“Body Watch:” Vermont Lt. Gov. Race Spotlights Chance For Victor’s Ascension

By Ted Cohen

If the nation's most popular governor decides to seek a sixth term, he could end up being the longest-serving governor in Vermont history.

Though Republican Phil Scott hasn't said whether he's in it to win it, his long tenure begs speculation on his would-be successor.

The candidates for lieutenant governor so far include incumbent John Rodgers, a Republican currently in his first term, as well as two Democrats - former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Ryan McLaren, a former congressional aide.

Gray was elected lieutenant governor in 2020 after beating a crowded field of Democratic primary opponents.

She was in the job for less than a year before launching what became her failed campaign for Vermont's lone U.S. House seat.

In Vermont, the lieutenant governor has few day-to-day responsibilities besides presiding over the state Senate when it’s in session and, the thing no one talks about - waiting for the governor to die.

The reality is, no one runs to be lieutenant governor, despite applicants for the so-called job touting various policy pronouncements.

Candidates for the No. 2 job are actually running for governor.

It's just that no one admits it.

With a 74% approval rating in a national poll last week, Scott retained his title as the most popular governor for the 14th consecutive quarter.

If he goes for a sixth term, the nomination is his as, arguably, would be a sixth term.

Scott is in his tenth year as the state's chief executive, following six years as lieutenant governor.

He’s eligible to seek re-election, but has not yet stated whether he will do so.

His 2024 margin of victory was the largest in any Vermont gubernatorial election since 1946.

Based on historical records, at least 15 Vermont lieutenant governors have become governor, either by ascending directly to the office during a term (due to resignation or death) or by being elected to the position later.

The most recent Vermont lieutenant governor to ascend to the top job without election was in 1991 when Democrat Lt. Gov. Howard Dean, a physician, assumed the office upon the death of Republican Gov. Richard Snelling.

Dean had been lieutenant governor for just 3½ years when he got his big chance.

He served for 11½ years in the top job, spanning the remainder of Snelling's term and five subsequent full two-year terms.

David Zuckerman served three terms as lieutenant governor, losing his last bid for re-election to Rodgers, so he effectively warmed the No. 2 seat six years with nothing to show for it.

Zuckerman had tried to parlay the non-existent office into a promotion after two terms as No. 2 but lost to Scott.

Such is the job description - effectively doing nothing while pretending to be a someone, waiting for your boss to retire or die.

It's been ten years in Vermont since a lieutenant governor effectively got a promotion to the top job, and that was Scott.

The lieutenant governor is truly just waiting while doing nothing.

The job is similar in description to the vice president, a position described by Vice President John Garner, who served under President Franklin Roosevelt, as "not worth a bucket of warm piss.”

The phrase is an apt description for the No. 2 job in Montpelier, Vermont.

Otherwise, the only perk to the position is a free reserved parking space near the State House.

The one other benefit is the salary - $99,489.

Not bad for doing nothing except being assigned to “body watch” for the job that pays $234,379.

The governor is truly a VIP, while the first-in-waiting has to suffer the travails of fake celebrity.