From the founding of the Republican Party in the 1850s until the 1960s, only Republicans won general elections for Vermont's statewide offices. One method that made this possible was the Republican Party's imposition of the "Mountain Rule," an informal mechanism which restricted the pool of candidates.[4]
Under the original provisions of the Mountain Rule, one U.S. senator was a resident of the east side of the Green Mountains and one resided on the west side. The expanded version of the rule called for the governorship and lieutenant governorship to alternate between residents of the east and west side. Nominees for governor and lieutenant governor were originally allowed two one-year terms, and later one two-year term. For nearly 100 years, likely Republican candidates for office in Vermont agreed to abide by the expanded Mountain Rule in the interests of party unity. Several factors led to the eventual weakening of the Mountain Rule, including the long political dispute between the Proctor (conservative) and Aiken–Gibson (progressive) wings of the party; primaries rather than conventions to select nominees; the direct election of U.S. Senators; and several active third parties, including the Progressives, the Prohibition Party, and the Local Option movement. In the 1960s, the rise of the Vermont Democratic Party and the construction of Interstate 89 also contributed to the end of the Mountain Rule. Although I-89 is a north–south route, it traverses Vermont from southeast to northwest for the majority of its length within the state and changed the way residents view how it is divided.[5][6]
^ abcIn the 1835 election, Palmer received a plurality, but not the required majority; the legislature remained deadlocked after 63 votes and the joint assembly dissolved on November 2[53] without choosing a governor, so Lieutenant Governor Jennison acted as governor for the term.[47]
^Republican convention delegates decided that since Washburn, from the East side of the Green Mountains, had won the nomination in 1869, the 1870 nomination should go to a candidate from the West. They also decided that though he was from the West, nominating Hendee would violate the Mountain Rule's two years in office provision, because 1870 would be the first election for a two-year term. As a result, Hendee was not a candidate.
^Vermont's gubernatorial terms were changed from one year to two. Stewart argued that the Mountain Rule's two-term limit on governors should allow him to serve two two-year terms. Republican convention delegates decided that the Mountain Rule limited governors to two years in office, so Stewart was not re-nominated.
"Former Vermont Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
"Our Campaigns - Governor of Vermont - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
Specific
^Berg-Andersson, Richard E. (May 23, 2021). "Length of Terms of Office of State Governors Throughout American History". The Green Papers. Richard E. Berg-Andersson. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
^Vermont State Archives & Records Administration (2017). "State Officers: Executive Branch; Governors". SOS.Vermont.Gov. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
^"The Mountain Rule in Vermont". The New York Times. February 12, 1895. p. 7. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
^Magazine article, Mountain Rule Revisited, by Samuel B. Hand, Vermont History Magazine, published by Vermont Historical Society, Summer/Fall 2003, pages 139 to 151
^State of Vermont (1873). Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont. Vol. I. Montpelier, J. & J.M. Poland. p. 243.
^ abcdefghij"Position Papers: When conviviality leads to 'conspiracy of collegiality'". Barre Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, VT. October 17, 2018 [October 24, 2004].
^Conant, Edward (1915). A Text Book of the Geography, History, Constitution and Civil Government of Vermont. Rutland, VT: Tuttle Company. pp. 311, 321 – via Google Books.
^"Proctor Takes Oath of Office; Declares for State Budget Based on Expected Income". The Burlington Free Press. January 5, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Stanley C. Wilson of Chelsea Is Inducted Into Office As Governor of Vermont". The Burlington Free Press. Associated Press. January 9, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Gov. Wilson Says He Is Not A Candidate "At This Time" For Re-Election Or For Congress". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. July 19, 1934. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Gov. Charles M. Smith Inaugurated in Customary Dignified Ceremony in the Hall of Representatives". The Burlington Free Press. January 11, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Inaugural Crowd of 1000 Hears Gov. Wills Call for Industrial Expansion Program in State". Rutland Daily Herald. January 10, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Proctor Is Inaugurated Governor, Pledging to Further Strengthen and Revitalize State of Vermont". The Burlington Free Press. January 5, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Ernest W. Gibson Becomes State's 65th Governor, Advocates Some Sweeping Changes in Gov't". The Burlington Free Press. January 10, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Gov. Arthur in Inaugural Address Says He Will Be a Candidate for 2nd Term". The Burlington Free Press. January 17, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Legislators and Visitors in Reception Line Greeting Vermont's Governor Johnson". The Bennington Evening Banner. January 7, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
^"Youngest Governor Begins His Term in State House". Burlington Daily News. United Press International. January 6, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved July 17, 2023.