GOP newcomers trounce Dems statewide as many incumbents lose or declined to run
By Guy Page
Vermont House Republicans on Election Day took 20 seats now held by Democrats, ending the current Democrat Supermajority.
Voters also re-elected Republican Gov. Phil Scott, elected Republican John Rodgers as lieutenant governor, and overturned the Senate Democrat Supermajority by sending 13 Republicans to the upper chamber.
The GOP House caucus, reduced to 34 seats after years of Election Day attrition, will have more than enough votes to support Gov. Phil Scott’s vetos in the 2025-26 Legislature.
In most cases, the overturn vote margins weren’t even close. And it didn’t seem to matter if the candidates were established incumbents or Democrat newcomers recruited to fill the seat left by departing incumbents.
Complete Vermont election results can be seen on the Secretary of State election results page. While only one House district lost a Republican seat to a Democrat, these following Republicans won in ‘turnover’ districts now held by Democrats.
Chris Keyser, son of former governor F. Ray Keyser, defeated William Notte, the Assistant Majority Leader of House Democrats, in Rutland City by a 56%-40% margin.
Chris Pritchard, by a 55%-43% margin, unseated incumbent Democrat/Progressive Robin Chesnut-Tangerman in the five-town Rutland-Bennington district.
Insurance executive Debra Lynn Powers of Waterford defeated incumbent Bobby Farlice-Rubio in the Caledonia-1 district, 55%-41%.
Orchard owner Greg Burtt of Cabot won the Caledonia-Washington seat (including West Danville) 55-43% over Tom Ziobroski, the Democrat nominated after Dem Henry Pearl declined to seek re-election.
Jim Casey won Addison-Rutland (Orwell, Shoreham) unopposed in a seat held by Democrat Joseph Andriano, who did not run.
Joe Luneau defeated House Government Operations Chair and SunCommon employee Dem. Mike McCarthy in the St. Albans City district by 53%-44% margin.
Ken Wells of Brownington, a broadcaster and former publisher of the Newport Daily Express, won the open Orleans-3 seat vacated by Democrat David Templeman, who chose to not run.
Mike Southworth of Walden defeated by a 57-40% margin a Democrat challenger in the Hardwick/Stannard/Walden seat of Caledonia-2 long held by Democrat Joseph Troiano.
Former legislator Republican Martha Feltus defeated incumbent Democrat Dennis LaBounty by 700 votes in the Caledonia-3 (Lyndon, Burke) two-seat district. Incumbent Republican Beth Quimby was re-elected.
Brenda Steady of Milton defeated incumbent Democrat Julia Andrews of Westford 50-45% in the Chittenden 25 district.
Kevin Winter won the Rutland-Windsor (Shrewsbury, Mt. Holly, Ludlow) seat 55%-41% over Democrat Adrienne Raymond, who was nominated after incumbent Democrat Logan Nicoll declined to run again.
Former Grand Isle-Chittenden House member Republican Leland Morgan unseated Democrat incumbent Josie Leavitt by 800 votes in the two-seat district, where Rep. Mike Morgan, a Republican and nephew of Leland, won re-election.
Michael Boutin of Barre was the top vote-getter by more than 400 votes in the Barre City Washington-3 district, ousting incumbent Rep. Jonathan Williams. Democrat Teddy Waszazek succeeds Democrat Rep. Peter Anthony, who chose to not run again.
Mike Tagliavia of Corinth, a conservative radio show host, defeated incumbent Democrat Carl Demrow 52-45% in the Orange 1 district.
Richard Bailey of Hyde Park took the second seat in the Lamoille-2 district, now held by a Democrat who declined to seek re-election. Incumbent Dan Noyes of Wolcott was re-elected.
Rob North of Ferrisburgh won the Addison-3 seat, unseating powerful House Appropriations Chair Diane Lanpher of Vergennes, a House member since 2009. Incumbent Matt Birong was re-elected.
Sandy Pinsonault of East Dorset won in Bennington-Rutland, defeating incumbent Mike Rice 53%-44%.
Thomas Charlton beat incumbent Democrat Heather Chase 49%-48% in the Windsor-Windham district representing Chester and surrounding towns.
Todd Nielson, on a straightforward ‘no tax increase’ platform, defeated incumbent Democrat Stephanie Jerome in the Rutland-9 (Brandon) 53%-44%.
By a 50%-45% margin, U.S. Army Bronze Star winner VL Coffin defeated Democrat challenger Mark Yuengling in the Windsor 2 (Baltimore, Weathersfield, Cavendish) seat vacated by Democrat John Arrison, who didn’t run for re-election.
The Republican ‘overturn’ numbers would have been even more pronounced but for two narrow losses: Bruce Busa in Bennington-1 lost by 25 votes to Jonathan Cooper, and Keith Stern lost by the same margin to longtime Institutions and Corrections Committee Chair Alice Emmons.
Republicans maintained all seats under their control except the Colchester seat vacated by Pat Brennan, who ran successfully for the Senate.
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