Letter to the editor: Voter turnout only a minor factor

As a project for a government class, I decided to take a closer look at voter turnout in Cornwall in the last three presidential election cycles to see if it had any effect on state Senate races. Accordingly, I worked at the Cornwall polling center the day before election day helping to count absentee ballots (in full compliance with election regulations).

“Excitement about voting and participation in democracy was far higher this semester than previous years, according to both my lived experience since 2022 and our organization advisor’s experiences from the last two decades,” said Daniza Tazabekova, presi … (read more)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all in Leicester, Salisbury, Goshen, Ripton and Cornwall who supported me in the Addison District 2 House race.

Vermonters owe Vermont State Senator Chris Bray a debt of gratitude for his 16 years of service in the Vermont Legislature.

My heart sank to see that Diane Lanpher lost the election and by so few votes. It certainly shows very conflicted, ill-informed voters during these troubling times.

Ferrisburgh Republican Rob North on Tuesday unseated eight-term Democratic Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes — the current chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee — on Tuesday. North was the top vote-getter in the four-way race for two seats to … (read more)

Addison County voters followed statewide trends in supporting Democrat Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump for U.S. President, while solidly backing incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott over Esther Charlestin, a Middlebury Democrat.

Democrats held on to the two House seats representing the Addison-2 district towns of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro, with the Republican challengers putting forth a respectable showing.

Incumbent Rep. Jubilee McGill, D-Bridport, won a sophomore term representing the Addison-5 House district on Tuesday, thanks in large part to support from a sliver of Middlebury voters who overwhelmingly picked her over Republican challenger Del Thompson, … (read more)

Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall — the current chair of the House Education Committee — won a fifth consecutive term representing the Addison-2 House district on Tuesday, warding off a spirited challenge from Leicester Republican Christine Stone.

John Rodgers, a Republican from Glover, was elected lieutenant governor of Vermont Tuesday, unseating Progressive/Democrat Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman in a rare ouster of a statewide incumbent. The dramatic conclusion came at the end of a highly competitive … (read more)

Trump’s dominance in the swing states reflected voters’ dissatisfaction with high inflation and the high cost of living that had followed the Covid 19 pandemic.

Vermonters witnessed as much of a change election as we’ve seen in the past couple of decades, as Republicans gained six seats in the Senate and 18 seats in the House.

I am grateful to the people of Addison County for trusting me to serve them in the General Assembly for 16 years. It has been a great honor, and I have loved the work and the people. 

We need some more Ramonas in the world for a brighter, healthier and more just world.