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By Sam Douglass
Vermonters on Tuesday once again elected Republican Gov. Phil Scott to lead the state for what will be a historic sixth term, but as votes were reported, it was clear that it would be his closest race in years. As of 5:44 a.m., Associated Press reported Scott’s margin of victory at 7 points, far less than the 51.6 point margin he enjoyed in 2024. This was the closest race Scott faced in his gubernatorial career with the closest being his inaugural campaign against Sue Minter in 2016 where he won by a margin of 8.75 points.
While Scott earned himself another term, most of the Republican lawmakers he helped elect in 2024 on a wave of property tax revolt and other affordability concerns have lost their seats, as have Republicans around the country. Republicans retained only eight of the 13 seats claimed in the 2024 election. Senate Democrats have regained a supermajority, enabling them to override the Governor’s veto.
Scott’s opponent, economist Amanda Janoo, garnered 45.6% of the vote Only one day prior to the election, a prominent UNH poll had her leading Scott by 8 points. The Strafford resident and political newcomer won the August Democratic primary against fellow Democrat Aly Richards by a margin of 2.6 points, and has since captured the attention of many voters as she rose in popularity across several polls.
Shortly before midnight, Vermont Republican Chair Paul Dame issued a brief statement to the press thanking candidates and volunteers while stressing that the clock has been turned back.
In a phone call to VDC shortly after midnight, Dame said that voters should expect similar bills and policies to those introduced under the previous Democratic supermajority. Vermonters may be familiar with Act 181 or the “Clean Heat Standard,” which were both passed during this period.
While the composition of the legislature is similar, Dame is also concerned that the atmosphere of the legislature will be more contentious than under prior Democratic control.
“Whatever the Trump administration does at the federal level, Vermonters should expect more grandstanding and Democrats trying to solve it at a state level,” said Dame. “Many Democrats ran on affordability and I don’t think that they will be able to deliver.”
Republicans suffered losses across the state in House and Senate races. In one of the early reported Senate races of the evening, political newcomer Kim Gleason (D) defeated incumbent Sen. Patrick Brennnan (R) by 6.81 points. Brennan won his seat in the Vermont Senate in 2024 after years of service in the Vermont House of Representatives. While in the legislature, Brennan was a strong supporter of hunters and the rights of firearm owners.
In the Chittenden-North district, consisting of Milton, Fairfax, Essex Town, and Westford, former Senator Irene Wrenner defeated Rep. Ashley Bartley by a margin of 2.09 points. In 2024, Wrenner lost her seat in the Senate to then-Rep. Christopher Mattos, who did not run for reelection in 2026. Wrenner was heavily criticized during the campaign for her previous voting record in the Senate and faced scandal around a political mailer featuring former Rep. Don Turner Jr.
Sen. John Benson lost his election bid to Rep. Monique Priestly (D/P) in Orange County by a margin of 3.14 points. Benson was appointed to the Senate by Governor Phil Scott in late 2025 following the resignation of Sen. Larry Hart who was elected to the seat in 2024.
Former Democratic Senator David Wolk, though now running as an Independent, surpassed Republican incumbents in Rutland County, claiming second place ahead of Sen. David Weeks (R) and behind assistant minority leader Sen. Brian Collamore (R). Incumbent Sen. Terry Williams (R) came in fourth place in the three seat district. Williams was recently arrested and charged with domestic violence, though it is unknown to the degree that this impacted election results.
In Addison County, Sen. Steven Heffernan (R) lost his reelection bid to incumbent Democrat Sen. Ruth Hardy (D) and newcomer Hannah Sessions (D). While in office, Heffernan was heavily criticized on multiple votes, including when he was absent on the vote for Proposal 4 in 2025.
In a near blow to Republicans, Senate Minority leader Scott Beck (R) narrowly avoided defeat in Caledonia County to newcomer David Roth by a margin of 1.61 points.
Democrats retained control of their current seats in the Senate districts of Windsor County, Windham County, Washington County, Chittenden-Central, and Chittenden-Southeast. Republicans retained control of their current seats in the Senate districts of Franklin County, Orleans County, Essex County, and Lamoille County.
Across the country, Democrats capitalized on discontent surrounding the Trump administration, notably immigration policies and the ongoing armed conflict in Iran, and in Vermont were successful in tying Vermont Republicans to the Republican Party nationally.
“Donald Trump told people to vote like he was on the ballot, and they did in Vermont and across the county,” said Rob Roper, a well-known Vermont political analyst and commentator, in a Wednesday morning message to VDC.
With a Democratic supermajority in the Vermont House and Senate, Republican lawmakers may have to wait their turn once more.
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Categories: Elections
So people vote for a Republican governor but elect democrat reps! Idiotic to say the rest!
Get it thru your head, he’s not a Republican. That’s why he got elected.
Looking at the rest of the country, Vermont seems to have come out slightly ahead. I think it’s finally time for me to learn how to defend myself, though. But you know they will be coming for those rights soon.
People in Vermont keep voting for the same thing that brought tax burden in the 1st place. Every liberal should quit whining about taxes.
Emotional voting rarely works out well. The parties are so far apart on at least some issues that running to the Dems and Progs because you hate DJT even though many VT Republicans are not MAGA, will make the state more abnormal and less affordable.
Buy guns and ammo now. The Islamo-communists will be coming for all your rights.
James, “Islamo-communists” are coming from all my rights? I’m more worried about unhinged people who suggest buying guns and ammo because they doesn’t like the results of an election. Take a breath.
It was our so-called Republican governor that signed an unconstitutional magazine limit ban and a waiting period to purchase a firearm. Allows our stat to be a sanctuary state in violation our Constitution and you think this group of communists won’t come for any more of our rights.
Happiness is a warm gun. BUT GUNS AND AMMO. The Revolutionary war started when King George sent General Gage to Boston to confiscate the colonists firearms.
It will be business as usual. Nothing will get better under Phil Scott. Just about everything got worse when he became Governor in 2016. Sales Tax is about the only thing that did not get dramatically worse. Thank you for the support I got from Posters and Commenter’s here on VDC. I kept all my promises. I will go about taking my Ideals for Vermont to Montpelier as a citizen for the next 2 years and then I will run again for Governor in 2028. SAVE VERMONT, VOTE JUDD FOR GOVERNOR 2028 !!!
Do you think things would have been better if Sue Minter, or any of the other opponents he beat would have run? Do you think any of his primary opponents had a chance of being elected governor?
That’s great news! Everyone needs a hobby.
Of course he is the commie’s pet republican. He proclaimed he would not vote for, or support, the greatest president America ever had. What does that tell you? But color me still convinced the 2026 elections were fixed, that many people are not that dumb.
I am not buying it. I know some folks who have had intense TDS for quite a while. I think the Iran war, resulting fuel prices and the news that the oil companies made huge record profits since that war began tipped folks over the edge.
Say what you like about Phil Scott’s RINO status, we are still better off than with that clown Janoo. Thank God she turned out to be just another sacrificial lamb despite all of that irrational Trump hatred bringing her closer than the last lamb. The bottom line is that for the good of the Nation, Trump should have waited until these midterms before starting it up with Iran. Anyone who pays attention knows that a suicidal, apocalyptic country like Iran which does not care for it’s citizens will put up with a lot of destruction and resource deprivation before caving. I am willing to put up with high gas prices to topple a rogue nation like Iran, but most people dont have an adequate sense of the serious threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Trump’s overall arrogance, his penchant for re-naming things, insulting our neighboring countries and reticence for getting the job done in Iran cost this country a big political price.
Now it looks like the mass murders that pushed the mandatory COVID Kill Shot are back in power in Vermont. History must not be forgot as the damage is still with us. This is going to be a very interesting winter Comment from Richard Day.
Folks are worrying about Phil when they should be concerned with the number of Democrats/Progressives/Socialists/Marxists/Communists (different labels but same people) that now sit in the House and Senate. I predict that before long, they will drop the Democrat namesake and just become the Socialist/Marxist Party. Watch out folks, these people will be bullying their way through bill after bill that will tax you more and dictate more and more over your every move and every decision you make. Watch your price of heating oil and gasoline for you vehicles. They will be looking for new ways to tax you out of existence. The end game is to make more working Vermonters dependent on State Government and thereby control everything. I also predict that if you try calling any of these dictators or emailing them while they are in session you will get only silence or even worse, a curtly worded response about how they know better than you do so just shut up and go away. It is way beyond emboldened now. Mark my words, you are not going to believe the session starting in January. I can assure you they are already having strategy meetings on what they will be cramming down our collective throats.
In full agreement, Steve, except those meetings have already happened. The legislation is already written.
“Folks are worrying about Phil when they should be concerned with the number of Democrats/Progressives/Socialists/Marxists/Communists (different labels but same people) that now sit in the House and Senate.” BINGO !
To all those Republicans that were just too busy to perform their civic duty, cry as you will these results are on your lazy azzes ! Thank you !
I went to vote this time and I used a little different method. Now if I was to believe that none of these people running for office were going to protect my bill of rights I would mark the other and wright my own name in that office. To put in plain words YOUR FIRED. There are other ways to protest and that ballot is my vote. Comment from Richard Day.
If we can get through four years of Biden and Harris, this should be a cake walk. Well, maybe.
While this may or may not be accurately attributed to Ben Franklin, it still holds true:
“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic” — Ben Franklin