Republican Gov. Phil Scott has won reelection to a fifth term in the heavily Democratic state of Vermont. Scott beat political newcomer Esther Charlestin, a Democrat-progressive who an educator, consultant and co-chair of the Vermont Commission on Women. Also on the ballot were independents Kevin Hoyt and Eli “Poa” Mutino, and minor party candidate June Goodband. Scott, a critic of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, voted for Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Scott has clashed with the Democrat-controlled Vermont legislature over spending and initiatives. He asked supporters to vote for what he called commonsense legislators who will work with him to make Vermont more affordable and stop the increasing taxes and fees from the Legislature.
