Dean Roy, a 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School, is making an unprecedented bid for Vermont’s highest office, setting his sights on the governor’s mansion.
After serving as a legislative page at the Vermont Statehouse last year, Roy will become the first gubernatorial candidate under the age of 18 to appear on the state’s general election ballot this November.
Roy acknowledges the long odds but views his campaign as a catalyst for change. "I don't expect necessarily to win," he stated. "What I do expect is to start the movement, and get more young people to come in behind me and say, ‘Yeah, we also want to make change.’"
His path to the ballot was forged by creating his own political entity, the Freedom and Unity party. This unusual candidacy is possible because Vermont’s constitution imposes no minimum age for gubernatorial candidates, requiring only four years of state residency.
This contrasts with nearly all other states, which typically set age requirements, often at 30 years old. In Kansas, for instance, lawmakers introduced a 25-year-old minimum in 2018 after a wave of teenage candidates.
Roy is undeterred by his youth, challenging the status quo. "I know it sounds crazy, a 14-year-old running for governor, but honestly, look at the people in charge right now," he posted on his campaign’s Instagram page. "They’ve been doing this forever and things still aren’t working."
However, Peter Teachout, a professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School, offers a different interpretation of the state’s constitution, pointing to a clause that defines voter eligibility at 18 years old.
Teachout remains skeptical of Roy’s chances. "In theory, a 4-year-old could run for governor. Should we be worried about it? No," he remarked. "Vermonters can be a little cantankerous and provocative just for the fun of it, but it is not something they are likely to support in this context."
Despite the skepticism, Roy has garnered support from those who know him. James Carpenter, his former history teacher, describes Roy as an "old soul" with boundless curiosity. "It just really shows what type of kid Dean is. He’s very earnest in what he’s doing.
There’s no gimmick behind this," Carpenter said. "I think he blends that youthful optimism with some pragmatism that few kids have."
Roy, who identifies with neither major party, has prioritized housing as the most critical issue facing Vermont. He has also considered the practicalities of balancing school with a full-time governorship, suggesting online classes and completing homework after work hours.
Current Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, commended Roy’s engagement in politics but raised concerns about a teenager’s readiness for such significant responsibilities.
Press secretary Amanda Wheeler conveyed the governor’s perspective: "He believes it’s important for our youth to get involved. But the Governor also believes that a teenager may not be best suited to serve in that role given the lack of experience and lived perspectives youth have at that point in their lives."
Roy, however, firmly rejects the notion that age dictates a candidate’s fitness for office. "What I’m aiming for is that these career politicians look at me and they say, ‘Oh my God, he actually has a chance to disrupt things,’" he declared. "If I can get people to think that I am a threat to them, then I know that’s been a success. Because what I want is to show them that the youth have a voice. We’re gonna make change. The future is now."
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