Page "Jim Douglas" Paragraph 5

In the 2002 gubernatorial election to succeed five-term Governor Howard Dean, Douglas defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, 45 to 42 percent.

The Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select who is to become governor if no candidate receives over 50 % of the votes.

Because neither candidate won 50 % of the vote, Douglas was officially selected by the legislature as required by the state constitution.

Douglas won reelection to a second two-year term in 2004, defeating Democrat Peter Clavelle, 59 to 38 percent.