1988 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont

none February 2026 September 2023 1988 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont presidential Vermont no 1986 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont 1986 1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont 1990 November 8, 1988 File:Peter Plympton Smith.jpg 150x150px Peter Plympton Smith Republican Party (United States) 98,937 41.20% File:Portrait of Bernie Sanders in c. 1986 (1).jpg Bernie Sanders Independent (politician) 90,026 37.49% File:3x4.svg Paul N. Poirier Democratic Party (United States) 45,330 18.88% 220px County results 220px Municipality results 1 Smith #FFC8CD 30–40% #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90%Sanders #E6E6E6 30–40% #d9d9d9 40–50% #bdbdbd 50–60% #969696 60–70% #737373 70–80%Poirier #BDD3FF 30–40% #A5B0FF 40–50% Representative Jim Jeffords Republican Party (United States) Peter Plympton Smith Republican Party (United States) The 1988 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 8, 1988. Republican nominee Peter Plympton Smith defeated Independent candidate Bernie Sanders and Democratic nominee Paul N. Poirier. Incumbent Republican Representative Jim Jeffords chose to run for a seat in the United States Senate instead of seeking reelection to the United States House of Representatives. Former Lieutenant Governor Peter Plympton Smith won the Republican nomination against David Gates. State Representative Paul N. Poirier won the Democratic nomination against Peter Welch, James A. Guest and Dolores Sandoval. Sanders, the Mayor of Burlington, ran as an Independent candidate. This is the most recent election in which a Republican was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large congressional district. With the results in the concurrent presidential and Senate elections, it is also the most recent election in which Vermont voted Republican in all three federal statewide offices simultaneously. Background From 1854 to 1958, the Vermont Republican Party won every statewide election in Vermont. William H. Meyer became the first member of the Democratic Party to win a statewide election in Vermont since 1853, when he won election to the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large congressional district in the 1958 election.July 2, 2003 Green Old Party Seven Days https://m.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/green-old-party/Content?oid=2127705 live https://archive.today/20210608124032/https://m.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/green-old-party/Content?oid=2127705 June 8, 2021 June 14, 2021 Jim Jeffords, a member of the Republican Party, was elected from Vermont's at-large district in the 1974 election and served for fourteen years.November 4, 1974 1974 election results 38 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1974election.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20210224043229/https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1974election.pdf February 24, 2021August 18, 2014 Jim Jeffords, Who Altered Power in Senate, Dies at 80 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/us/jim-jeffords-who-altered-power-in-senate-dies-at-80.html live https://archive.today/20210614061634/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/us/jim-jeffords-who-altered-power-in-senate-dies-at-80.html June 14, 2021 June 14, 2021 In the 1986 election he faced no Democratic opponent and won with 89.12% of the popular vote against three other candidates.November 4, 1986 1986 election results 40 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20210410192333/https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf April 10, 2021 Republican primary Candidates David Gates Peter Plympton Smith former Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and Republican nominee for Governor in 1986 Declined Jim Jeffords, incumbent U.S. Representative (ran for U.S. Senate) Campaign Senator Robert Stafford, who had been appointed to the United States Senate in 1971, announced on April 10, 1987, that he would not seek reelection in the 1988 election.April 11, 1987 Stafford will not seek re-election 1 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540295/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210614122214/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540295/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Representative Jeffords announced that he would seek the Republican nomination to succeed Stafford in the United States Senate instead of seeking reelection to the United States House of Representatives.April 23, 1987 Jeffords takes aim at vacant Senate seat 1 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540453/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210614122803/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540453/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Dennis Delaney, a member of the Vermont Senate, considered running in a congressional, gubernatorial, or lieutenant gubernatorial election. Smith had run in the 1986 gubernatorial election with the Republican nomination, but placed second to Democratic Governor Madeleine Kunin in the popular vote and in the Vermont General Assembly vote as no candidate had received more than 50% of the popular vote.1986 Governor General Election Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/76001/ live https://archive.today/20210620165458/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/76001/ June 20, 2021 June 20, 2021 January 9, 1987 Kunin's Legislative Election First in 74 Years 15 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79919043/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620165237/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79919043/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 20, 2021 David Dillon served as Smith's campaign manager. Smith defeated David Gates in the primary with 77.60% of the popular vote.1988 Republican primary Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75823/ live https://archive.today/20210614123357/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75823/ June 14, 2021 June 14, 2021 Results 1988 Vermont Republican congressional primary Republican Party (United States) Peter Plympton Smith 37,230 77.60% Republican Party (United States) David Gates 9,964 20.77% 784 1.63% 47978 100.00% Democratic primary Candidates James A. Guest, former Secretary of State of Vermont and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1982 Paul N. Poirier, Majority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives from Barre Dolores Sandoval, University of Vermont professor Peter Welch, President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate from Windsor County Campaign On April 8, 1987, Paul N. Poirier, the Majority Leader of the Vermont House of Representatives, announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for congressional election.April 9, 1987 Rep. Poirier Says He'll Run for U.S. House 19 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540780/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210614124758/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540780/the-burlington-free-press/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 April 9, 1987 Rep. Poirer to run for U.S. House 14 Bennington Banner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540864/bennington-banner/ live https://archive.today/20210614130117/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79540864/bennington-banner/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 He faced Peter Welch, the president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, James A. Guest, the former Secretary of State of Vermont, and Dolores Sandoval, a professor at the University of Vermont. Results Poirier defeated Welch, Guest, and Sandoval in the primary with 33.98% of the popular vote.1988 Democratic primary Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75796/ live https://archive.today/20210614125616/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75796/ June 14, 2021 June 14, 2021 1988 Vermont Democratic congressional primary Democratic Party (United States) Paul N. Poirier 11,024 33.98% Democratic Party (United States) Peter Welch 10,758 33.16% Democratic Party (United States) James A. Guest 8,301 25.58% Democratic Party (United States) Dolores Sandoval 2,131 6.57% 231 0.71% 32,445 100.00% Minor parties and other candidates Bernie Sanders Bernie Sanders won election as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the 1981 mayoral election as an independent and won reelection in the 1983, 1985, and 1987 elections.March 14, 1981 Recount Puts Sanders Up By 10 Votes 4 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79135684/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210607200326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79135684/the-burlington-free-press/ June 7, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 March 2, 1983 1983 election results 17 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56886460/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20200807185644/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56886460/the-burlington-free-press/ August 7, 2020 Newspapers.comMarch 6, 1985 City Elections At-a-glance 2 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64665647/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201205190233/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64665647/the-burlington-free-press/ December 5, 2020 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 March 4, 1985 1987 election results 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64684487/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201205223507/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64684487/the-burlington-free-press/ December 5, 2020 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Sanders had run for governor in the 1986 election and had received 14.45% of the popular vote in the election and support from one member of the state legislature. During the 1987 campaign Sanders stated that he would not seek reelection in 1989, stating that "eight years is enough and I think it is time for new leadership, which does exist within the coalition, to come up".December 7, 1986 Sanders Proclaims '87 Race Will Be His Last Mayoral Bid 21 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64868171/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609183952/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64868171/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Sanders announced on March 10, 1988, that he would run in the Congressional election as an independent candidate.March 11, 1988 Bernie Sanders to run for congressional seat 1 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79918346/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210620163527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79918346/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 20, 2021 Terry Bouricius served as Sanders' campaign treasurer.September 19, 1989 Progressives criticize plan for aid to Nicaraguan opposition 14 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79875562/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210619212839/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79875562/the-burlington-free-press/ June 19, 2021 Newspapers.com June 20, 2021 During the campaign he received the support of the Rainbow Coalition.July 14, 1988 Rainbow Coalition backs Sanders 6 Bennington Banner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542113/bennington-banner/ live https://archive.today/20210614133245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542113/bennington-banner/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Other parties Jim Hedbor announced that he would run in the election with the Libertarian nomination on February 25, 1988, at a press conference in Montpelier, Vermont.February 26, 1988 Libertarian 1 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79544688/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210620174931/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79544688/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Hedbor won the Libertarian primary without opposition.1988 Libertarian primary 9 Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75820/Election/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210614131927/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75820/Election/ June 14, 2021 Peter Diamondstone, who had unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives five times, announced on June 3, 1988, that he would run in the election with the nomination of the Liberty Union Party.June 4, 1988 Sixth Bid From Diamonstone 1 Rutland Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79541998/rutland-daily-herald/ live https://archive.today/20210614132605/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79541998/rutland-daily-herald/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Diamondstone faced no opposition in the party's primary.1988 Liberty Union primary 9 Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75813/Election/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210614131623/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75813/Election/ June 14, 2021 Diamondstone also sought the position of Vermont Attorney General during the 1988 election. During the campaign he accused his opponents of excluding the candidates of smaller parties from debates and forums.August 31, 1988 Small parties are left out, Liberty candidate says 22 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542579/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620175218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542579/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Morris Earle, who had unsuccessfully ran in five elections including for Vermont's at-large congressional district in 1986, announced that he would run and appeared on the Small Is Beautiful ballot line.October 10, 1987 Earle seeks House seat 15 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79544411/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620180227/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79544411/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 1988 Vermont at-large congressional district Libertarian primary Libertarian Party (United States) Jim Hedbor 80 84.21% Libertarian Party (United States) Write-ins 15 15.79% 95 100.00% 1988 Vermont at-large congressional district Liberty Union primary Liberty Union Party Peter Diamondstone 124 92.54% Liberty Union Party Write-ins 10 7.46% 134 100.00% General election Campaign Three debates was held during the campaign which were attended by all of the candidates.September 29, 1988 Candidates attack ads and issues 1 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542787/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620180359/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542787/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 September 29, 1988 Candidates for U.S. House hold first debate 2 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542816/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620180544/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542816/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 October 9, 1988 How Media Treat Fringe Candidates 18 Rutland Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543411/rutland-daily-herald/ live https://archive.today/20210620180834/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543411/rutland-daily-herald/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 October 21, 1988 Manchester candidate returns campaign contribution 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543564/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620181034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543564/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Two candidates forums were held with one on foreign policy and the other on elderly issues.October 13, 1988 Candidates forum set in Weston 10 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543474/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210620181313/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543474/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 October 18, 1988 State house Candidates Forum to discuss issues on elderly 5 Bennington Banner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543651/bennington-banner/ live https://archive.today/20210620181524/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543651/bennington-banner/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Smith accused Poirier of conducting a negative campaign while Poirier questioned Smith's statements that he had founded and served as president of the Community College of Vermont.September 27, 1988 Smith knocks Poirier on 'negative' campaigning 1 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542953/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210620181815/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542953/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 A straw poll of the six candidates was conducted during one of the debates in which they were asked who they would support if they were not on the ballot. Smith and Earle stated that they would support Poirier, Sanders stated that he would support Earle, Poirier stated that he would support Sanders, and Diamondstone refused to vote.October 23, 1988 Poirier wins grudging nod from candidates 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543741/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210620182034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543741/the-burlington-free-press/ June 20, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Smith won in the general election with 41.20% of the popular vote against Sanders' 37.49% and Poirier's 18.88%.November 8, 1988 1988 election results 50 Clerk of the United States House of Representatives https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1988election.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20210214002411/https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1988election.pdf February 14, 20211988 election results by municipality Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75810/ live https://archive.today/20210614152110/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/elections/view/75810/ June 14, 2021 June 14, 2021 Smith won the popular vote in eight counties while Sanders won the popular vote in five counties.November 8, 1988 Detailed 1988 election results Secretary of State of Vermont https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75810/Election/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210614064412/https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/data/serve_file_pages_for_item/75810/Election/ June 14, 2021 Smith's victory was the last time that a member of the Republican Party was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Vermont.December 8, 2019 Last Republican A7 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79792198/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210618152405/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79792198/the-burlington-free-press/ June 18, 2021 Newspapers.com June 18, 2021 Polling Poll sourceDate(s)Sample sizeMargin of Error Smith Sanders Poirier Hedbor Diamondstone Earle UndecidedTerry Bouricius (internal Sanders poll)April 22, 1988 Sanders' Poll Puts Him Close Second 11 Rutland Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79875097/rutland-daily-herald/ live https://archive.today/20210619212122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79875097/rutland-daily-herald/ June 19, 2021 Newspapers.com June 19, 2021 April 11–12, 1988424 voters± 5%32%''' | 30% | 7% | 2% | N/A | N/A | 29% |- |Rutland Herald Barre Montpelier Times Argus University of VermontOctober 17, 1988 Poll: Smith, Kunin, Jeffords lead 1 Bennington Banner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79543987/bennington-banner/ live https://archive.today/20210612021225/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79406056/the-burlington-free-press/ June 12, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 |October 6–9, 1988 |502 registered voters |± 4.5% | |40%''' 25% 17% 0% 0% 0% 16% Endorsements Paul N. Poirier (D) Organizations Vermont National Education AssociationJune 14, 1988 Vermont teachers' union backs Jeffords, Poirier 3 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542434/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210614133706/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79542434/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 14, 2021 Newspapers.com June 14, 2021 Bernie Sanders (I) Organizations Rainbow Coalition Peter Plympton Smith (R) Organizations NRA Political Victory Fundhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/01/21/sanderss-suggestion-he-lost-88-race-because-he-opposed-assault-weapons-fact-checker-biography/ The role Sanders's anti-assault weapons stance played in his first major loss The Washington Post Lee Michelle Ye Hee Michelle Ye Hee Lee January 21, 2016 July 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20160121085205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/01/21/sanderss-suggestion-he-lost-88-race-because-he-opposed-assault-weapons-fact-checker-biography/ January 21, 2016 live subscription Results 1988 Vermont at-large congressional district election Republican Party (United States) Peter Plympton Smith 98,937 41.20% -47.92% Independent (politician) Bernie Sanders 90,026 37.49% +37.49% Democratic Party (United States) Paul N. Poirier 45,330 18.88% +18.88% Libertarian Party (United States) Jim Hedbor 3,110 1.30% +1.30% Liberty Union Party Peter Diamondstone 1,455 0.61% -3.13% Small is Beautiful Morris Earle 1,070 0.45% -2.65% Independent (politician) Write-in 203 0.08% -0.05% 240,131 100.00% Results by county County Peter Plympton Smith Votes Bernie Sanders Votes Paul N. Poirier Votes Jim Hedbor Votes Peter Diamondstone Votes Morris Earle Votes Scattering Votes Total Republican Independent Democratic Libertarian Liberty Union Small is Beautiful Write-in Addison 39.53%5,43044.33%6,08912.57%1,7261.53%2100.39%531.63%2240.02%313,735 Bennington 48.33%7,34121.89%3,32526.78%4,0670.74%1131.35%2050.87%1320.03%515,188 Caledonia 49.96%5,55235.95%3,99612.37%1,3751.01%1120.49%551.01%1120.04%511,114 Chittenden 38.09%21,67542.12%23,96817.61%10,0231.60%9080.39%1510.27%1140.12%6756,906 Essex 54.59%1,27223.86%55619.66%4580.47%110.69%160.73%170.00%02,330 Franklin 34.90%5,14039.53%5,82323.45%3,4541.61%2370.29%430.17%250.05%714,729 Grand Isle 37.91%1,09438.57%1,11317.12%4946.03%1740.10%30.28%80.00%02,886 Lamoille 42.78%3,45643.69%3,52911.09%8961.63%1320.41%330.40%320.00%08,078 Orange 42.97%4,77638.20%4,24616.72%1,8581.44%1600.34%380.30%330.03%311,114 Orleans 42.29%4,02638.90%3,70316.65%1,5851.27%1210.57%540.27%260.05%59,520 Rutland 41.99%10,83840.35%10,41515.35%3,9611.30%3360.49%1270.42%1090.09%2425,810 Washington 38.31%9,97236.51%9,50323.44%6,1011.11%2890.34%880.27%690.03%826,030 Windham 42.83%7,78228.58%5,19324.87%4,5190.51%932.47%4480.68%1240.06%1118,170 Windsor 43.29%10,58335.05%8,56719.69%4,8130.87%2130.58%1410.44%1080.08%1924,444 Total 41.20%98,93737.49%90,02618.88%45,3301.29%3,1090.61%1,4550.47%1,1330.07%157240,147 Results by municipality Municipality Peter Plympton Smith Votes Bernie Sanders Votes Paul N. Poirier Votes Jim Hedbor Votes Peter Diamondstone Votes Morris Earle Votes Scattering Votes Total Reference Republican Independent Democratic Libertarian Liberty Union Small is Beautiful Write-in Addison 56.94%28730.16%1527.14%364.17%210.20%11.39%70.00%0504 Albany 42.31%14343.20%14611.24%382.37%80.30%10.59%20.00%0338 References 1988 Vermont Category:1988 Vermont elections Category:Bernie Sanders