Photo: Governor Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference on June 11, 2024. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
Confession time: I’ve voted for Phil Scott before. I guess it’s maybe not a bold confession since the majority of Vermonters have voted for him too (he received 73% of the vote last November). In fact, despite the usual trend of decreased favorability over time, the number of votes he received has only increased with each election, even now in his fifth term. During the COVID pandemic, Governor Scott was steady, even, and measured. In my household, we coined him “Uncle Scott”, and former VTDigger writer Sarah Mearhoff often referred to him as “Guv Dad”. He’s painted as an all-around nice, moderate guy. What’s not to like?
However, I feel like I’ve wisened over the years, especially since taking this role and becoming more involved in the inner workings of our legislature. Seeing how he operates a little more up close and personally, I’ve learned that the governor’s actions don’t match his lofty rhetoric about caring for the environment and our climate. His heavy use of the veto pen halts the good work of the legislature, made up of 180 members sent to represent the very folks who overwhelmingly elect him as well. For years he’s positioned himself as the underdog, reiterating an ‘us vs. them’ stance, while convincing voters to think the progress we aren’t seeing is a result of other mechanisms working against him, rather than taking any accountability himself.
Which leads me to wonder: how in the world is this man so popular?
In this week’s episode of the Democracy Dispatch Podcast, I chat with VPIRG senior strategist, Tom Hughes, to examine the governor and his place in the political landscape in Vermont. We discuss Governor Phil Scott‘s tenure, his policies, and the dynamics between him and the electorate. We examine Scott’s popularity, his approach to environmental issues, the importance of voter engagement, and the power dynamics at play. We also touch upon the future of the state’s political construct and what Scott’s legacy will be decades from now.
Also in the episode, we uplift three new #vtpoli podcasts from our friends, get an answer to a listener’s question about the role of the high bailiff, and of course, our champ and chump of the week.
As always, thanks for listening,
Justin Marsh, Political Director
Vermont Conservation Voters
Listen to the Democracy Dispatch podcast on the following services:
Spotify Podcasts | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Podchaser