2022 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election
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November 8, 2022
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Zuckerman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Benning: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Tie: 40–50% No votes | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Vermont |
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The 2022 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the lieutenant governor of the state of Vermont. The election coincided with various other federal and state elections, including for Governor of Vermont. Primary elections were held on August 9. Vermont is one of 21 states that elects its lieutenant governor separately from its governor.
Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Molly Gray retired to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. She was first elected in 2020, defeating Republican businessman Scott Milne with 51.3% of the vote. Former lieutenant governor David Zuckerman won the election as the Progressive candidate, defeating his Republican opponent Joe Benning. Benning was the second-best-performing Republican in Vermont during the 2022 cycle, only being outperformed by incumbent governor Phil Scott in the concurrent gubernatorial election.
Candidates
Nominee
- David Zuckerman, former lieutenant governor and nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2020[a][1][2][3][4]
Eliminated in primary
- Charlie Kimbell, state representative[5][6]
- Patricia Preston, President and CEO of Vermont Council on World Affairs[1][7]
- Catherine "Kitty" Toll, University of Vermont trustee and former state representative[3][8]
Declined
- T.J. Donovan, former Vermont Attorney General[5][9]
- Steffen Gillom, president of the Windham County NAACP[5]
- Molly Gray, incumbent lieutenant governor (ran for U.S. House)[5][10]
- Debbie Ingram, former state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2020[5]
- Doug Racine, former lieutenant governor, nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2002, and candidate in 2010[2]
- Kesha Ram, state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2016 (running for U.S. House)[5][11][12]
- Brenda Siegel, nonprofit executive, candidate for Governor of Vermont in 2018, and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2020[5][a] (running for governor)[13]
- Shap Smith, former Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2016[5]
Endorsements
State legislators
Local officials
- Peter Clavelle, former Mayor of Burlington (Progressive)[1]
Statewide officials
State legislators
U.S. Senators
Organizations
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Charlie Kimbell |
Patricia Preston |
Kitty Toll |
David Zuckerman |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[18] | July 21–25, 2022 | 352 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 4% | 7% | 23% | 38% | 0% | 27% |
Results

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | David Zuckerman | 42,562 | 43.71 | |
| Democratic | Catherine Toll | 37,868 | 38.89 | |
| Democratic | Patricia Preston | 9,326 | 9.58 | |
| Democratic | Charles Kimbell | 7,253 | 7.45 | |
| Write-in | 356 | 0.37 | ||
| Total votes | 97,365 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Joe Benning, state senator and former minority leader of the Vermont Senate[5][20]
Eliminated in primary
- Gregory Thayer, accountant, former Rutland city councillor, and former chair of the Rutland Republican Party[21][22]
Declined
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Joe Benning |
Gregory Thayer |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[18] | July 21–25, 2022 | 196 (LV) | ± 7.0% | 33% | 20% | 0% | 47% |
Results

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joe Benning | 14,678 | 53.51 | |
| Republican | Gregory Thayer | 12,188 | 44.44 | |
| Write-in | 562 | 2.05 | ||
| Total votes | 27,428 | 100.00 | ||
Progressive primary
Candidates
Declared
- David Zuckerman, former lieutenant governor and nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2020[a] (write-in, endorsed by state party)[3][17]
Withdrew
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | David Zuckerman (write-in) | 118 | 55.14 | |
| Write-in | 96 | 44.86 | ||
| Total votes | 214 | 100.00 | ||