MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Republican Gov. Phil Scott is running for re-election to a fifth two-year term in the largely blue state of Vermont.
Scott announced his re-election on Saturday and said there is still work to be done.
“During my four terms as governor, my team and I have worked to grow the economy, make Vermont more affordable and protect the most vulnerable,” he said in a statement. “I did my best to go beyond partisanship, solve problems and help people.”
Although progress has been made, he said he could not resign when the Democratic-controlled Legislature is “so far out of whack.” Scott and the Legislature have clashed over spending and taxes, and he has vetoed a number of bills in recent years and is expected to veto more.
A Republican who combines fiscal conservatism with social liberalism, Scott was a constant critic of former President Donald Trump and voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 election. He received praise for leading Vermont through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his campaign message, he called on his supporters to elect more representatives who would work with him.
“Now more than ever, we need everyday Vermonters to make their voices heard and get involved,” he said.
When Scott first became a senator more than 23 years ago, Sen. Dick Mazza, a Democrat, took him under his wing and became his mentor, he said in his campaign message. Mazza, who resigned from the Senate last month for health reasons, asked to be at his side as he announced his re-election bid Saturday, which Scott called “such an honor.”
