The 1962 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 1962. Incumbent Republican F. Ray Keyser Jr. ran unsuccessfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, losing to Democratic candidate Philip H. Hoff. Hoff was the first Democrat elected Governor of Vermont since 1853.[1] This was also the last time an incumbent governor of Vermont was defeated for re-election.
Hoff appeared on the ballot with the Vermont Independent Party's line in order to receive support from those who would not vote on the Democratic line. At the time Vermont allowed a candidate to appear multiple times on the same ballot. The number of votes Hoff received on the Vermont Independent Party's ballot line was greater than his margin of victory. In 1977, the electoral laws were changed to limit candidates to appearing once on the ballot and prohibiting the usage of the word independent in a party's name.[2]
