Gov. Phil Scott easily wins re-election to a fifth term and leads fellow Republicans into the Legislature

Updated at 12:19

Vermonters overwhelmingly supported Gov. Phil Scott in his re-election bid on Tuesday, with many responding to his call to elect new Republican lawmakers to help him combat the Democratic majority in Montpelier.

It became clear immediately after the polls closed that the Berlin Republican won his fifth two-year term, defeating Democratic candidate Esther Charlestin. But it took several more hours for the extent of Scott’s success in the down-ballot to become clear.

Appeared around midnight multiple Republican Senate candidates He had won by threatening the Democratic supermajority that the governor supported. Although Scott’s campaign focused most of its energy on flipping Senate seats, his electoral success extended to the House of Representatives as well. At least two Democratic House speakers and one deputy majority leader They were also defeated Tuesday.

“I think tonight’s success rests largely on the shoulders of Governor Scott and his willingness to spend the political capital he has accumulated over more than a decade in a more lavish manner than we have ever seen him before,” said Vermont. Republican Party Chairman Paul Dame.

Scott and dozens of his closest supporters and employees gathered Tuesday night in Montpelier at the Associated General Contractors of Vermont warehouse, which was decorated with a variety of Scott campaign and motorcycle paraphernalia for the occasion. A guitarist serenaded the room with country and classic rock songs.

After the Associated Press called the race for Scott, campaign manager Jason Maulucci broke the “good news” of the governor’s victory into the chamber and was greeted with applause.

Just before 9:30 p.m., Scott took the podium to thank voters and responders who voted decisively to keep him in office. Scott’s call to send Republican support to the Vermont Legislature.

“This election was about one fundamental question: Can you, your aging parents, your grandparents, your children, your grandchildren, your neighbors, live and thrive in Vermont if we don’t make a course correction on the path set by the EU? legislative leaders over the last two years?” Scott said. “Vermonters voted and sent a clear message. They voted for balance. They voted for moderation. They told us they couldn’t afford the direction we were going and they wanted legislators to set clear priorities.”

Charlestin, a political newcomer and education consultant who lives in South Burlington, took the stage shortly after 9:15 p.m. at the Vermont Democratic Party’s election night party in South Burlington. She was with her mother and her husband, Jesse Norford, watching the children from outside. He acknowledged the race in the crowd and congratulated Scott on his decisive win.

“I believe in doing what is difficult. “This race – come on, this race was a mountain in itself,” he said, adding: “Even though it’s difficult, it’s important that we’re still engaged in our democracy.”

“It was an honor to travel to Vermont and really see and hear people’s concerns,” he said. “And I thank you all for that.”

Scott’s easy win came despite former President Donald Trump, who is widely unpopular in Vermont, favoring Republicans.

If Tuesday was any indication, Vermonters were willing to split their tickets. Earlier that evening, the AP also announced Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Victory in Green Mountain state – The vice president’s first win of the night.

Just after midnight when 94% of towns and cities had reported, Scott was on track to garner nearly 71% of the vote, according to unofficial results provided by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office. Charlestine garnered more than 21% of the vote.

At the same time, Harris was leading Trump in Vermont by about 63% to 32%, according to unofficial results from the State Department.

Cost-of-living concerns had pushed many voters to choose Scott, they told VTDigger early Tuesday.

“Taxes are going sky high,” said Rachel McCuin, 82, a lifelong Warren resident and retired federal Department of Agriculture employee. “I’ve lived here my whole life, but God, you know, I’m not sure I can stay.”

McCuin said he voted because “I wanted to keep in the governor we got in” and hoped Scott would help rein in education spending and property taxes.

Property taxes were also a major concern for Joe Danis, 30, of South Hero. “I don’t even live on the water, and my property taxes are up 24% this year,” he said. “I think he’s done a very good job of listening to people and doing what he says to keep taxes low,” Danis said of Scott.

Even those who voted for Charlesin described it more as a vote against Scott.

“I don’t think we can impeach Scott, and he’s basically fine, kind of middle of the road,” retired administrative assistant Karen Chickering, 69, said after voting in Burlington Tuesday morning. “But he needs to be taught that he is not the ultimate authority. “He overruled a lot of things that I don’t think he should have done, and I’m voting against him this time.”

Scott has frequently polled as the nation’s most popular governor, and in recent years Democratic Party officials have described Scott as largely unbeatable. Former Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, the only other governor in recent history to win as many terms as Scott, has considered a public political comeback to challenge Scott this year.

But even Dean retreatedHe told reporters in May that he would have to resort to a “scorched earth, negative attack campaign” to unseat Scott. He predicted that the entire (hypothetical) event “would easily be a $2 million race for both parties.”

“Your first job in any race against an incumbent — whether popular or unpopular — is to convince people that the incumbent does not deserve re-election and that story is not being told,” said Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. In that case.

Ultimately, only two Democratic candidates rose to the challenge: Charlestin and his primary opponent, Peter Duval, a former Underhill Board of Election member who had previously run as a statewide Republican. Scott also faces two independent challengers in this election — Kevin Hoyt of Bennington and Eli “Poa” Mutino of Barre — and a challenger from the Peace and Justice Party in June Goodband of Springfield. None appeared on track to receive more than 3% of the vote.

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On Tuesday night, Scott praised Charlestin for “stepping up,” saying: “I know it’s not easy to put yourself out there.”

When is Charles? Won the Democratic primary In August, she became the first black woman to represent a major party in Vermont’s gubernatorial ballot.

He told VTDigger at the time that he planned to “go hard” by campaigning for Vermonters’ votes: “That means raising a lot more money. That means knocking on doors. That means seeking approval.”

Charlestine’s gubernatorial campaign did not go exactly as he expected. He raised $56,692 during his campaign, according to his last campaign finance report filed with the State Department on Nov. 1.

Scott’s campaign fundraising total as of Nov. 1 was $343,632. That’s more than six times the money Charlestine raised.

During the campaign, Scott rarely criticized Charlestin directly. Instead he Focus on Legislative Democrats as political enemies

Democrats in both the Vermont House and Senate in 2022 achieved a two-thirds majority — enough seats to theoretically override Scott’s frequent gubernatorial vetoes. Over the next two years, Democrats made progress on legislative priorities they knew Scott opposed. Bill to create a clean heat standard. While Scott eagerly used his veto power, legislators often responded with decisive override votes.

On the debate stage and in interviews with VTDigger, Scott acknowledged that he does not believe Vermont is better off now than it was two years ago. But that was his fault, he argued: I didn’t rest with himbut with the Democrats in Montpelier.

On Tuesday night, as the results continued to roll in, it became clear that Scott’s campaign trail rhetoric was resonating with Vermonters. Due to a series of setbacks, both new and incumbent Democrats in both the House and Senate lost their races to Republicans supported by Scott.

“I’m sure it will come as no surprise to all of you that making Vermont more affordable is our top priority,” Scott said at his election night party Tuesday. “I am very pleased that there are more moderate, common-sense legislators willing to work with me toward this goal.”