While the Republicans held onto Vermont's three electoral votes once more, the closeness of the race represented a turning point in the state's political history.

Despite this history, Vermont was considered a swing state in 1988, and the Dukakis campaign targeted it in its electoral strategy.

With the exception of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Dukakis’ performance was the best of any Democratic presidential candidate in Vermont until Bill Clinton won the state in 1992.

It would also be the last time the Republicans would carry the counties of Bennington, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington and Windsor.

To date, this is the last time that the cities of Rutland and Vergennes, as well as the towns of Albany, Arlington, Berlin, Bethel, Bolton, Brandon, Brookline, Cambridge, Chester, Colchester, Dover, East Montpelier, Elmore, Essex, Fairlee, Goshen, Grafton, Grand Isle, Granville, Halifax, Hardwick, Hartford, Hartland, Hubbardton, Hyde Park, Jamaica, Jericho, Johnson, Killington, Kirby, Ludlow, Middletown Springs, Moretown, Morristown, Mount Holly, Peacham, Pomfret, Proctor, Randolph, Reading, Rochester, Salisbury, Shaftsbury, Sharon, Shelburne, Shrewsbury, South Hero, Springfield, St. Albans, St. George, Stockbridge, Stowe, Sudbury, Townshend, Waitsfield, Walden, Waltham, Waterbury, Weathersfield, West Windsor, Williston, Wilmington, Winhall, Wolcott, and Woodstock voted Republican.