On November 8, nine Progressive Party member-nominees were elected to the Vermont legislature, the most ever. In the State Senate, Anthony Pollina was re-elected from Washington County. Christopher Pearson, who had been a Progressive member of the House from Burlington, was elected to the State Senate seat, replacing Progressive Senator David Zuckerman, who was elected this week to be Lieutenant Governor.
The Progressives elected seven member-nominees to the House. Re-elected were Diane Gonzalez, Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, Mollie Burke, and Sandy Haas. The party also elected Cindy Weed, who had been elected as a Progressive in 2012 but had been defeated for re-election in 2014. Also, in 2016, the party elected new legislators Celene Colburn and Brian Cina.
The only Progresive incumbent who was defeated for re-election is Susan Davis. She only lost by eight votes, and may seek a recount.
In 2014, the Progressive Party had elected eight member-nominees. In 2012, it had elected seven.
This post does not include persons who were Democratic member-nominees who also had the nomination of the Progressive Party. Vermont allows fusion. Most of the Progressive member-nominees who won this week were also nominated by the Democratic Party.
Most representatives are elected from two-member districts, where each voter may cast a vote for two representatives, who are elected by plurality.
In 17 of 46 two-member districts (37%), the voters elected split representation, generally Demo-Rep (13), but also one instance of Demo-Prog, and three of Demo-Ind.
Vermont House districts are quite small, about 4000 persons per single-member district and 8000 persons per two-member district, so personal campaigning is possible and perhaps necessary, as non-targetted media buys would be quite expensive relative to the politically power wielded by a part time representative in a large body in a small state.