Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott announced Thursday he is running for reelection, but he won’t hire staff, actively campaign or raise money until the current state of emergency imposed because of the coronavirus is lifted.
In an email to supporters, Scott said that during the pandemic, Vermont needs a governor who is focused full time on responding to the disease and its economic consequences.
“I will not be campaigning in the traditional way while we are in the midst of our response to this pandemic,” Scott’s announcement letter said. “Facing, fighting and defeating this virus — and rebuilding a stronger, more resilient economy — are my top priorities.”
Vermont and New Hampshire are the only two states in the country where governors serve two-year terms. Thursday was the filing deadline to appear on the August primary election ballot.
Scott, 62, of Berlin, Vt., ran a construction company until he was elected governor. He is an accomplished stock car racer and he served as lieutenant governor from 2011 until 2017.
Scott won the 2016 election with 52% of the vote. In 2018, he won 55% of the vote, easily beating former utility executive Christine Hallquist.
He has clashed with the Democratic-controlled Legislature on more than one occasion. Since he took office he has vetoed 18 bills. One, mandating a minimum wage increase, was overridden earlier this year by lawmakers.
In 2018, Scott angered many Republicans by supporting a package of gun control bills, including raising the age to buy firearms and banning high-capacity magazines, the first significant restrictions on gun ownership in the state’s history.
During the pandemic, Scott has focused on protecting Vermonters and the state has one of the lowest rates of growth for the virus of any state in the country. He has led a gradual reopening of the state’s economy.
Scott will face at least one Republican opponent, John Klar, in the primary. Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination include Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, of Hinesburg, former education secretary Rebecca Holcombe, of Norwich, and attorney Patrick Winburn, of Bennington.
Also on Thursday, Pomfret Republican Scott Milne announced he is running for lieutenant governor, saying Scott needs “a partner, not an adversary,” in the office.
The 61-year-old Milne, who is president of Milne Travel, narrowly lost to then-Gov. Peter Shumlin in 2014.
“As someone whose business was profoundly impacted by coronavirus, I know how difficult this time has been for so many Vermonters whose lives and livelihoods have been upended,” Milne said in a news release. “Now more than ever, we need more leaders in Montpelier who understand the challenge of running a small business, and creating and protecting good jobs.”
Other GOP candidates for lieutenant governor include Dana Colson of Sharon and Meg Hansen of Manchester.
Among Democrats, Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe, assistant Attorney General Molly Gray, state Sen. Debbie Ingram, and Newfane activist Brenda Siegel are also running to succeed Zuckerman.
Staff writer John Gregg contributed to this report.