Phil Scott
Moderate
Republican
Governor
Vermont
Current Position: Governor of Vermont
Running For: Governor
Policy Positions
Economic Policy
- Against new or increased taxes; pledged to veto budgets growing faster than the economy or wages, opposed raising property taxes, and opposed any new taxes
- Against carbon tax and additional transportation taxes
Health Care
- For health insurance coverage mandate; signed bill requiring Vermonters to attest to having health insurance
Environment
- For climate action; joined the United States Climate Alliance after Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, committed to 90% renewable energy by 2050, signed clean water and PFAS regulations; but vetoed the Global Warming Solutions Act mandating carbon emission reductions (veto was overridden)
Civil Rights
- For abortion rights; signed wide-ranging abortion rights bill protecting abortion at any time, expressed disappointment at overturning of Roe v. Wade, and signed constitutional amendment to further protect abortion rights in Vermont
- For same-sex marriage
- For transgender rights; signed gender-neutral bathroom bill recognizing rights of transgender people
Immigration & Foreign Affairs
- Against Trump administration immigration policies; signed bill limiting Vermont police involvement with federal immigration enforcement, supported sanctuary jurisdiction status, and opposed family separation at the border
Public Safety
- For gun control measures; signed legislation banning bump stocks, expanding background checks, raising purchase age to 21, limiting high-capacity magazines, restricting sales to alleged domestic abusers, and creating risk protection orders
- Against recreational cannabis legalization initially (vetoed bill in 2017), but later allowed a recreational marijuana legalization bill to become law without his signature in 2020