[1] With the Whig Party defunct after 1854,[2] incumbent Stephen Royce, who had run with the support of both Whigs and the new Republican Party in 1854, ran as the nominee of the Republicans.

[3] The Democratic candidate was Merritt Clark, who had run unsuccessfully against Royce in 1854.

[5] With Vermont firmly in the anti-slavery camp and the Republican Party established as the main abolitionist party, Royce was easily re-elected with 58.4 percent of the vote to 22.9 for Clark and 8.4 for Slade.

[6] Royce took the oath of office and began a one-year term on October 13, 1855.

[8] With the Republican Party's expansion of the rule, it dictated that the governor and lieutenant governor would not only be from alternate sides of the Green Mountains, but that they would also be limited to two years in office.