Vermont High School Freshman Makes History Running for Governor at Age 14

A 14-year-old Vermont high school student has become the first teenager to qualify for his state's gubernatorial election ballot. Dean Roy formed his own political party to secure his spot in November's race, hoping to inspire other young people to get involved in politics.

STOWE, Vt. — Dean Roy traces his political aspirations back to eighth grade — which for the 14-year-old gubernatorial hopeful was just last year.

The Stowe High School freshman, who previously served as a legislative page at Vermont’s Statehouse, has set his sights on the governor’s mansion. This November, Roy will make history as the first minor to appear on Vermont’s general election ballot for governor.

“I don’t expect necessarily to win,” he said. “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.'”

Roy isn’t the first young Vermonter to pursue the state’s top office. In 2018, eighth-grader Ethan Sonneborn ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination but came in last among four primary candidates. Roy guaranteed his place in the general election by establishing his own third party called the Freedom and Unity party. Vermont’s constitution makes such campaigns possible by setting no age floor for gubernatorial candidates — only requiring four years of state residency.

“I know it sounds crazy, a 14-year-old running for governor, but honestly, look at the people in charge right now,” Roy said in a post on his campaign’s Instagram page. “They’ve been doing this forever and things still aren’t working.”

Most other states establish minimum age thresholds for governor, typically 30 years old. Kansas legislators implemented a 25-year minimum age requirement in 2018 following campaigns by six teenagers.

Vermont Law and Graduate School professor Peter Teachout questions Roy’s constitutional interpretation. He references language in the state constitution about voter qualifications, which require citizens to be at least 18. Regardless of the legal debate, Teachout doubts the teenager will prevail.

“In theory, a 4-year-old could run for governor. Should we be worried about it? No,” he said. “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.”

James Carpenter, Roy’s former history teacher, supports his student’s ambitious undertaking. While typical 14-year-olds don’t focus on property taxes or healthcare policy, Carpenter characterizes Roy as an “old soul” with boundless intellectual 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,” he said. “I think he blends that youthful optimism with some pragmatism that few kids have.”

Roy, who claims no allegiance to either major political party, identifies housing as Vermont’s most pressing challenge. He’s already considered how to balance academic responsibilities with gubernatorial duties, suggesting online coursework and completing homework after work hours.

Current Republican Governor Phil Scott commends Roy’s civic engagement while questioning whether someone so young possesses the necessary experience for state leadership.

“He believes it’s important for our youth to get involved,” said press secretary Amanda Wheeler. “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 rejects the notion that age determines a candidate’s qualifications 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 said. “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.”