule also applied to the governor and lieutenant governor, who would take turns being from the east and west sides.

At first, governors and lieutenant governors could serve two one-year terms, and later, one two-year term. For almost 100 years, Republican candidates in Vermont generally followed this rule to keep their party united.

Over time, several things caused the Mountain Rule to become less important. These included disagreements within the Republican Party, new ways of choosing candidates (like primary elections instead of conventions), and the rise of other political parties. Also, when Interstate 89 was built, it changed how people saw the state's geography, further weakening the rule.

List of Governors

Vermont Republic (Before Statehood)

The Vermont Republic declared its independence from Great Britain on January 15, 1777.

Governors of the Republic of Vermont

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	Marsh, JosephJoseph Marsh
					1779	Carpenter, BenjaminBenjamin Carpenter
					1780
					1781	Payne, ElishaElisha Payne
					1782	Spooner, PaulPaul Spooner
					1783
					1784
					1785
					1786	Marsh, JosephJoseph 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	Olcott, PeterPeter Olcott

State of Vermont (After 1791)

Vermont officially joined the United States on March 4, 1791.

Governors of the State of Vermont

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		Olcott, PeterPeter Olcott
						1792
						1793
						1794		Hunt, JonathanJonathan Hunt
						1795
						1796		Brigham, PaulPaul 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		Brigham, PaulPaul 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		Chamberlain, WilliamWilliam Chamberlain
						1814
8			Jonas Galusha (1753–1834)	October 14, 1815 – October 13, 1820 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1815		Brigham, PaulPaul Brigham
						1816
						1817
						1818
						1819
9			Richard Skinner (1778–1833)	October 13, 1820 – October 10, 1823 (did not run)	Democratic- Republican	1820		Cahoon, WilliamWilliam Cahoon
						1821
						1822		Leland, AaronAaron 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		Olin, HenryHenry Olin
12			Samuel C. Crafts (1768–1853)	October 10, 1828 – October 18, 1831 (did not run)	National Republican	1828
						1829
						1830		Richards, MarkMark Richards
13			William A. Palmer (1781–1860)	October 18, 1831 – November 2, 1835 (lost election)	Anti-Masonic	1831		Egerton, LebbeusLebbeus 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		Camp, David M.David M. Camp
						1837
						1838
						1839
						1840
15			Charles Paine (1799–1853)	October 18, 1841 – October 13, 1843 (did not run)	Whig	1841		Ranney, Waitstill R.Waitstill R. Ranney
						1842
16			John Mattocks (1777–1847)	October 13, 1843 – October 11, 1844 (did not run)	Whig	1843		Eaton, HoraceHorace Eaton
1844
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		Sargeant, LeonardLeonard Sargeant
						1847
19			Carlos Coolidge (1792–1866)	October 19, 1848 – October 12, 1850 (did not run)	Whig	1848		Pierpoint, RobertRobert Pierpoint
						1849
20			Charles K. Williams (1782–1853)	October 12, 1850 – October 18, 1852 (did not run)	Whig	1850		Converse, JuliusJulius Converse
						1851
21		Erastus Fairbanks (1792–1864)	October 18, 1852 – November 1, 1853 (lost election)	Whig	1852	Kittredge, William C.William C. Kittredge
22			John S. Robinson (1804–1860)	November 1, 1853 – October 13, 1854 (did not run)	Democratic	1853		Kidder, Jefferson P.Jefferson P. Kidder
23			Stephen Royce (1787–1868)	October 13, 1854 – October 10, 1856 (did not run)	Whig	1854		Fletcher, RylandRyland Fletcher
					Republican	1855
24			Ryland Fletcher (1799–1885)	October 10, 1856 – October 15, 1858 (did not run)	Republican	1856		Slade, James M.James M. Slade
						1857
25			Hiland Hall (1795–1885)	October 15, 1858 – October 12, 1860 (did not run)	Republican	1858		Martin, BurnhamBurnham Martin
						1859
26			Erastus Fairbanks (1792–1864)	October 12, 1860 – October 22, 1861 (did not run)	Republican	1860		Underwood, LeviLevi Underwood
27			Frederick Holbrook (1813–1909)	October 22, 1861 – October 9, 1863 (did not run)	Republican	1861
						1862		Dillingham, PaulPaul 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		Gardner, Abraham B.Abraham B. Gardner
						1866
30			John B. Page (1826–1885)	October 13, 1867 – October 16, 1869 (did not run)	Republican	1867		Thomas, StephenStephen Thomas
						1868
31			Peter T. Washburn (1814–1870)	October 16, 1869 – February 7, 1870 (died in office)	Republican	1869		Hendee, George W.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		Dale, George N.George N. Dale
34			Julius Converse (1798–1885)	October 3, 1872 – October 8, 1874 (did not run)	Republican	1872		Taft, Russell S.Russell S. Taft
35			Asahel Peck (1803–1879)	October 8, 1874 – October 5, 1876 (did not run)	Republican	1874		Hinckley, Lyman G.Lyman G. Hinckley
36			Horace Fairbanks (1820–1888)	October 5, 1876 – October 3, 1878 (did not run)	Republican	1876		Proctor, RedfieldRedfield Proctor
37			Redfield Proctor (1831–1908)	October 3, 1878 – October 7, 1880 (did not run)	Republican	1878		Colton, Eben PomeroyEben Pomeroy Colton
38			Roswell Farnham (1827–1903)	October 7, 1880 – October 5, 1882 (did not run)	Republican	1880		Barstow, John L.John L. Barstow
39			John L. Barstow (1832–1913)	October 5, 1882 – October 2, 1884 (did not run)	Republican	1882		Pingree, Samuel E.Samuel E. Pingree
40			Samuel E. Pingree (1832–1922)	October 2, 1884 – October 7, 1886 (did not run)	Republican	1884		Ormsbee, Ebenezer J.Ebenezer J. Ormsbee
41			Ebenezer J. Ormsbee (1834–1924)	October 7, 1886 – October 4, 1888 (did not run)	Republican	1886		Fuller, Levi K.Levi K. Fuller
42			William P. Dillingham (1843–1923)	October 4, 1888 – October 2, 1890 (did not run)	Republican	1888		Woodbury, Urban A.Urban A. Woodbury
43			Carroll S. Page (1843–1925)	October 2, 1890 – October 6, 1892 (did not run)	Republican	1890		Fletcher, Henry A.Henry A. Fletcher
44			Levi K. Fuller (1841–1896)	October 6, 1892 – October 4, 1894 (did not run)	Republican	1892		Stranahan, F. StewartF. Stewart Stranahan
45			Urban A. Woodbury (1838–1915)	October 4, 1894 – October 8, 1896 (did not run)	Republican	1894		Mansur, Zophar M.Zophar M. Mansur
46			Josiah Grout (1841–1925)	October 8, 1896 – October 6, 1898 (did not run)	Republican	1896		Fisk, Nelson W.Nelson W. Fisk
47			Edward Curtis Smith (1854–1935)	October 6, 1898 – October 4, 1900 (did not run)	Republican	1898		Bates, Henry C.Henry C. Bates
48			William W. Stickney (1853–1932)	October 4, 1900 – October 3, 1902 (did not run)	Republican	1900		Allen, Martin F.Martin F. Allen
49			John G. McCullough (1835–1915)	October 3, 1902 – October 6, 1904 (did not run)	Republican	1902		Stanton, Zed S.Zed S. Stanton
50			Charles J. Bell (1845–1909)	October 6, 1904 – October 4, 1906 (did not run)	Republican	1904		Stearns, Charles H.Charles H. Stearns
51			Fletcher D. Proctor (1860–1911)	October 4, 1906 – October 8, 1908 (did not run)	Republican	1906		Prouty, George H.George H. Prouty
52			George H. Prouty (1862–1918)	October 8, 1908 – October 6, 1910 (did not run)	Republican	1908		Mead, John A.John A. Mead
53			John A. Mead (1841–1920)	October 6, 1910 – October 3, 1912 (did not run)	Republican	1910		Slack, Leighton P.Leighton P. Slack
54			Allen M. Fletcher (1853–1922)	October 3, 1912 – January 7, 1915 (did not run)	Republican	1912		Howe, Frank E.Frank E. Howe
55			Charles W. Gates (1856–1927)	January 7, 1915 – January 4, 1917 (did not run)	Republican	1914		Darling, Hale K.Hale K. Darling
56			Horace F. Graham (1862–1941)	January 4, 1917 – January 10, 1919 (did not run)	Republican	1916		Hulburd, Roger W.Roger W. Hulburd
57			Percival W. Clement (1846–1927)	January 10, 1919 – January 7, 1921 (did not run)	Republican	1918		Stone, Mason S.Mason S. Stone
58			James Hartness (1861–1934)	January 7, 1921 – January 4, 1923 (did not run)	Republican	1920		Foote, Abram W.Abram W. Foote
59			Redfield Proctor Jr. (1879–1957)	January 4, 1923 – January 8, 1925 (did not run)	Republican	1922		Billings, Franklin S.Franklin S. Billings
60			Franklin S. Billings (1862–1935)	January 8, 1925 – January 6, 1927 (did not run)	Republican	1924		Farnsworth, Walter K.Walter K. Farnsworth
61			John E. Weeks (1853–1949)	January 6, 1927 – January 8, 1931 (did not run)	Republican	1926		Jackson, HollisterHollister Jackson (died November 2, 1927)
							Vacant
						1928		Wilson, Stanley C.Stanley C. Wilson
62			Stanley C. Wilson (1879–1967)	January 8, 1931 – January 10, 1935 (did not run)	Republican	1930		Williams, BenjaminBenjamin Williams
						1932		Smith, Charles ManleyCharles Manley Smith
63			Charles Manley Smith (1868–1937)	January 10, 1935 – January 7, 1937 (did not run)	Republican	1934		Aiken, George D.George D. Aiken
64			George Aiken (1892–1984)	January 7, 1937 – January 9, 1941 (did not run)	Republican	1936		Wills, William HenryWilliam Henry Wills
						1938
65			William Henry Wills (1882–1946)	January 9, 1941 – January 4, 1945 (did not run)	Republican	1940		Proctor, Mortimer R.Mortimer R. Proctor
						1942
66			Mortimer R. Proctor (1889–1968)	January 4, 1945 – January 9, 1947 (lost nomination)	Republican	1944		Emerson, Lee E.Lee E. Emerson
67			Ernest W. Gibson Jr. (1901–1969)	January 9, 1947 – January 16, 1950 (resigned)	Republican	1946
						1948		Arthur, Harold J.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		Johnson, Joseph B.Joseph B. Johnson
						1952
70			Joseph B. Johnson (1893–1986)	January 6, 1955 – January 15, 1959 (did not run)	Republican	1954		Bailey, Consuelo N.Consuelo N. Bailey
						1956		Stafford, Robert T.Robert T. Stafford
71			Robert Stafford (1913–2006)	January 15, 1959 – January 5, 1961 (did not run)	Republican	1958		Babcock, Robert S.Robert S. Babcock
72			F. Ray Keyser Jr. (1927–2015)	January 5, 1961 – January 10, 1963 (lost election)	Republican	1960		Foote, Ralph A.Ralph A. Foote
1962
73			Philip H. Hoff (1924–2018)	January 10, 1963 – January 9, 1969 (did not run)	Democratic	1962
						1964		Daley, John J.John J. Daley
						1966
74			Deane C. Davis (1900–1990)	January 9, 1969 – January 4, 1973 (did not run)	Republican	1968		Hayes, Thomas L.Thomas L. Hayes
						1970		Burgess, John S.John S. Burgess
75			Thomas P. Salmon (1932–2025)	January 4, 1973 – January 6, 1977 (did not run)	Democratic	1972
						1974		Burns, Brian D.Brian D. Burns
76			Richard A. Snelling (1927–1991)	January 6, 1977 – January 10, 1985 (did not run)	Republican	1976		Buckley, T. GarryT. Garry Buckley
						1978		Kunin, MadeleineMadeleine Kunin
						1980
						1982		Smith, Peter P.Peter P. Smith
77			Madeleine Kunin (b. 1933)	January 10, 1985 – January 10, 1991 (did not run)	Democratic	1984
						1986		Dean, HowardHoward 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		Snelling, Barbara W.Barbara W. Snelling
						1994
						1996		Racine, DougDoug Racine
						1998
						2000
80			Jim Douglas (b. 1951)	January 9, 2003 – January 6, 2011 (did not run)	Republican	2002		Dubie, BrianBrian Dubie
						2004
						2006
						2008
81			Peter Shumlin (b. 1956)	January 6, 2011 – January 5, 2017 (did not run)	Democratic	2010			Scott, PhilPhil Scott
						2012
						2014
82			Phil Scott (b. 1958)	January 5, 2017 – Incumbent	Republican	2016		Zuckerman, DavidDavid Zuckerman
						2018
						2020		Gray, MollyMolly Gray
						2022		Zuckerman, DavidDavid Zuckerman
						2024		Rodgers, John S.John S. Rodgers

See also

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States § Vermont
• List of Vermont General Assemblies