Question about Vermont

[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.

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