Going by the elected leadership (Speaker in the House, President Pro Tempore in the Senate), the Democrats first won the VT House in the modern era in 1974. The GOP took it back in 1980, but ironically lost it in 1984. They didn’t get it back until 2000 (due to the unpopularity of Dean) and lost control in 2004.
In the Senate, they got control in 1984 for the first time in the modern era, lost it in 1992 (go figure), reclaimed it in 1996, and have never lost it since. The first Dem President Pro Tempore in the modern era was Peter Welch, now the Congressman.
More than any source of date I wish state historical legislative data was more available.
Hmm my source on VT was a NYTimes article from 1987 that said they had “last fall” won the VT Senate and reelected a rat house speaker “despite a GOP majoirty in the chamber”.
A blurb in their archives (need to pay to read the whole article) mentions the VT senate as going rat in 1986, doesn’t mention the house.
An article from 2000 claims the GOP majoirty in the house was the “first outright majority in 14 years”.
“They didn’t get it back until 2000 (due to the unpopularity of Dean)”
Because of civil unions right? In liberal Vermont. The GOP guv candidate should have done better than a 50-38 loss. She must have been weak.
“and lost control in 2004.”
Yeah, but they only won a plurality in 2002. I remember Doug Racine was expected to win and rats worried a GOP edge in the legislature would elect Douglas. Instead Douglas won and the GOP lost in the legislative giving rats the edge with their increased state senate majority.
Hee he. Illinois would have over 600 state senators if each seat has the population of a Vermont district.