1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont

The 1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990 to elect the U.S. Representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices.

1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont

November 6, 1990

Nominee Bernie Sanders Peter Plympton Smith Party Independent Republican Popular vote 117,522 82,938 Percentage 56.00% 39.52%

County results Sanders:      50–60%      60–70% Smith:      40-50%

Representative At-large before election Peter Plympton Smith Republican Elected Representative At-large Bernie Sanders Independent

Republican primary

Nominee

• Peter Plympton Smith, incumbent U.S. Representative[1]

Eliminated in Primary

• Timothy Philbin, insurance agent[1]

Republican primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith (incumbent)	27,339	60.31
	Republican	Timothy Philbin	17,444	38.48
	Republican	Write-ins	550	1.21
Total votes			45,333	100.00

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Dolores Sandoval, professor at the University of Vermont[1]

Eliminated in Primary

• Peter Diamondstone, activist and perennial candidate[1]
• Bernie Sanders, former Mayor of Burlington, Vermont[1]

Democratic primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dolores Sandoval	5,979	41.27
	Democratic	Peter Diamondstone	5,711	39.42
	Democratic	Bernie Sanders (Write-in)	2,005	13.84
	Democratic	Write-ins	791	5.46
Total votes			14,486	100.00

Libertarian primary

Libertarian primary results[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Write-ins	127	100.00
Total votes			127	100.00

General election

Vermont's At-large congressional district election, 1990[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent	Bernie Sanders[4]	117,522	56.00
	Republican	Peter Plympton Smith (incumbent)	82,938	39.52
	Democratic	Dolores Sandoval	6,315	3.01
	Liberty Union	Peter Diamondstone	1,965	0.94
	Write-ins	N/A	1,116	0.53
Total votes			209,856	100.00
	Independent gain from Republican

References

1. "Bernie Sanders Debates Gun Control in 1990 Sportsmen's Forum". YouTube. SevenDaysVT. June 26, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
2. "1990 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
3. "United States Representative (One District): 1932-2014" (PDF). Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
4. Tuesday, March 20, 1990, Bernard Sanders, 48, returns to the political battlefield as he tells a Montpelier news conference he will challenge U.S. Representative Peter Smith, Republican of Vermont, for the state's lone House seat. Sanders decides to eschew a possible run for governor following Governor Madeleine Kunin's decision to step down after three terms. "This campaign for Congress is about hope," he says. "It is saying to the people of Vermont, especially the working people, the elderly people, environmentalists, peace activists, people who year after year feel that they've been knocking their heads against Washington: 'Please don't give up.'" http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/26/sanders-begin-political-revolution/27991467/