In 2026, 20% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in Vermont will face primary contests, a record high since 2010.
In total, 28 incumbents face contested primaries across the Vermont House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each year from 2010 to 2024 was 18. All but one of the contested incumbents are Democrats.
Democrats have a 16-13-1 majority in the Senate and an 87-56-7 majority in the House. Vermont has had a divided government since Gov. Phil Scott (R) assumed office in 2017.
Vermont has 25 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, above the average of 19 each year between 2010 and 2024. Twenty-one of the primaries are for Democrats, and four are for Republicans.
In total, 291 major party candidates—171 Democrats and 120 Republicans—filed to run. All of the state’s 150 House seats and all 30 Senate seats are up for election. Thirty-seven of those seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. The average number of open seats each election from 2010 to 2024 was 32.
Vermont’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for Aug. 11.
