Phil Scott wins governor’s race, Leahy and statewide incumbents re-elected

by Michael Bielawski Vermont Watchdog Amid a festive atmosphere on election night, Republican gubernatorial candidate Phil Scott won a convincing victory over Democratic rival Sue Minter. With the exception of Progressive/Democrat David Zuckerman's closer-than-expected victory over Republican Randy Brock for lieutenant governor, Democrats swept the rest of the statewide seats by wide margins, including Patrick Leahy's eighth term in the US Senate.

Minter, at Democratic headquarters at the Hilton Burlington, conceded the race about 11:15 pm in a gracious and energetic speech. She congratulated Scott and said he would work for the good of all Vermonters. At around 11:30 pm, with a commanding lead and 75 percent votes counted, the pro-Scott crowd gathered at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and began to realize that a celebration was in order. Moments later, Scott took to the stage to give a victory speech.

“To every Vermonter who put your faith in me, your support means so much. Thank you,” he said.

“For those of you who voted for Sue, or Bill or someone else, I want you to know that I will work for each and every one of you, just as I will for every Vermonter as your next governor.”

By early morning, with all but one district reporting (SEE ALL STATEWIDE RESULTS BELOW), Scott had won 166,004 votes, or 52.19 percent of voters. Minter garnered 138,753 votes, or 43.63 percent of voters.

Minter, from Waterbury, said, "Let's give a shout out to Phil Scott." She said she's known him for more than 10 years and, "I know he's served our state with distinction, and will continue to do so."

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Scott, a native of Barre, ran his campaign primarily on a renewed commitment to fiscal responsibility, pledging to limit spending increases to the rate of economic growth.

“Together we’re going to make the economy and affordability Montpelier’s top priorities. We’re going to make sure that the state budget doesn't grow faster than the economy or our wages,” he said.

By contrast, Minter’s campaign focused on her efforts to help rebuild Vermont after Tropical Storm Irene, including as Secretary of Transportation, on social issues, alternative energy policy, and free tuition to state colleges.

In one of the last polls before the election, VPR and Castleton Polling Institute projected that the race was neck-and-neck. But a WCAX poll weighed less heavily towards Democratic respondents showed Scott up by seven points.

Among the issues separating the candidates was the question of imposing a $500 million tax on carbon emissions. Scott pledged to veto any carbon tax bill that might get to his desk, while Minter said she opposed a carbon tax but would seek a cap and trade type program. She also did not close the door on big wind energy projects, which Scott had.

On gun control, Scott vowed to defend Vermont's liberal gun freedom, emphasizing that the state has among the highest per-capita gun ownership in the nation yet the lowest gun crime rates. Minter called for universal background checks and a ban on semiautomatic guns, which she characterized as “military-style assault weapons.”

On renewable energy, Minter said Vermont should keep industrial-scale wind turbines as part of the state’s energy portfolio. Scott said large turbines, which can be up to 500 feet tall, are disruptive to the environment and to the communities that host them, and he pledged to pursue a moratorium on new wind energy development.

When asked for which issues voters had just given him a mandate, Scott stuck to his mantra on spending.

“I think they need a break. This crisis of affordability is real for the vast majority of Vermonters,” Scott told Watchdog.

“They want us to live within our means just like they have to. They want some help with the economy. They just want to be able to live in Vermont and prosper. I think that’s their mandate.”

Scott said one of his first priorities upon getting into office will be to “work with the Legislature and try to find some common ground.”

“This budget is something we are going to be building — we are going to start tomorrow. That will be a lot of work over the next seven or eight weeks,” he said.

Leahy, Democrats Sweep Statewide Races

US Senator Patrick Leahy won an eighth term, Congressman Peter Welch, Treasurer Beth Pearce, Secretary of State Jim Condos, and Auditor Doug Hoffer all won by wide margins, as did TJ Donovan, who will become the state's next attorney general, as William Sorrell is stepping down.

Vermont was also the first state called for Hillary Clinton in her presidential contest against Donald Trump.

Vermont Watchdog 11.9.2016.  Vermont Secretary of State.