Bernard Sanders

In the 2024 Senate race for VT Senate seat, Bernie Sanders (I) won with 63.2% of the vote, defeating Gerald Malloy (R) who received 32.1%. 7 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Bernie Sanders's 31.1-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This race flipped the seat from Democrat to Independent. Peter Welch (D) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Independent column for the foreseeable future.

In the 2018 Senate race for VT Senate seat, Bernie Sanders (I) won with 67.3% of the vote, defeating Lawrence Zupan (R) who received 27.4%. 7 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Bernie Sanders's 39.9-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This race flipped the seat from Democrat to Independent. Patrick J. Leahy (D) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Independent, Bernie Sanders benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.

In the 2012 Senate race for VT Senate seat, Bernard Sanders (I) won with 71.0% of the vote, defeating John Macgovern (R) who received 24.9%. 4 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Bernard Sanders's 46.1-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2012 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.