2000 United States Senate election in Vermont

The 2000 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords won re-election to a third term in office. In May 2001, Jeffords left the Republican Party and announced that he would become an independent who would caucus with the Democratic Party. His party exit broke the 50–50 lock in the Senate and effectively gave the Democrats the majority. Thus, that switch marked the first time since 1855 that Vermont had no Republicans in its entire congressional delegation.

2000 United States Senate election in Vermont

← 1994 November 7, 2000 2006 →
 
Nominee Jim Jeffords Ed Flanagan
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 189,133 73,352
Percentage 65.56% 25.43%

Jeffords:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Jim Jeffords
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Jim Jeffords
Republican

Despite the 40-point victory, this is the last federal election in Vermont won by a Republican, and the last time as of 2024 that either party won this seat.[a]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Declared

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Declined

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Results

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Democratic Primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ed Flanagan 17,440 49.24
Democratic Jan Backus 16,444 46.43
Democratic Write-ins 1,533 4.33
Total votes 35,417 100.00

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Jeffords (Incumbent) 60,234 77.79
Republican Rick Hubbard 15,991 20.65
Republican Write-ins 1,204 1.55
Total votes 77,429 100.00

Independents and minor parties

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Independents

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Declared

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  • Rick Hubbard

Declined

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General election

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Flanagan was widely seen as having little chance of beating the highly popular Jeffords, who was thought of as a liberal Republican.[5][6] Flanagan campaigned on "shaking up Washington" and portrayed himself as a reformer.[6] Both candidates supported same-sex civil unions and remained silent on the issue of same-sex marriage, but Flanagan, who was openly gay, noted receiving backlash from voters opposed to same-sex marriage.[5] The LGBT community in Vermont was divided between which candidate to support, as Jeffords had been strongly supportive of LGBT rights and had received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign.[6]

Endorsements

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Jim Jeffords (R)

Results

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United States Senate election in Vermont, 2000[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Jeffords (Incumbent) 189,133 65.56% +15.24%
Democratic Ed Flanagan 73,352 25.43% −15.14%
Constitution Charles W. Russell 10,079 3.49%
Independent Rick Hubbard 5,366 1.86%
Grassroots Billy Greer 4,889 1.69%
Libertarian Hugh Douglas 3,843 1.33%
Liberty Union Jerry Levy 1,477 0.51%
Write-ins 361 0.13%
Majority 115,781 40.13% +30.38%
Turnout 288,500
Republican hold Swing {{{swing}}}

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Bernie Sanders, who replaced Jeffords, is an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, like Jeffords did during his final term.

References

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  1. ^ Rudin, Ken (August 20, 1999). "Democrats Waiting On Vermont and Delaware". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Senator Jeffords on Firm Ground for Re-election Bid". The New York Times. October 5, 2006. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Delaney, Bill (November 2, 2000). "Gay Senate candidate an underdog amid Vermont gay union backlash". CNN. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Ferdin, Pamela (July 24, 2000). "Gay Official Aims to Shake Up Senate". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Leaders Wanted". Sierra Club. August 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "U.S. Chamber Announces Latest of Political Endorsements" (Press release). U.S. Chamber of Commerce. May 7, 2000. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".