Question about Vermont

[Elessar Zappa]

Why is it so blue when it’s overwhelmingly rural? Almost all other rural states/areas are extremely red. What are the factors that contribute to the politics there?

[inthewind21]

1. Location

Location..Location

[Dirty Socialist]

2. Ski resorts might be a factor

[elleng]

3. Vermont has been a pioneer in legislation pertaining to land use,

gay rights and school funding. Between 1854 and 1962, the state usually voted Republican. Thereafter, the governor's office has alternated between the Democratic and Republican parties. The legislature has been primarily Democratic since the mid-1980s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Vermont#:~:text=Vermont%20has%20been%20a%20pioneer,Democratic%20since%20the%20mid%2D1980s.

[empedocles]

4. I have family who have lived there awhile. They've done fundraisers for Bernie,

in their homes, Vermont style.

Their view, is that Vermont was quite red, until the big hippie influx in the 1960's turned the state blue and elected Bernie.

As the hippie influence faded with age, and moving south with retirement; and the offspring leave the state for jobs, - the state has become more conservative. The current governor, of several terms, is Republican, the legislature still tends to be Democratic.

Very rural. The state capital, Montpelier, has a population under 10,000.

[Elessar Zappa]

5. Even the Republicans are different though.

They seem to have avoided the MAGA disease.

[dem4decades]

6. My take, even though it's rural, most of the population lives in the area around the cities. And I

say cities with a grain of salt. Lots of college educated people that care about the environment. The Trump trash is there just not as high as a percentage. That's my thoughts.

[empedocles]

7. Some strong 'anti-frog' sentiment in the North.

Low income jobs problem.

[dem4decades]

9. Always want to blame someone else for their own shortcomings.

[bluedigger]

8. The Great Hippie Migration from New York in the 60's and 70's.

[Kaleva]

10. It's also one of the most gun friendly states

[nuxvomica]

11. Skiers and ex-urban swells, and a tough place to live in winter

Farming and driving is tough in the winter and the rural folk are very pragmatic, open to anything that works, like acupuncture and liberal ideas.