MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont lawmakers on Thursday morning officially elected Republican John Rodgers as Lt. Governor.
The final decision went to the Legislature after Rodgers’ razor-thin win over Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman in November, where neither candidate cleared the 50-percent threshold.
Zuckerman has argued that under a ranked-choice voting scheme — where Green Mountain Peace & Justice Party candidate Ian Diamondstone’s votes went to him — he would have likely come out on top. In the end, he conceded the race to Rodgers and said he would not lobby lawmakers.
Still, 18 House members voted by secret ballot to hand Zuckerman the win to Rodgers 158 votes.
The former Democratic state senator and Glover cannabis farmer will be sworn in on Thursday along with Gov. Phil Scott and other statewide officeholders.