Cris Ericson

Cris Ericson
Ericson in a 2018 gubernatorial debate
Personal details
Born (1952-05-16) May 16, 1952 (age 72)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyIndependent (2006, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Other political
affiliations		Make Marijuana Legal (2002)
Marijuana (2004)
Republican (2006)
U.S. Marijuana Party (2010, 2012)
Democratic (2016)
Progressive (2020)
EducationUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst

Cris Ericson (born May 16, 1952) is an American marijuana legalization activist and perennial candidate for public office in Vermont. She has unsuccessfully run for the governorship of Vermont nine times and for a seat in the United States Congress eight times.

Early life

Cris Ericson was born in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 1952.[1] From 1970 to 1971, she attended Goddard College. In 1976, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelor of arts degree.[2]

Career

Vermont elections

During the 2002 Vermont gubernatorial election Ericson was one of four independent candidates and ran under the Make Marijuana Legal party line.[3] In the general election she placed fourth behind Jim Douglas, Doug Racine, and Cornelius Hogan.[4]

During the 2004 Vermont gubernatorial election she ran as an independent under the Marijuana party line.[5][6] In the general election she placed third behind Douglas and Peter Clavelle.[7]

She ran for governor of Vermont in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018.

In 2020, she ran for the gubernatorial, lieutenant gubernatorial, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state, and auditor nominations of the Vermont Progressive Party. The Vermont Progressive Party sought volunteers to run in the primaries and for party members to write-in David Zuckerman in the gubernatorial primary and Doug Hoffer in the auditor general primary to prevent Ericson from winning.[8][9] She was able to appear on the ballot due to lower ballot access requirements instituted due to COVID-19.[10] She was defeated by Zuckerman, who won as a write-in candidate, in the gubernatorial primary.[11] However, she won the Progressive nominations for lieutenant governor, auditor, secretary of state, attorney general, and treasurer. Ericson called for a recount in the gubernatorial primary.[10]

United States Congress

During the 2004 United States Senate election in Vermont Ericson ran under the Marijuana party line and placed third behind Patrick Leahy and John A. McMullen.[12][13]

During the 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont she ran for the Republican nomination, but was defeated by Richard Tarrant.[14][15] In the general election she ran as an independent and placed third behind Bernie Sanders and Tarrant.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Cris Ericson's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Education". Brattleboro Reformer. October 25, 2002. p. 46. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Independents, minor parties file petitions to get on November ballot". Rutland Daily Herald. September 14, 2002. p. 12. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "2002 gubernatorial election results". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "Independent in 2004". The Burlington Free Press. September 6, 2004. p. 5. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Candidates fill out election ballot". The Burlington Free Press. September 21, 2004. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "2004 gubernatorial election results". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Progressive Party Asks For Write-In To Beat Gubernatorial Candidates On Its Ballot". Vermont Public Radio. July 30, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "Progressives Seek to Ward Off Perennials Vying for Party Nod". Seven Days. July 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Perennial Progressive candidate bucks party, pushes for recount". WCAX-TV. August 19, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "David Zuckerman Wins Vermont Progressive Party Gubernatorial Nomination by Write-in Votes". Ballot Access News. August 18, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "2004 partisan affiliation". Rutland Daily Herald. October 31, 2004. p. 66. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "2004 United States Senate election results". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "Republicans face ideological choice in primary". The Burlington Free Press. September 5, 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "2006 United States Senate primary results". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "2006 United States Senate election results". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Progressive nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
2020 		Succeeded by
David Zuckerman