14-Year-Old Vermonter Becomes First Teen to Reach General Election Ballot for Governor

Dean Roy, a high school freshman, is running on a platform of change and youth empowerment.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Dean Roy, a 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School in Vermont, has secured a spot on the state's general election ballot for governor, making him the first teenager to do so. Roy created his own third party, the Freedom and Unity Party, to run for the state's top office, taking advantage of Vermont's lack of a minimum age requirement for gubernatorial candidates. Though he doesn't expect to win, Roy says his goal is to "start the movement" and inspire more young people to get involved in politics and drive change.

Why it matters

Roy's candidacy highlights the ongoing debate around the appropriate age for political office, with Vermont's constitution allowing candidates of any age to run for governor, while most other states have minimum age requirements, often 30 years old. His campaign also reflects a growing youth political engagement movement, as young people seek to have a greater voice in shaping the policies that will impact their futures.

The details

After working as a legislative page at the Vermont State House, the 14-year-old Roy decided to run for governor, creating his own third party, the Freedom and Unity Party, to secure a spot on the general election ballot. Though he doesn't expect to win, Roy says his goal is to "start the movement" and inspire more young people to get involved in politics and drive change. Roy's candidacy is made possible by Vermont's lack of a minimum age requirement for gubernatorial candidates, unlike nearly all other states.

  • In November 2026, Roy will be the first candidate for governor under age 18 to appear on Vermont's general election ballot.
  • Roy started developing his political ambitions while working as a legislative page at the Vermont State House last year, when he was in 8th grade.

The players

Dean Roy

A 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School in Vermont who is running for governor, creating his own third party, the Freedom and Unity Party, to secure a spot on the general election ballot.

Ethan Sonneborn

Another 8th-grader who sought the Democratic nomination for Vermont governor in 2018 but finished last in a four-way primary.

Phil Scott

The current Republican governor of Vermont, who applauds Roy's interest in politics and public service but questions whether someone so young is ready for the responsibilities of running a state.

Peter Teachout

A professor at Vermont Law and Graduate School who believes that while Vermont's constitution may technically allow a 4-year-old to run for governor, Vermonters are unlikely to support a teenager in that role.

James Carpenter

Roy's former history teacher, who describes him as an "old soul" with endless curiosity and thinks it's great that he's giving the gubernatorial run his all.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't expect necessarily to win. 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.'”

— Dean Roy, Gubernatorial Candidate

“In theory, a four-year-old could run for governor. Should we be worried about it? No. 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.”

— Peter Teachout, Professor, Vermont Law and Graduate School

“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. I think he blends that youthful optimism with some pragmatism that few kids have.”

— James Carpenter, Former History Teacher

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Roy's candidacy highlights the ongoing debate around the appropriate age for political office, with Vermont's constitution allowing candidates of any age to run for governor, while most other states have minimum age requirements. His campaign also reflects a growing youth political engagement movement, as young people seek to have a greater voice in shaping the policies that will impact their futures.