In the general elections of 2010, Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy beat out Republican Len Britton and will thus retain his seat on the U.S. Senate. This will be his seventh term. Leahy, who is 70 years old, was first elected to the Senate in 1974. He raised over $4 million to fund his 2010 campaign, and his victory has been described as an easy win.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-pn-leahy-vermont-20101102,0,2534157.story

In the race for Vermont Governor, Democrat Peter Schumlin beat Republican Brian Dubie in a tight race.http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/vermont Welch (D) won the District 1 House seat. Lieutenant Governor was won by Phil Scott (R), Secretary of State was won by Jim Condos (D), Auditor was won by Thomas Salmon (R), Attorney General was won by William Sorrell (D) and Treasurer was won by Jeb Spaulding (D).http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/vermont

Vermont was the first state admitted after the original 13 colonies. Vermont joined the Union in March 1791. Since 1972, it was participated in every election. While Vermont is now generally a "blue" state, it went through a period of voting Republican in every election up to 1988. When the Republican party was founded in 1854, Vermont latched on to its ideal and stood firm as a Republican party up to 1992. There was one exception in 1964 when the state voted for Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater.

In 1992, the state broke its tradition for voting Republican when it voted for Bill Clinton over George H.W. Bush. Since that monumental moment, the state has voted Democratic ever since. In 2008, Barack Obama beat John McCain by a margin of 68% to 30%. Aside from Washington D.C. and his native Hawaii, it was Obama's largest margin of victory.http://www.270towin.com/states/Vermont The state currently holds three electoral votes.

Active Candidates for Governor:

• Brian Dubie (R): Lt. Governor, Pilot & National Guard Officer
• Susan Bartlett (D): State Sen., Educator & Businesswoman
• Matt Dunne (D): Ex-State Sen., Ex-State Rep., Ex-AmeriCorps National Director & '06 Lt. Gov. Nominee
• Deb Markowitz (D): Secretary of State & Attorney
• Doug Racine (D): State Sen., Ex-Lt. Governor, Auto Dealer & '02 Nominee
• Peter Shumlin (D): State Senate President Pro Tempore, Ex-State Rep. & '02 Lt. Governor Nominee
• Dennis Steele (Second VT Republic): Businessman, Online Radio Station Owner, Army Veteran & Seccessionist Activist
• Cris Ericson (Independent): Paralegal, Marijuana Legalization Activist

Active Candidates for Lieutenant Governor:

• Phil Scott (R): State Sen., Construction Contractor & Stock Car Race Driver
• Mark Snelling (R): Businessman & Son of Ex-Gov. Dick Snelling
• Chris Bray (D): VT House Representative
• Peter Garritano (Second VT Republic): Car Salesman & Seccessionist Activist
• David Zuckerman (Progressive): State Rep. & Farmer

Active Candidates for Secretary of State:

• Deb Markowitz (D): Current Secretary of State
• Charlie Merriman (D): Attorney & Middlesex Zoning Board Chair

Active Candidates for U.S. Senate:

• Daniel Freilich (D): Physician & Navy Veteran
• Len Britton (R): Lumber Store Owner & Ex-Movie Screenwriter
• John LaPierre Jr. (Independent): Furniture Company Worker & Ex-Warehouse Manager
• Cris Ericson (Independent): Paralegal, Marijuana Legalization Activist

Active Candidates for U.S. Congress:

• Dan Weintraub (D): Teacherhttp://www.uselections.com/vt/vt.htm

• 2008: Barack Obama
• 2004: John Kerry
• 2000: Al Gore
• 1996: Bill Clinton
• 1992: Bill Clinton
• 1988: George H. W. Bush
• 1984: Ronald Reagan
• 1980: Ronald Reagan
• 1976: Gerald Ford
• 1972: Richard Nixon
• 1968: Richard Nixon
• 1964: Lyndon Johnson

• Governor: Jim Douglas
• Lieutenant Governor: Brian Dubie
• Attorney General: William H. Sorrell
• Senators: Patrick Leahy (D), Bernie Sanders (I)

Barack Obama won Vermont's three electoral votes in the 2008 presidential election. Though opening times for polls vary by location, the state's polls all closed at 7 p.m. ET.4 5 The last time Vermont's electoral votes went to the Republican presidential candidate was in 1988, when George H. W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.

• 2008 Presidential Election Winner: Barack Obama

• Winner of Vermont's Three Electoral Votes: Barack Obama
• Margin of Victory: 68% to 31%
• MSNBC: Vermont Election Results
• FoxNews.com: Vermont Election Results
• CNN.com: Vermont Election Results

• Winner of Vermont's Senate Race: Bernie Sanders
• Margin of Victory: 65% to 32%
• CNN: 2006 Vermont Election Results

• 2004 Presidential Election Winner: George W. Bush

• Winner of Vermont's Three Electoral Votes: John Kerry
• Margin of victory: 59% to 39%

• Winner of Vermont's Senate Race: Senator Patrick Leahy
• Margin of Victory: 71% to 25%
• Washington Post: Vermont Election Results 2004