If you just look at the 2024 presidential map, Vermont looks like the bluest place on the planet. Honestly, it’s not even close. Kamala Harris didn't just win here; she crushed it with about 64% of the vote. That’s a massive 32-point lead over Donald Trump. In fact, if you exclude Washington D.C., Vermont gave the Democrats their biggest winning margin in the entire country.
But hold on. If you actually live here or follow the local news, you know that calling Vermont a "blue state" and walking away is kinda like looking at a postcard of a maple tree and thinking you know how to run a sugarhouse. It's way more complicated.
While the state sends Bernie Sanders—the nation’s most famous democratic socialist—back to D.C. with landslide victories, it simultaneously re-elected a Republican governor, Phil Scott, with a staggering 73% of the vote. You read 그 right. In the same election where Trump got walloped, a Republican won nearly every single town in the state.
The Vermont Split: Blue on Top, Purple in the Middle
Basically, Vermont operates on two different tracks. When it comes to "is Vermont a red or blue state 2024," the answer depends entirely on which office you're talking about.
For federal races, it’s a deep, dark sapphire blue.
- Presidential: Kamala Harris 64% vs. Donald Trump 32%.
- U.S. Senate: Bernie Sanders (Independent/Democrat) cruised to another term with over 63% of the vote.
- U.S. House: Becca Balint maintained her seat with a 33-point lead.
But then you look at the Governor’s mansion. Phil Scott is a Republican, but he’s what people around here call a "Vermont Republican." He’s fiscally conservative but socially liberal. He’s pro-choice, supports sensible gun control, and notably, he publicly announced he voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 (and Joe Biden in 2020).
This "split-ticket" behavior is the defining feature of Vermont politics. You’ve got thousands of voters who happily bubble in the circle for Bernie Sanders and then immediately do the same for Phil Scott.
The 2024 "Red Ripple" in the State House
Something happened in 2024 that hasn't happened in a long time. While Harris won the state easily, the "down-ballot" races told a very different story. For the last few years, Democrats and Progressives held a "supermajority" in the state legislature. This meant they could pass whatever they wanted and override any veto the Governor threw at them.
Vermonters, it turns out, were getting a little frustrated with that.
In the 2024 election, Republicans pulled off a major upset by breaking those supermajorities.
- The State Senate: Republicans flipped 6 seats, nearly doubling their presence from 7 to 13.
- The State House: They gained 18 seats.
- The Lieutenant Governor: In a shocking twist, Republican John Rodgers unseated the incumbent Democrat/Progressive David Zuckerman.
Why did this happen? It mostly came down to the wallet. Property taxes in Vermont spiked significantly in 2024 to fund education, and many voters felt the Democratic-led legislature was moving too fast and spending too much. Phil Scott’s campaign message was basically: "I need more balance in the legislature so they can't just ignore my vetoes." And the voters listened.
A History of Flips
It’s easy to forget, but Vermont used to be the "reddest" state in the Union. From the founding of the Republican Party in the 1850s all the way until the 1960s, Vermont was a GOP stronghold. It was the only state, along with Maine, that didn't vote for FDR even once.
The flip to blue didn't happen overnight. It started in the 60s and 70s as a wave of "back-to-the-landers" moved up from New York and Boston, bringing more liberal values with them. By the time the 90s rolled around, Vermont had shifted into the Democratic column for good in presidential elections.
The Geography of the Vote
If you look at the 2024 town-by-town data, you see the "Blue Islands" in a "Purple Sea."
- Burlington & Montpelier: These are the progressive engines. In Burlington, Harris got over 80% of the vote.
- The Northeast Kingdom: This is the most conservative part of the state (counties like Essex and Orleans). While Harris still won many towns here, the margins were much tighter, and several towns actually flipped to Trump compared to 2020.
- Rutland Area: Always a bit of a battleground, Rutland City went for Harris, but many surrounding rural towns stayed firmly in the GOP column for local races.
So, is Vermont Blue or Red?
If you're looking at the 2024 results, Vermont is Blue for the President, Blue for Congress, but Purple for the state government. It is a state that loves its liberal icons but also trusts a moderate Republican to keep the checkbook balanced.
Actionable Insights for Following Vermont Politics
If you're trying to understand where the state is headed after the 2024 shakeup, keep an eye on these three things:
- Veto Overrides: Now that Democrats lost their supermajority, watch the 2025 legislative session. They’ll actually have to negotiate with Governor Scott on things like the budget and housing policy.
- The John Rodgers Factor: As the new Republican Lieutenant Governor, Rodgers (who is a former Democrat) represents a more "blue-collar" style of Republicanism that resonated with rural voters who feel left behind by the Burlington-centric wing of the Democratic party.
- Property Tax Reform: This was the #1 issue that drove the GOP gains. If the legislature doesn't find a way to lower the tax burden, the "red ripple" of 2024 might turn into a bigger wave by 2026.
To get the most accurate, real-time feel for the state's political climate, I'd recommend following local outlets like VTDigger or Vermont Public. They cover the granular town-hall-level debates that the national "Red vs. Blue" maps completely miss.