Joe Benning

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Joe Benning
Image of Joe Benning
Prior offices
Vermont State Senate Caledonia District

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Lyndon State College

Law

Vermont Law School

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Joe Benning (Republican Party) was a member of the Vermont State Senate, representing Caledonia District. He assumed office in 2011. He left office on January 4, 2023.

Benning (Republican Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Biography

Benning obtained a B.A. in social studies from Lyndon State College and a J.D. from the Vermont Law School.

Before his election, Benning was a private practice attorney and a partner at Bertolini, Benning, and Glinka. He is also a justice of the peace, a member of the Lyndon Town School Board, a town agent for Lyndon and a village agent for Lyndonville.

Committee assignments

2023-2024

Benning was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Benning was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Benning was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Vermont committee assignments, 2017
Education
Judiciary, Vice chair
Administrative Rules
Judicial Retention
Judicial Rules
Ethics, Chair

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Benning served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Benning served on the following committees:

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Benning served on these committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Elections

2022

See also: Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

David Zuckerman defeated Joe Benning and Ian Diamondstone in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/zuckerman1.png
David Zuckerman (Vermont Progressive Party / D)
 
53.9
 
150,102
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning (R)
 
42.6
 
118,724
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Ian Diamondstone (Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party of Vermont)
 
2.9
 
8,159
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.6
 
1,738

Total votes: 278,723
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

David Zuckerman defeated Kitty Toll, Patricia Preston, and Charlie Kimbell in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/zuckerman1.png
David Zuckerman
 
43.7
 
42,564
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Kitty-Toll.jpg
Kitty Toll
 
38.9
 
37,868
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Patricia_Preston.jpeg
Patricia Preston Candidate Connection
 
9.6
 
9,326
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/ckimbell.jpg
Charlie Kimbell Candidate Connection
 
7.4
 
7,253
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
354

Total votes: 97,365
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

Joe Benning defeated Gregory Thayer in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont on August 9, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning
 
53.5
 
14,679
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/GregoryMThayer.png
Gregory Thayer
 
44.4
 
12,188
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.0
 
561

Total votes: 27,428
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election

No Vermont Progressive Party candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Jane Kitchel and incumbent Joe Benning defeated Matthew Choate, Charles Wilson, and JT Dodge in the general election for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jane-Kitchel.jpg
Jane Kitchel (D)
 
29.8
 
10,285
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning (R)
 
29.1
 
10,057
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Matthew Choate (D)
 
21.2
 
7,342
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CharlesWilsonVT.jpg
Charles Wilson (R) Candidate Connection
 
16.1
 
5,558
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JTDodge.jpg
JT Dodge (L) Candidate Connection
 
3.6
 
1,255
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
62

Total votes: 34,559
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Jane Kitchel and Matthew Choate advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jane-Kitchel.jpg
Jane Kitchel
 
58.3
 
4,218
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Matthew Choate
 
40.5
 
2,930
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.2
 
88

Total votes: 7,236
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Joe Benning and Charles Wilson advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on August 11, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning
 
58.2
 
3,044
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CharlesWilsonVT.jpg
Charles Wilson Candidate Connection
 
39.2
 
2,049
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.5
 
133

Total votes: 5,226
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Due to nationwide changes in election administration in 2020, Ballotpedia is exercising increased caution before projecting election winners. Click here to read our new election calling policy and vote total update schedule

Vermont Progressive Party primary election

No Vermont Progressive Party candidates ran in the primary.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2018

In addition to running as a Republican Party candidate, Benning cross-filed to also run with the Democratic Party in 2018.

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Jane Kitchel and incumbent Joe Benning won election in the general election for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jane-Kitchel.jpg
Jane Kitchel (D)
 
52.3
 
10,967
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning (R)
 
46.9
 
9,818
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.8
 
167

Total votes: 20,952
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Jane Kitchel advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jane-Kitchel.jpg
Jane Kitchel
 
100.0
 
2,681

Total votes: 2,681
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District (2 seats)

Incumbent Joe Benning advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District on August 14, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Joe_Benning_.jpg
Joe Benning
 
100.0
 
2,169

Total votes: 2,169
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was May 26, 2016.

Incumbent Jane Kitchel and incumbent Joe Benning defeated Galen Dively III in the Vermont State Senate Caledonia District general election.[1][2]

Vermont State Senate, Caledonia District General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jane Kitchel Incumbent 48.12% 12,383
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joe Benning Incumbent 42.39% 10,908
     Marijuana Galen Dively III 9.49% 2,443
Total Votes 25,734
Source: Vermont Secretary of State


Incumbent Jane Kitchel ran unopposed in the Vermont State Senate Caledonia District Democratic primary.[3][4]

Vermont State Senate, Caledonia District Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jane Kitchel Incumbent (unopposed)


Incumbent Joe Benning ran unopposed in the Vermont State Senate Caledonia District Republican primary.[3][4]

Vermont State Senate, Caledonia District Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Joe Benning Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Vermont State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 12, 2014. Caledonia has two state senators. Incumbent Jane Kitchel and Mike Heath were unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Joe Benning was unopposed in the Republican primary. Kitchel and Heath defeated Benning in the general election.[5]

Vermont State Senate Caledonia District, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJane Kitchel* Incumbent 44.9% 7,786
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Benning Incumbent 35.5% 6,149
     Democratic Mike Heath 19.6% 3,390
Total Votes 17,325

*Kitchell appeared on the ballot as both a Democrat and a Republican.

2012

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2012

Benning won re-election in the 2012 election for Vermont State Senate Caledonia District. Benning was unopposed in the August 28 Republican primary and won re-election in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[6]

Vermont State Senate, Caledonia District, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJane Kitchel Incumbent 34.1% 9,934
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJoe Benning Incumbent 27.4% 7,969
     Democratic Stephen Amos 19.2% 5,584
     Republican David Dill 19.3% 5,619
Total Votes 29,106

2010

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2010

Benning ran for election to the 6th District Seat (Caledonia District) in 2010. He ran against Charlie Bucknam in the primary. He defeated Charlie Bucknam (R), Matthew Choate (D), and Harvey Otterman (I) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[6]

Vermont State Senate, Caledonia District, General Election (2010)
Candidates Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Jane Kitchel (D) 6,158
Green check mark transparent.png Joe Benning (R) 5,674
Matthew Choate (D) 5,537
Charlie Bucknam (R) 5,322
Harvey Otterman (I) 1,798

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe Benning did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Benning's campaign website stated the following:

I will be a voice of reason in Montpelier

What defines my campaign:

We are all better when we work together in respect and common purpose. We are all Vermonters first, and the shared ground of that foundation comes before any party label. I think we all want to see us get back to a place where we can talk to each other, and approach our issues as a state together from a place of trust and good faith. I know that I will have to work hard to gain your trust, and your vote, and I am committed to doing so. Our state is stronger when we all work together, and talk to each other.

I can work to bring Vermonters together with lawmakers and the Governor to promote Vermont's economy and vital interests. I've worked with Gov. Scott for 12 years while serving in the Vermont Senate, including as Minority Leader, and I know his team. I have a wealth of experience serving in the Vermont Senate, working across the aisle to get things done for Vermonters.

On the campaign trail, I've talked a lot about what it means to me to be a moderate Vermont Republican. I know there are many here in our state, on both sides of the aisle, who are tired of the vitriol and rhetoric of the national parties, and who may feel apprehensive about the current state of my party across the country. In the past, and during this campaign, I have firmly denounced certain actions committed by anti-democratic or authoritarian elements within my party, including the attack on the US Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021.

I will be an advocate for all Vermonters, and work tirelessly to bring down the cost of living across the state. Together, we will address the housing crisis and work to make Vermont more affordable.

Throughout my campaign, I have focused on Five Core Principles that, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on, we can all agree on:

Individual Liberty
Including the right to privacy. I support Prop 5/Article 22, having voted for it twice in the Senate.

Personal Responsibility
I believe in free choice; in healthcare and at the ballot box.

Strong Educational System
Our economy is strongest when we invest in our citizens. I've been a strong advocate for education, including continuing education and skill training.

Limited Government
We need to lower the tax burden on everyday Vermonters. Our affordability crisis needs to be addressed; federal money from the pandemic is running out and we can't spend our way out of it.

Free Enterprise
I believe that when our local small businesses succeed, our communities succeed. As a small business owner, I will use the office of Lt. Governor to promote Vermont's economy and interests.

These core principles, bound together by the bedrock of our Constitution, are the cornerstone of my campaign.

These are the principles that have defined my 12 years in the Vermont Senate, and these are the principles that define my campaign to be Vermont's next Lt. Governor.

I will work hard every day to promote Vermont. I will be a bridge between Vermonters, lawmakers, and the Governor's team, and focus on ending the affordability and housing crises facing Vermonters today.

Together, Gov. Scott and I will get things done for the people of Vermont.[7]

—Joe Benning's campaign website (2022)[8]

2020

Joe Benning did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Joe Benning campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Lieutenant Governor of VermontLost general$92,657 $85,773
2020Vermont State Senate Caledonia DistrictWon general$7,444 N/A**
2016Vermont State Senate, District CaledoniaWon $2,510 N/A**
2014Vermont State Senate, District CaledoniaWon $5,004 N/A**
2012Vermont State Senate, District CaledoniaWon $9,311 N/A**
2010Vermont State Senate, District CaledoniaWon $11,466 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only availabale data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Vermont

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

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2022

In 2022, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 4 to May 12.

Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues.
  • Vermont Public Interest Research Group: Senate and House
Legislators are scored by VPIRG on bills related to public interest issues.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013


2012


2011

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Benning and his wife, Debbie, have two children.

See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Vermont State Senate Caledonia District
2011-2023
Succeeded by
-


Current members of the Vermont State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Alison Clarkson
Minority Leader:Randy Brock
Senators
Addison District
Bennington District
Caledonia District
Chittenden Central District
Chittenden North District
Chittenden Southeast District
Essex District
Franklin District
Grand Isle District
Lamoille District
Orange District
Orleans District
Rutland District
Washington District
Windham District
Windsor District
Democratic Party (21)
Republican Party (7)
Vermont Progressive Party (1)