Vermont GOP Governor Says He Will Not Vote For Trump, Still Undecided On Biden

Vermont Republican Gov. Phil Scott said Friday that he will not support incumbent Republican President Donald Trump in the upcoming election but also remains undecided on whether he will vote for Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

“As you probably have heard over the last few months or maybe last couple of years, I’ve been quite adamant in not supporting the president,” Scott said at a press briefing. “I won’t be voting for President Trump but I have not decided at this point whether to cast a vote for former Vice President Biden. But it’s something I would consider.”

Scott holds moderate views and supported Trump’s impeachment earlier this year. Trump was impeached in the House for withholding military aid to Ukraine in order to coerce Kiev into an investigation of Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden.

“I believe he abused his position of power; withholding those funds is inappropriate,” Scott said in February.

Scott, 62, was elected governor in 2016, defeating Democrat Sue Minter, 52.9%-44.2%. He was reelected in 2018, defeating Democrat Christine Hallquist in a landslide, 55.2%-40.2%.

Vermont is known for its liberal political culture and is the home of progressives Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a former Democratic presidential candidate, and Patrick Leahy, who has been in office since 1974. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton earned a convincing victory over Trump in Vermont, 55.7% to 29.7%.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, another moderate Republican, has suggested he may vote for Joe Biden in November. Once considered a possible candidate in 2020, Hogan has criticized Trump’s response to COVID-19 and said the GOP should become a more inclusive “bigger tent” party.