Politics in the Green Mountains usually feels like a foregone conclusion. You’ve got the Bernie Sanders factor, the sea of blue lawn signs in Burlington, and that weirdly comfortable "Vermont way" of doing things where everyone mostly gets along. But the Vermont 2024 election results actually served up some genuine shocks that caught even seasoned Montpelier insiders off guard.
Sure, the big names at the top of the ticket did exactly what they were supposed to do. Kamala Harris cruised to a win, and Bernie Sanders basically walked back into his Senate seat for a fourth term. But if you look just an inch below the surface, the story of 2024 is actually about a massive Republican surge in the statehouse that effectively ended the Democratic supermajority. It was a "blue" state night with a very distinct "red" lining.
The Top of the Ticket: No Surprises Here
Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way first. Kamala Harris won Vermont by nearly 32 points. Honestly, that’s not even news anymore; Vermont has been the safest of safe harbors for Democrats since the 90s. She pulled in 235,791 votes (63.8%), while Donald Trump snagged 119,395 (32.3%). It's worth noting that Trump actually improved his 2020 performance slightly, but in a state where Harris won every single county except for Essex, it didn't change the electoral math one bit.
Bernie Sanders had a similar night. The 83-year-old independent powerhouse crushed Republican challenger Gerald Malloy with 63.2% of the vote. It's funny, though—even Bernie isn't immune to the shifting tides. This was technically his "closest" Senate race ever, and for the first time in thirty years, he actually lost a county (Essex again). It didn't stop him from heading back to D.C. with over 229,000 votes in his pocket, but it’s a tiny crack in the armor that people are still whispering about.
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Phil Scott: The Unstoppable Force
If you want to talk about a mandate, you have to talk about Governor Phil Scott. The man is basically a political unicorn at this point—a pro-choice, pro-gun-control Republican in one of the most liberal states in the country. He didn't just win; he absolutely demolished his opponent, Esther Charlestin.
Scott pulled in a staggering 73.4% of the vote. That is the largest margin of victory for any Vermont governor since the 1940s. Think about that for a second. In the same election where the Republican presidential nominee lost by 30 points, the Republican governor won by 50. He didn't just win the rural areas; he won every single municipality in the state. Even in Burlington, the progressive heart of Vermont, Scott found a way to win over voters who were simultaneously casting ballots for Harris and Bernie.
The Statehouse Earthquake: Goodbye Supermajority
This is where things got really interesting and, for the Democrats, kinda scary. For the last couple of sessions, Democrats and Progressives held a "supermajority." Basically, they could pass whatever they wanted, Phil Scott would veto it, and they’d just override him. It happened over 50 times. People were getting frustrated with the constant back-and-forth, especially with property taxes and heating costs going through the roof.
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On election night, the voters finally pushed back.
Republicans picked up 17 seats in the House and 6 in the Senate. That might not sound like a ton in a big state like Texas, but in tiny Vermont, it’s a seismic shift. The Democrats lost their veto-proof majority in both chambers.
- The Senate: Republicans now hold 13 seats to the Democrats' 17.
- The House: The GOP jumped to 56 seats, their best showing since 2004.
- The Lieutenant Governor: Incumbent David Zuckerman (a Progressive/Democrat) actually lost his seat to Republican John Rodgers.
Rodgers is a fascinatng character—a former Democrat who switched parties and ran as a "common sense" Republican. His win is a massive blow to the Progressive wing of the state. It means Phil Scott now has a Republican presiding over the Senate and a lot more leverage when he pulls out his veto pen.
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Why did it happen?
If you ask the folks at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce or local political analysts, they’ll tell you it came down to the "affordability crisis." Vermont has become incredibly expensive. Between the new payroll tax for childcare and a double-digit increase in property taxes to fund schools, regular people felt squeezed.
The Republicans campaigned almost exclusively on the "tax-and-spend" narrative, and for the first time in a decade, it really stuck. Voters didn't necessarily turn into MAGA conservatives—remember, they still voted for Harris—but they decided they wanted a check on the legislature's power. They wanted Phil Scott to have a seat at the table instead of just being bypassed.
What’s Next for Vermont?
The honeymoon period for the new legislature is going to be short. Like, really short. They have to face a massive budget gap and a housing crisis that is only getting worse.
- Veto Overrides are Dead: Without a supermajority, the Democrats can't just ignore Phil Scott anymore. They’ll have to actually negotiate. This could lead to more moderate legislation, or it could lead to total gridlock.
- Property Tax Reform: This is the #1 issue. If the new legislature doesn't find a way to lower the tax burden, 2026 could see even more incumbents losing their seats.
- The Rodgers Factor: As the new Lieutenant Governor, John Rodgers will be the tie-breaking vote in the Senate. This gives the GOP a level of influence they haven't had in ages.
Honestly, the Vermont 2024 election results proved that voters are tired of the status quo. They’re fine with being a "blue" state on the national stage, but at home, they want someone to keep an eye on the checkbook. If you're a Vermonter, your best move now is to stay vocal. Reach out to your local representative—many of whom are new to the job—and let them know where you stand on the education spending debate. The balance of power has shifted, and for the first time in a long time, every vote in Montpelier is going to matter.
Check the official Secretary of State website to see exactly who won your specific town's House seat, as dozens of races were decided by fewer than 100 votes.