Phil Scott
Governor of Vermont since 2017 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Philip Brian Scott (born August 4, 1958) is an American politician, businessman, and stock car racer who has been the 82nd governor of Vermont since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he was a representative for the Washington District in the Vermont Senate from 2001 to 2011 and the 81st lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2017.
Phil Scott | |
---|---|
82nd Governor of Vermont | |
Assumed office January 5, 2017 | |
Lieutenant | David Zuckerman |
Preceded by | Peter Shumlin |
81st Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
In office January 6, 2011 – January 5, 2017 | |
Governor | Peter Shumlin |
Preceded by | Brian Dubie |
Succeeded by | David Zuckerman |
Member of the Vermont Senate from the Washington district | |
In office January 5, 2001 – January 5, 2011 | |
Preceded by | Jeb Spaulding |
Succeeded by | Anthony Pollina |
Personal details | |
Born | Philip Brian Scott (1958-08-04) August 4, 1958 (age 65) Barre, Vermont, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Diana McTeague |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of Vermont (BS) |
Occupation |
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Website | Government website |
Scott was elected governor in the 2016 general election with 53% of the vote.[1] He was reelected in 2018 with 55.2% of the vote;[2] in 2020 with 68.5%; and in 2022 with 70.9% of the vote and a margin of 46%, the largest of any Vermont gubernatorial election since 1996, and the largest for a Republican since 1950.[3]
Regarded as one of the nation's most popular governors,[4] Scott is considered a moderate and is the only Republican elected to a statewide office in Vermont as of 2024. He endorsed Nikki Haley for president in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. Haley won the Vermont primary, but dropped out soon after.[5]
On May 11, 2024, Scott announced that he would seek a fifth term as governor. He has noted that much work has been done by his administration, but feels that walking away now would not be good for the state. He noted that the legislature of Vermont has a Democratic supermajority and said he wants to "balance the legislature"; this has largely been his stance since taking office, vetoing many bills he believed would increase or exacerbate Vermont's cost-of-living crisis. It is widely believed that he will win reelection, as Scott is one of the nation's most popular governors, despite being a Republican in deep-blue Vermont.[6]