Vermont Republican Party

Vermont Republican Party
Vermont Republican Party
Chairperson	David Sunderland
Headquarters	Montpelier, VT
Ideology	Conservatism; Fiscal conservatism; Center-right to Right-wing
National affiliation	Republican Party
Colors	Red
Website
	vtgop.org

The Vermont Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Vermont. David Sunderland serves as Chairperson of the Vermont Republican State Committee.

History

Shortly after the Republican Party was founded in 1854, with its heavily anti-slavery views, the party became a dominant force in Vermont. In October 1854 Republican Steven Royce defeated incumbent Democratic governor John S. Robinson, Robinson would be the first and final Democratic Governor of Vermont for 108 years.

In 1856 Vermont voted for the first Republican Presidential candidate, John C. Frémont. Frémont would lose the election however, to Democrat James Buchanan. In 1860 Vermont would again vote Republican this time for Abraham Lincoln, this time the newly formed Republican Party would win, and Lincoln became President. Vermont would continue to vote for Republican Presidential candidates for 27 consecutive Presidential elections from the first Republican candidate in 1856, until the 1964 election when Lyndon B. Johnson won in a landslide victory. The fact that Vermont voted for the GOP in 27 straight Presidential elections is a record for any United States political party in one state. From 1968 until 1988 Vermont voted every election for the Republican candidate, giving Republicans candidates wins in 33 out of 34 elections in Vermont.

In more recent years however the Democrats have made a resurgence, from 1992 through 2012 the Democratic candidate has carried Vermont all six times. The Democrats are now the dominant party, holding every statewide office with the exception of Lieutenant Governor held by Republican Phil Scott. As of January 2013 there have been 53 Republican governors of Vermont, and 6 Democrats.