Democrats and Progressives hold their 23-seat supermajority in the Vermont Senate

Up to date Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 3:48 a.m.

As Vermonters took to the polls Tuesday to elect a brand new state Senate, Democrats and Progressives sought to keep up their veto-proof majority within the higher chamber. Preliminary outcomes advised they had been profitable. 

The state’s left-of-center events entered the evening with 23 of the Senate’s 30 seats — and so they appeared to exit the evening with the identical quantity. Republicans, who had hoped to flip seats in Orange and Chittenden counties, failed to take action. The GOP did seem on monitor to choose up one seat in Rutland County, although the margin there was solely 250 votes. 

By early Wednesday morning, it was clear that Sen. Mark MacDonald, D-Orange, had fended off a problem from Republican John Klar. With 12 of 13 of the district’s precincts reporting, MacDonald led Klar 50% to 39%. 

The newly drawn Chittenden North district had been thought-about among the many greatest pickup alternatives for Republicans, however Democrat Irene Wrenner prevailed over Rep. Leland Morgan, R-Milton, by 45% to 42%. 

In Rutland County’s three-member district, Sen. Brian Collamore, R-Rutland, simply gained reelection and fellow Republican Terry Williams additionally prevailed. The third Republican nominee, David Weeks, was main prime Democratic vote-getter Anna Tadio 10,699 to 10,449 for the district’s third seat. All 13 precincts had reported outcomes, although a recount appeared potential. 

And in Franklin County, Republicans held on to each seats, with Rep. Robert Norris, R-Sheldon, becoming a member of incumbent Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, within the chamber. 

This was the primary election following a decennial redistricting course of that reshaped Vermont’s state Senate boundaries. Amongst different adjustments, the beforehand two-member Caledonia district misplaced one senator — placing Republicans at an instantaneous drawback. The beforehand two-member Essex/Orleans district was divided into two single-member districts. 

The most important change concerned splitting a single six-member Chittenden County district into three. Voters within the county at the moment are divided between a three-member Chittenden Central district, a three-member Chittenden Southeast district and the single-member Chittenden North district.

Orange Senate District

Each main events highlighted Orange County’s senate seat, held by longtime Sen. Mark MacDonald, D-Orange, as a race to look at. MacDonald confronted stiff opposition from Republican John Klar, a Brookfield farmer, legal professional and former candidate for governor. 

However with all however one precinct reporting early Wednesday morning, MacDonald was main Klar 50% to 39%. 

When Klar ran for governor in 2020, he positioned himself to the suitable of Gov. Phil Scott. That marketing campaign, although unsuccessful, boosted Klar’s title recognition. Since then, he’s written frequent op-eds in Vermont’s conservative on-line publications.

MacDonald suffered a stroke in October, taking him off the marketing campaign path within the ultimate weeks of the race. A retired trainer and farmer and a U.S. Military veteran of the Vietnam Warfare, he has served on and off within the Vermont Home and Senate since 1983.

Chittenden North Senate District

Reapportionment this yr created the Chittenden North district, which incorporates the Chittenden County and Franklin County cities of Milton, Westford, Essex and Fairfax. The brand new district represented the most effective probability within the area for Republicans to choose up a seat within the Senate, however Democrat Irene Wrenner prevailed over Rep. Leland Morgan, R-Milton, by 45% to 42%.

Morgan lives in West Milton and has represented that space, in addition to the 5 cities in close by Grand Isle County, within the Vermont Home for the previous 4 years. 

Wrenner hails from the opposite finish of the district: Essex city, the place she served on the selectboard from 2007 to 2019.

Rutland Senate District

In Rutland County, the retirements of Sen. Cheryl Hooker, D/P-Rutland, and Sen. Joshua Terenzini, R-Rutland, offered pickup alternatives for each events within the three-member district. 

Democrats fielded three candidates — Anna Tadio, Bridgette Remington and Joshua Ferguson. Along with incumbent Sen. Brian Collamore, R-Rutland, Republicans nominated David Weeks and Terry Williams.

With all precincts reporting early Wednesday, Collamore was within the lead with 13,871 votes, adopted by Williams with 11,450 and Weeks with 10,699. Tadio was not far behind with 10,449 votes. 

Franklin Senate District

In Franklin County, the place Sen. Corey Dad or mum, R-Franklin, selected to not run for reelection, Democrats had hoped to choose up a seat Tuesday. The 2-member district has additionally been represented by Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin. 

However with all precincts reporting early Wednesday, Rep. Robert Norris, R-Sheldon, was simply outpacing the 2 Democratic nominees: former Vermont Household Community CEO Pam McCarthy and small enterprise proprietor Jessie Nakuma Palczewski. 

Brock was the highest vote-getter within the district, with 9,522 votes, adopted by Norris with 8,528. McCarthy picked up 6,716 votes and Palczewski 3,963. 

The Franklin Senate district consists of most municipalities in Franklin County, in addition to Alburgh in neighboring Grand Isle County. Following redistricting this yr, the Franklin County cities of Fairfax and Fletcher are now not a part of the Senate district, and the Franklin County city of Richford was slotted in from the Essex-Orleans district. 

Windham Senate District

With each Windham County incumbents, Senate President Professional Tem Becca Balint, D-Windham, and Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, not operating for reelection, two seats opened up within the state’s southeast nook. 

With all precincts reporting early Wednesday, voters in Windham County had chosen Democrats Wendy Harrison, a Brattleboro-based touring municipal supervisor, and Nader Hashim, a former Dummerston state consultant and present regulation clerk. They simply defeated Republicans Richard Morton and Richard Kenyon, in addition to impartial Tim Wessel, a member of the Brattleboro Selectboard. 

Windsor Senate District

When Sen. Alice Nitka, D-Windsor, determined to not run for reelection, a seat opened within the three-member Windsor County senate district. With each precinct reporting, Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, and Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor, gained reelection. Rep. Becca White, D-Hartford, was additionally elected to the higher chamber, defeating Republicans Invoice Huff, Dana Colson Jr., and Alice Flanders.

Washington Senate District

Progressive/Democratic Sen. Anthony Pollina’s choice to retire from the Senate opened up a seat within the three-member Washington district. The 2 different incumbents, Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, and Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, had been reelected on Tuesday. Anne Watson, Democratic mayor of Montpelier, picked up the third seat, defeating Republicans Paul Bean, Dwayne Tucker and Dexter Lefavour. 

Chittenden Central Senate District

Chittenden County’s reapportionment led to the creation of a brand new three-seat Chittenden Central district made up of Burlington’s New and Outdated North Ends, Winooski, Essex Junction, components of Essex city and a sliver of Colchester. 

Sen. Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden, gained probably the most votes and was reelected to a seventh time period. He’s anticipated to change into the following president professional tempore of the Senate. Martine Gulick, a Democrat, and Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Essex, got here in second and third respectively, choosing up seats within the higher chamber and defeating Infinite Culcleasure, an impartial. 

Chittenden Southeast Senate District

Chittenden Southeast, probably the most populous of the three new Chittenden districts, consists of Bolton, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Jericho, Richmond, St. George, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston, Underhill and the southern tip of Burlington.

With all precincts reporting early Wednesday, three incumbent Democratic senators had gained reelection to the three-member district: Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Sen. Ginny Lyons and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale. They appeared prone to defeat Republican candidates Dean Rolland and Rohan St. Marthe.

Caledonia Senate District

Caledonia County voters reelected Democratic Sen. Jane Kitchel over Republican challenger JT Dodge.

Addison Senate District

In Addison County, incumbent Democratic Sens. Chris Bray and Ruth Hardy defeated Republican challengers Lloyd Dike and Robert Burton, in addition to impartial Mason Wade III. 

Orleans Senate District

Incumbent Sen. Bobby Starr, a Democrat who beforehand served within the Essex-Orleans district, was reelected to the newly created Orleans district. He defeated Republican Samuel Douglass. 

Grand Isle Senate District

Sen. Dick Mazza, D-Grand Isle, gained reelection, defeating Republican Stephen Bellows. Mazza has been a member of the senate since 1985. 

Essex Senate District

Incumbent Sen. Russ Ingalls, a Republican who beforehand represented the Essex-Orleans district, was reelected to the newly created Essex district. He ran unopposed. 

Lamoille Senate District

Operating unopposed, Sen. Wealthy Westman, R-Lamoille, was reelected.

Bennington Senate District

Democrats Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, and Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, gained reelection on Tuesday. They had been unopposed.