Ashe Wins Vermont Auditor Race

Democrat Tim Ashe defeated Republican Ivar Kronick to succeed Doug Hoffer as state auditor.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

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Vermont voters elected Democrat Tim Ashe as state auditor, defeating Republican Ivar Kronick for the open seat. Doug Hoffer did not seek reelection, leaving the post vacant.

Why it matters

The election fills a statewide office responsible for overseeing state finances and audits, and it changes hands because the incumbent chose not to run again. Ashe's prior service as deputy auditor under Hoffer gives him direct experience in the office.

Ashe previously served five years as deputy state auditor under Hoffer before winning the seat outright. The vote tallies and margin of victory were not included in the available extraction.

The players

Tim Ashe

Tim Ashe is a Vermont Democrat who served as president of the Vermont Senate and previously worked as an affordable housing developer.

Doug Hoffer

Doug Hoffer is the outgoing Vermont state auditor who chose not to seek reelection after serving in the office.

Ivar Kronick

Ivar Kronick is a Republican from Poultney who was selected by the GOP to replace H. Brooke Paige on the auditor ballot.

The details

Ashe, a Democrat and former president of the Vermont Senate, previously worked as an affordable housing developer and unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 2020. Kronick, of Poultney, took over the Republican nomination after H. Brooke Paige withdrew to allow other candidates to run.

2020: Ashe unsuccessfully runs for lieutenant governor.
Five years before the election: Ashe serves as deputy state auditor under Hoffer.
November 4, 2026: Vermont voters elect Ashe as state auditor.

Legacy Line

The succession moves the auditor's office from Hoffer, who held it through his tenure, to Ashe, who spent five years as Hoffer's deputy. The handoff keeps the office within the same experienced line of leadership.

Vermonters now have a new state auditor who will oversee state audits and financial reviews. The change in leadership may affect how state agencies are examined in the coming term.

The takeaway

Leadership transitions in statewide offices often reflect internal succession, as Ashe's path from deputy auditor to elected auditor shows. Voters choosing a successor with direct office experience can mean continuity in day-to-day operations.