Zuckerman with strong lead on Benning as of 11 PM
By Guy Page
Vermont voters overwhelmingly approved Article 22, the reproductive liberty amendment, on Election Day November 8. They also returned Phil Scott as governor and selected Peter Welch and Becca Balint as the state’s U.S. Senator and member of Congress, respectively.
For complete, up-to-date returns go to Vermont Election Night Results. At 11 PM with 216 of 283 towns and cities reporting, Vermont general election results are as follows:
Constitutional Amendments
Article 22, enshrining abortion into the state constitution, passed 72-22%. Article 1, prohibiting slavery and indentured servitude, passed about 90-10%.
Federal
Senate: Peter Welch-D defeats Gerald Malloy-R 67-28%.
Congress: Becca Balint-D 60%, Liam Madden-R 27%, Ericka Redic Libertarian 4.3%.
Statewide
Governor: Phil Scott-R over Dem Brenda Siegel 70-23%.
Lt. Gov.: David Zuckerman (D/P) over Joe Benning-R 51-42%.
Democratic candidates Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (Secretary of State), Charity Clark (Attorney General), and Michael Pieciak (Treasurer) defeated Republican candidate H. Brooke Paige by wide margins, as did incumbent Auditor Doug Hoffer (D/P) over Rick Morton.
Vermont Senate
Caledonia – Jane Kitchell-D over JT Dodge-R 59-34%.
Chittenden North – Irene Wrenner-D is running two points ahead of Leland Morgan-R with one town left to report.
Addison – incumbent Democrats Chris Bray and Ruth Hardy defeated Lloyd Dike and Robert Burton by more than 2-1 margins. 21 of 25 towns reporting.
Franklin – Randy Brock and Bob Norris, Republicans, beat Pam McCarthy and another Democrat.
Grand Isle – Dick Mazza-D beat Steve Bellows-R by over 2-1.
Orange – with seven of 13 towns reporting, Mark MacDonald-D leads John Klar-R 55-40%.
Orleans – with 13 of 20 towns reporting, Bobby Starr-D leads Sam Douglass 50-34.
Rutland – clean sweep for GOP with Brian Collamore, Terry Williams, and Dave Weeks ahead with 24 of 27 towns reporting.
Washington – clean sweep for Democrats, with Ann Cummings (10%), Anne Watson (9%), and Andy Perchlik (8%) in the lead, with Paul Bean (4%) the leading Republican.
Windham – Democrats Wendy Harrison and Nader Hashim win defeat Republicans Rick Morton and Rick Kenyon by 3-1.
Windsor – Alice Clarkson, Rebecca White, and Dick McCormack win. They each received just over 10% of vote, with three Republicans each getting between 4-5%.
Essex – Russ Ingalls elected uncontested.
Lamoille – Rich Westman elected uncontested.
Bennington – Brian Campion and Dick Sears elected uncontested.
Key House Races
Caledonia 3 (Lyndon) – With four of five towns reporting, Republican Charles Wilson leads Democratic Dennis LaBounty by one vote.
Caledonia-Essex (St Johnsbury, etc.) – incumbents Scott Beck and Scott Campbell re-elected.
Franklin 1 (Georgia-Fairfax) – Republican Carolyn Brantley and Ashley Bartley beat two Democrats.
In Fairfield, James Gregoire-R beat Brenda Churchill-D 57-40%.
Franklin 7 – Allen “Penny” Demar-R beat Cindy Weed by about 3-1.
In St. Albans City, Casey Toof-R beat Lauren Dees-Erickson 61-36%.
Franklin 3 – Mike McCarthy-D beat Joe Luneau 56-42%.
In Stowe, Independent Jed Lipsky, backed by retiring Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, won 59-38%.
In the Waterville-Cambridge seat, Lucy Boyden-D leads Rebecca Pitre 52-46%, with one town as yet unreported.
Orange-Caledonia – one vote separates Joe Parsons-R and Kelsie Root-Manchester-D, with one town unreported.
Orange-Washington-Addison – incumbents Jay Hooper and Larry Satcowitz defeated Republicans Wayne Townsend and Jackie Klar by 2-1.
Orange-Washington – With two towns unreported, Samantha Lefebvre leads Carl Demrow by 12 votes.
Orleans – Brian Smith of Derby beat Aimee Alexander 58-39%.
Orleans 4 – Katherine Sims-D beat Vicki Strong-R 60-38%.
Rutland-Bennington – with four of five towns reporting, Robin Chesnut-Tangerman leads Sally Achey 52-45%.
Rutland 2 – with three of four towns reporting, Tom Burditt and Art Peterson lead Dave Potter and Dave Fredette, with 100 votes separating Peterson and Potter.
In Barre Town, Topper McFaun and Gina Galfetti easily defeated Melissa Battah and another Democrat. In Barre City, Peter Anthony and Jonathan Williams beat Republicans Tom Kelly and Brian Judd.
In Berlin-Northfield, Republicans Anne Donahue and Ken Goslant held their seats against a Democratic challenger.
Democrats Kate McCann and Connor Casey took the two Montpelier seats.
Democrats Theresa Wood and Tom Stevens beat Republican Kathy Tarrant and an independent in the Waterbury, etc. House seat.
In Windsor-Orange 2, Democrats Rebecca Holcombe and Jim Masland beat Republicans Bill Huff and Matt Stralka.