Closest U.S. Senate elections in Vermont
The closest U.S. Senate election in Vermont history was in 1980, a margin of 1.3 points. Patrick J. Leahy beat Stewart M. Ledbetter, 104,176 to 101,421. Next closest are 1934 (2.7 points) and 1982 (3.0 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Vermont has held, special elections included, see the Vermont U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Vermont history?
The Vermont Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1980, 1.3 points. Patrick J. Leahy beat Stewart M. Ledbetter, 104,176 to 101,421. The next closest were 1934 (2.7 points) and 1982 (3.0 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Vermont’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Vermont Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Vermont election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1980 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. Stewart M. Ledbetter R | 104,176 – 101,421 | 1.3 points |
| 2 | 1934 | Warren R. Austin R def. Fred C. Martin D | 67,146 – 63,632 | 2.7 points |
| 3 | 1982 | Robert T. Stafford R def. James A. Guest D | 84,449 – 79,340 | 3.0 points |
| 4 | 1974 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. Richard W. Mallary R | 70,629 – 66,223 | 3.1 points |
| 5 | 1958 | Winston L. Prouty R def. Frederick J. Fayette D | 64,900 – 59,536 | 4.3 points |
| 6 | 1976 | Robert T. Stafford R def. Thomas P. Salmon D | 94,481 – 85,682 | 4.6 points |
| 7 | 1964 | Winston L. Prouty R def. Frederick J. Fayette D | 87,879 – 76,457 | 7.0 points |
| 8 | 1994 | James M. Jeffords R def. Jan Backus D | 106,505 – 85,868 | 9.8 points |
| 9 | 1932 | Porter H. Dale R def. Fred C. Martin D | 74,319 – 60,453 | 10.3 points |
| 10 | 1992 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. James H. Douglas R | 154,762 – 123,854 | 10.8 points |
| 11 | 1914 | William P. Dillingham R def. Charles A. Prouty D | 35,137 – 26,776 | 13.3 points |
| 12 | 1970 | Winston L. Prouty R def. Philip H. Hoff D | 91,198 – 62,271 | 18.7 points |
| 13 | 2016 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. Scott Milne R | 192,243 – 103,637 | 27.6 points |
| 14 | 1986 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. Dick Snelling R | 124,123 – 67,798 | 28.7 points |
| 15 | 2024 | Bernie Sanders I def. Gerald Malloy R | 229,429 – 116,512 | 30.3 points |
| 16 | 1938 | Ernest Willard Gibson R def. John McGrath D | 73,990 – 38,673 | 31.3 points |
| 17 | 1944 | George D. Aiken R def. Harry W. Witters D | 81,094 – 42,136 | 31.6 points |
| 18 | 1956 | George D. Aiken R def. Bernard G. O'Shea D | 103,101 – 52,184 | 32.8 points |
| 19 | 1940 | Warren R. Austin R def. Ona S. Searles D | 93,283 – 47,101 | 32.9 points |
| 20 | 2006 | Bernie Sanders I def. Rich Tarrant R | 171,638 – 84,924 | 33.0 points |
| 21 | 2010 | Patrick J. Leahy D def. Len Britton R | 151,281 – 72,699 | 33.4 points |
| 22 | 1962 | George D. Aiken R def. W. Robert Johnson D | 81,241 – 40,134 | 33.9 points |
| 23 | 1922 | Frank L. Greene R def. William B. Mayo D | 47,669 – 21,371 | 38.1 points |
| 24 | 1988 | James M. Jeffords R def. Bill Gray D | 163,183 – 71,460 | 38.2 points |
| 25 | 2018 | Bernie Sanders I def. Lawrence Zupan R | 183,529 – 74,663 | 39.9 points |