By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a historic first for the state, Dean Roy, a 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School, has secured a spot on Vermont’s 2026 general election ballot for governor. While Vermont has seen teenage candidates before, Roy is the first to bypass the primary hurdles that stymied his predecessors, ensuring his name will appear before voters this November.
How He Made the Ballot
Roy’s successful bid for the general election is due to a unique “quirk” in the Vermont Constitution, which sets no minimum age for gubernatorial candidates—requiring only that they have resided in the state for at least four years.
- The Third-Party Strategy: Unlike Ethan Sonneborn, who ran as a Democrat in 2018 and lost in a four-way primary, Roy founded his own party: the Freedom and Unity Party (a nod to Vermont’s state motto).
- Bypassing the Primary: By running as a minor-party candidate rather than seeking a major-party nomination, Roy avoided the risk of being “weeded out” in the August primary, allowing him to head straight to the November ballot.
- The “Page” to Candidate Pipeline: Roy’s interest in the “corner office” was sparked during his time as a legislative page at the Vermont Statehouse last year.
Platform and Policy
Roy describes his political identity as a “fiscally conservative liberal,” focusing on pragmatism and affordability rather than partisan ideology.
| Key Issue | Roy’s Proposal |
| Housing | Increasing taxes on short-term rentals (Airbnbs) to incentivize owners to return homes to the long-term market and fund new construction. |
| Education | Drastically consolidating the state’s school districts—from over 100 down to just five—to save hundreds of millions in administrative costs. |
| Rural Traditions | Strong support for farming and hunting rights, while simultaneously advocating for LGBTQ+ and abortion rights. |
| Infrastructure | Opposes mandatory electric vehicle (EV) mandates, citing the practical difficulties for rural farmers and residents. |
The “Old Soul” vs. The Establishment
Roy’s candidacy has been met with a mix of admiration and skepticism from the state’s political veterans.
- Governor Phil Scott: The incumbent Republican, who is seeking a sixth term, has applauded Roy’s civic engagement but questioned whether a 14-year-old possesses the “lived perspective” necessary to manage a state budget and government.
- The “Disruption” Goal: Roy is candid about his chances, stating, “I don’t expect necessarily to win. What I do expect is to start the movement… I want to show [career politicians] that the youth have a voice.”
- Logistics: If elected, Roy says he would switch to online classes and “do his homework at night” after finishing his duties as governor.
Vermont’s History of Young Candidates
Vermont remains one of the few states where this is possible. In 2018, Ethan Sonneborn (then 14) garnered national headlines for his Democratic run, ultimately finishing last in the primary with about 8% of the vote. Since then, Vermont lawmakers have debated setting an age limit of 18 or 21, but no such change has been enacted into law.