1990Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1990 election for Vermont's at-large District
U.S. House · Vermont
Bernie Sanders (Ind) won with 56.0% of the vote, defeating Peter Smith (R) by 16.5 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Bernie SandersIndependent · winner
56.0%117,522
Peter SmithRepublican
39.5%82,938
Dolores SandovalDemocrat
3.0%6,315
Peter DiamondstoneLiberty Union
0.9%1,965
Write-ins and other votesOther party
0.5%1,116
209,856 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1990
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Dolores SandovalPeter Smith
$13.8K
Raised by the campaign
$683.2K
$12.9K
Spent by the campaign
$689.3K
$977
Cash on hand
$1.5K
Other candidates' campaigns: Bernie Sanders $571.6K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 6, 1990; FEC, through Dec 31, 1990.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1990
The candidates
Bernie Sanders (I)Peter Smith (R)
Also on the ballot: Dolores Sandoval (Democrat), 3.0%; Peter Diamondstone (Liberty Union), 0.9%