Republican Gov. Phil Scott wins a fifth term in heavily Democratic Vermont

Associated Press

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 has clashed with the Democrat-controlled legislature over spending and initiatives, vetoing eight bills this year. The legislature overrode six of those vetoes. In his campaigning, Scott asked supporters to vote for what he calls commonsense legislators who will work with him to make Vermont more affordable and stop the increasing taxes and fees from the Legislature.