Overview of the 2018 Vermont Primary
The 2018 Vermont primary elections determined party nominees for statewide and legislative offices on August 28, 2018, followed by the general election on November 6, 2018. This evergreen profile summarizes verified candidate participation, filing status, and results for key offices, serving as a durable reference for researchers and voters.
2018 Vermont Primary Dates and Key Offices
Vermont’s 2018 election cycle followed a consistent statewide schedule: candidates filed by June 1, 2018, the primary occurred on August 28, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. Major offices on the ballot included governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor, and members of the U.S. House and state legislature.
Officer-Level Timeline
- January–May 2018: Candidate committee formation and fundraising begin.
- June 1, 2018: Candidate filing deadline for primary inclusion.
- August 28, 2018: Primary election; party nominees advanced.
- November 6, 2018: General election; final winners seated.
Major Party Candidates and Results
Democratic and Republican nominees generally faced limited third-party opposition in 2018, resulting in straightforward general election matchups for most offices. Third-party and independent candidates appeared on ballots where filing requirements were met, though vote shares were concentrated in major-party columns.
| Office | Democratic Candidate (Primary) | Status | Republican Candidate (Primary) | Status | General Election Result (Top Line) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | Phil Scott | Nominee/Primary Winner | Scott Milne (R) | Nominee/Primary Winner | Phil Scott (R) elected |
| Lieutenant Governor | David Zuckerman (D) | Nominee/Primary Winner | Tamara DeWitt (R) | Nominee/Primary Winner | David Zuckerman (D) elected |
| Secretary of State | Jim Condos (D) | Incumbent re-nominated | None major filing | No Republican nominee | Jim Condos (D) re-elected |
| Attorney General | T.J. Donovan (D) | Nominee/Primary Winner | H. Brooke Paige (R) | Nominee/Primary Winner | T.J. Donovan (D) re-elected |
| Treasurer | Beth Pearce (D) | Nominee/Primary Winner | None major filing | No Republican nominee | Beth Pearce (D) re-elected |
| Auditor | Doug Hoffer (D) | Nominee/Primary Winner | None major filing | No Republican nominee | Doug Hoffer (D) re-elected |
Notable Third-Party and Independent Participation
In 2018, third-party candidates on Vermont ballots included the Libertarian Party and independent lines where permitted. Party affiliations for certain statewide offices were not printed on the general election ballot in Vermont, which affected voter recognition but not candidate filing or vote reporting. Where third-party lines appeared, vote totals were generally lower compared to Democratic and Republican candidates who advanced from the primary.
Ballot Access and Filing Status Explained
Vermont’s ballot access rules require candidates to meet party nomination or submit sufficient signatures for independent status by the June 1, 2018 filing deadline. Major parties nominated candidates through primaries; minor parties and independents relied on petitioning. The absence of a Republican nominee in several 2018 races reflects either lack of filing or primary outcomes, not general election removal.
Key Filing and Status Indicators
- Primary winner: Secured party nomination via August primary.
- No major nominee: Indicates no Republican candidate filed or qualified for that office.
- General election ballot: Some offices listed only one major-party nominee, enabling direct general election election.
2018 Vermont Primary and General Election Results at a Glance
| Office | Primary Date | General Election Date | Outcome Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | August 28, 2018 | November 6, 2018 | Phil Scott (R) won with ~69% |
| Lieutenant Governor | August 28, 20018 | November 6, 2018 | David Zuckerman (D) won with ~53% |
| Secretary of State | August 28, 2018 | November 6, 2018 | Jim Condos (D) re-elected unopposed in general |
| Attorney General | August 28, 2018 | November 6, 2018 | T.J. Donovan (D) re-elected |
| Treasurer | August 28, 2018 | November 6, 2018 | Beth Pearce (D) re-elected unopposed in general |
| Auditor | August 28, 2018 | November 6, 2018 | Doug Hoffer (D) re-elected |
Status Clarifier: What “Filed” and “Ballot Qualified” Mean
Filing for Vermont’s 2018 primary meant meeting June 1 deadlines for party nomination or submitting valid independent petitions. Being ballot qualified did not guarantee a spot in the general election; major-party nominees advanced from the primary, while others appeared on the general ballot based on filing success. Third-party candidates often faced higher signature requirements and less visibility, which influenced final vote shares.
Relationship Explanations: Primary vs General Outcomes
In Vermont’s top-two style general election, primary winners typically prevailed, especially in safe-party contests with limited opposition. Where third-party lines existed, they rarely changed the winner but sometimes influenced vote margins. The 2018 cycle reflected durable two-party dominance for statewide executive offices, even when ballot labels omitted party labels for certain offices.
Conclusion and Use Notes
This profile of Vermont primary candidates 2018 is designed as a durable reference for nominee lists, filing deadlines, status indicators, and verified results. It distinguishes between primary qualification and general election outcomes, defines ballot access terms, and cites election timelines useful for ongoing research and retrospective analysis.