A Republican has entered the 2020 race for Vermont governor. The incumbent has not yet announced his plans, but if Governor Phil Scott decides to run for a third term, he could face a primary against Brookfield farmer John Klar. As the former lawyer stood on the steps on the Statehouse this week to announce his candidacy, Klar said Vermont’s government has “grown like a bloated tick.” Klar tells WAMC North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley when Governor Scott signed the state’s new abortion law, he knew many Vermonters would no longer support Scott.“That was just one bridge too far and I also knew that perhaps some people would step forward who might not be the best candidate to win in the general election. And so many of us then started accelerating our existing efforts to fashion a centrist compromise policy list and I was selected as the person to carry that forward.”
John Klar is the only Republican to announce a 2020 run for governor so far. Incumbent Phil Scott says it’s too early to make a reelection decision. One Democrat is currently running: former state education secretary Rebecca Holcombe.
