2000 United States Senate election in Vermont

2000 United States Senate election in Vermont

November 7, 2000

Nominee Jim Jeffords Ed Flanagan Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 189,133 73,352 Percentage 65.6% 25.4%

County Results Jeffords:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

U.S. senator before election Jim Jeffords Republican Elected U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords Independent

The 2000 United States Senate election in Vermont took place on November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords won re-election to a third term in office. In May 2001, Jeffords left the Republican Party and announced that he would become an independent, who would caucus with the Democratic Party. His party switch broke 50-50 lock in the Senate, and effectively gave Democrats the majority. As of 2024, this is the most recent congressional election in Vermont won by a Republican.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ed Flanagan, Vermont Auditor of Accounts
• Jan Backus, former Vermont State Senator and 1994 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate

Results

Democratic Primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed Flanagan	17,440	49.24
	Democratic	Jan Backus	16,444	46.43
	Democratic	Write-ins	1,533	4.33
Total votes			30,229	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Jim Jeffords, incumbent U.S. Senator
• Rick Hubbard

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Jeffords (Incumbent)	60,234	77.79
	Republican	Rick Hubbard	15,991	20.65
	Republican	Write-ins	1,204	1.55
Total votes			77,429	100.00

General election

Results

United States Senate election in Vermont, 2000

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Jim Jeffords (Incumbent)	189,133	65.56%	+15.24%
	Democratic	Ed Flanagan	73,352	25.43%	−15.14%
	Constitution	Charles W. Russell	10,079	3.49%
	Independent	Rick Hubbard	5,366	1.86%
	Grassroots	Billy Greer	4,889	1.69%
	Libertarian	Hugh Douglas	3,843	1.33%
	Liberty Union	Jerry Levy	1,477	0.51%
	Write-ins		361	0.13%
Majority			115,781	40.13%	+30.38%
Turnout			288,500
	Republican hold		Swing	{{{swing}}}

See also

• United States Senate elections, 2000