On August 11, 2026, voters will stream to the polls to vote in Vermont’s primary elections. Though the state’s well-known Senator, Bernie Sanders, is associated with democratic socialism, the real demographics of Vermont, and in particular Addison County, are a complicated mix of political ideologies.
Up until 1963, Vermont had never had a Democratic governor, and it was only in the late 20th century that Democrats secured a majority in the state’s legislature. Since then, Vermont’s Governorship has alternated from Republican to Democratic.
On the federal level, Vermont is one of the most Democratic states in the country, voting for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1992 and sending progressive firebrands such as Bernie Sanders, but results stateside are vastly different.
Current Governor Phil Scott, though a Republican, does not support the typical pro-Trump ‘Make America Great Again (MAGA)’ policies. He is pro-choice, supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and openly voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. According to an article by NOTUS, Vermonters see a moderate Republican governor as a useful check.
In 2024, Kamala Harris earned 64% of the vote in Vermont, and Bernie Sanders earned 63%, both very strong margins for Democrats. Yet, that same year, Republican Governor Phil Scott received 73% of the vote, Republican John Rodgers narrowly beat incumbent
Democratic/Progressive Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman, and Democrats received only 52% of the vote in the State Senate, which caused them to lose six seats – including one in Addison County. As a result, Vermont Democrats lost their supermajorities in both the House and the Senate in a drastic shift that ousted many incumbent Democrats.
“The chief explanation for the 2024 Republican wins in the legislature was the [19%] increase in property taxes that year,” Bert Johnson, professor of political science at Middlebury College, explained. “The bad fiscal news resonated with Republican Governor Phil Scott's continued focus on affordability in the state and encouraged more Republican candidates to enter key races.”
Addison County is a prime example of the tug-of-war between Republicans and Democrats. It’s the only “purple” county in the state, with one Democratic state senator and one Republican state senator. Steve Heffernan (R) was elected in 2024, riding the red wave across the state. He campaigned with the promise to “balance Montpelier,” and is a staunch advocate for lower property taxes. In 2026, Heffernan mobilized the public backlash to Addison County’s 16% increase in property taxes (on average). Ruth Hardy (D) has been Addison County’s state senator since 2018 and has worked primarily on education reform and expanding child tax credits. Hardy also supports Vermont Democratic Party legislation on green energy and land usage (Act 150). Both Heffernan and Hardy are running for reelection in 2026.
“Affordability is the top concern—plain and simple. We are losing both young people and older residents because they can no longer afford to live here. This issue ties into so many areas, including healthcare, education, and transportation,” Heffernan said.
While both Hardy and Heffernan expressed concern over affordability, making a living, and housing costs, Hardy also described how constituents are worried about the state of democracy and human rights at the federal and state levels.
“There are a lot of people who are very worried about the future virge democracy, the human rights of people in our country, and the impact of our economy and our relationships with other countries,” Hardy said.
For Heffernan, the Vermont Republican Party at large needs to continue making Vermont more affordable while also striking a fiscal balance.
“Ideologically, I think we need balance—continuing to move forward with energy-saving and environmental initiatives, but in a way that doesn’t create excessive costs. We can protect our environment without making it so difficult or expensive to build homes or start new businesses,” Heffernan said.
Hardy hopes that Vermont Democrats can capitalize on the current administration’s low polling. “I think Democrats need to be able to be clear about what their messages are and be clear about what our accomplishments have been, and not let this opportunity go by. We need to be ready to campaign hard and ready to tell our story and to also tell the story of how Republicans are the party of Trump and that they are responsible for the [Iranian] war,” Hardy said.
At a time when significant changes are occurring within the Democratic Party, both at the federal and state levels, and voters’ views on what kind of Democrat they want represented are shifting, primaries are a key opportunity for voters to make their voices heard.
In the case of the Lieutenant Governor’s race, while such a role certainly does not have as many tasks as the Governor’s, it does offer the opportunity to advocate for specific issues they feel strongly about. Whoever wins the upcoming primary will indicate what Vermont Democratic voters are actively concerned about and what needs to change within the state.
These primaries, notably the more competitive ones such as the Lieutenant Governor’s race, are important so that when Vermonters head to the polls once again in November, they can confidently place their vote for a candidate who they know will represent them accurately and with the necessary focus for specific issues.
The candidates who win the upcoming primaries will indicate what voters are most concerned about and what they believe needs to change at the state level. Primaries are important so that when Vermonters head to the polls again in November for country-wide midterms, they can confidently cast their vote for a candidate they know will represent them accurately and with the necessary focus on specific issues.
For college students interested in getting involved in local politics, understanding Vermont’s unique, small representative-to-constituent ratio is key. Contact a local representative by calling their personal mobile or office number or by emailing them via the Find a Legislator tool on the official Vermont Government website.
Additionally, both the Middlebury Democrats and Middlebury Republicans have connections and contacts with the official Vermont Democratic Party and Vermont Republican Party. With midterms quickly approaching in the fall, both parties are looking for volunteers, and sign-ups are available on their individual websites.
Johnson encourages students to jump right into local politics, registered voter or not.
“What I’d like students to know about Vermont politics is that students have as much of a right to be engaged with Vermont politics as anyone else. There's nothing in the Constitution or the law that says you don't count if you only live in a certain place for four years. To the contrary, it is important that student interests get represented because students will always be here and have an important part to play,” Johnson said.
