Question about Vermont

[angrychair]

Can someone explain to me why Vermont elected a republican governor?

[brooklynite]

1. Because they elected him the last three times?

Not every Republican is a MAGA Trumper.

[angrychair]

2. Appreciate the answer

Have to disagree. All Republicans are scumbags. I tolerate them in my life but never make the mistake of forgetting exactly who's side they are on.

[brooklynite]

3. By taking that attitude, you risk losing elections...

If the folks who vote for Bernie or Welch will also vote for a Republican, understanding who they are and why they vote the way that do is useful.

[karynnj]

4. The previous Democratic governor had some character issues

At that time Scott was the lt governor, an independent position that has little power. He was regularly on VT public radio. I think on a weekly basis. He was moderate and personable. He ran against a strong Democratic opponent, who was far less known to people. This even though she ran a department in the Schumlin administration. Once in, he got a lot of credit for not being a Trump Republicsn and doing a good job handling covid. He had regular press conferences where he correctly put the health people out front.

Vermont does a better job than most places in not having a toxic partisan culture.

[angrychair]

5. I hear you

But it gives Republicans a feather in their cap and adds to the number of states controlled by Republicans. Plus if someone has to leave office for some reason most states let governors temporarily replace them. Republican governor will always replace them with a Republican.

[Celerity]

6. No, Scott has promised numerous times to NOT replace a vacancy with a Rethug.

One example:

Scott Says He Would Replace Sanders With Democrat-Affiliated Independent

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/10/23/scott-says-he-would-replace-sanders-with-democrat-affiliated-independent%3fmedia=AMP%2bHTML

[karynnj]

10. The former is true, but on the latter he pledged to replace Bernie with an independent

to honor what voters voted for.

I really think there should be laws that require replacement by a person of the same party approved by that party.

[Celerity]

7. Why Republican Gov. Phil Scott keeps winning in Vermont

https://www.middleburycampus.com/article/2022/11/why-republican-gov-phil-scott-keeps-winning-in-vermont

Vermont holds the record for the most consecutive victories for governors seeking reelection. Over the past half-century, all 18 of the state’s governors who have made bids for reelection were successful.

A number of states have high rates of reelecting incumbent governors — in 2014, the national reelection rate was 74.9% over the past 50 years. According to former Governor Jim Douglas, Vermont’s smaller population and geographic size, along with two-year gubernatorial terms, position Vermont incumbents particularly well for reelection.

These factors have served incumbent governor Phil Scott well over the past six years. Scott, a Republican, won the 2016 election by 8.7%, the 2018 election by 14.9%, and the 2020 election by 41.1%. Scott appears well-positioned to defeat Democratic candidate Brenda Siegel in this month’s election.

With an overwhelmingly Democratic-leaning state legislature, two Democrat Senators, and a Democrat Representative, Scott’s success is perhaps surprising. According to Political Science Professor Matt Dickinson, however, Vermonters like to balance their left-leaning elected officials with some conservative influence.

snip

[tishaLA]

8. I saw on twitter yesterday that for the first time ever, VT

elected a senator born after WW2. I just find that astonishing.

[sl8]

9. A few things, in no particular order:

Last edited Thu Nov 10, 2022, 04:27 PM - Edit history (1)

1. Gun control. When Scott announced support for several gun control measures his Republican/Independent support dropped to the point that he had more support from Democrats than from his own party. First significant gun control in the state's history was enacted with his signature.

2. COVID response. Not only how he handled the the pandemic per se, which was generally considered to be good, but that he addressed the public 2-3 times a week during the worst of it. That's got to result in tremendous voter familiarity, much more than that enjoyed by any of his political opponents.

3. Anti-Trump, anti-MAGA. Scott is famously anti-Trump. Before the 2016 election, he said that he couldn't support Trump because he wouldn't be able to face his wife and daughters again if he did. Before the 2020 election he said that he'd be voting for Biden. He's decried the rising MAGA influence in the VT GOP and appears that the two don't get along any more, at all. Note that he held his own election day event, he said he wasn't told about the GOP's event.

4. Balance. Not too sure about this one, but it gets mentioned in a lot of the analysis articles. Democrats will again hold veto proof majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

5. Vermonters have a history of reelecting incumbent governors. Maybe not a "reason", but noteworthy.