MONTPELIER, VT — In response to the Governor’s call to “rise above” national political discourse, Vermont Democratic Party Executive Director, May Hanlon, issued the following statement:

“Governor Phil Scott has asked Vermonters to “rise above” the chaos in Washington. He has dismissed the very real fears and concerns of Vermonters, asking instead that we focus on policies in the best interest of Vermont. The truth is, we can’t separate the two. What happens in Washington affects us here at home.

“Ignoring that reality doesn’t make Vermonters safer; it leaves us unprepared.

“From the Northeast Kingdom to Brattleboro, we’ve seen people come together to speak out against federal actions that undermine our freedoms and harm our communities. We know that the Trump Administration’s actions are harming Vermonters and will only deepen the suffering already felt by too many in our state.

“This weekend, U.S. Senator Peter Welch, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. House Representative Becca Balint, and more Democratic leaders from across our state joined fellow Americans to stand up for justice in the face of deeply troubling actions by the Trump administration. That is what rising above looks like—coming together to protect our neighbors, to defend our values, and speak out when those values are under threat.

“Leadership requires more than words. While Democratic leaders are doing the work, on the front lines for their constituents, Governor Phil Scott is nowhere to be found. We cannot turn a blind eye to what’s happening at the national level when those same policies are reaching into our own backyards. We’ve already seen the consequences here in Vermont. Pretending these actions aren’t affecting us does not make them disappear.“Vermont Democrats are working to lower costs for working families; Trump is hiking up prices on essentials like groceries and gas and taking money out of Vermonters’ pockets with ridiculous tariffs on our Canadian allies. We are investing in our children’s futures; Trump is dismantling the Department of Education. We are defending the personal liberties of all Vermonters, including the LGBTQ+ community; Trump is taking aim at the basic human rights of our neighbors. Vermonters have always prided themselves on fairness and inclusivity; Trump is attacking Vermont values like equality, freedom, and justice for all.

“For years, Phil Scott has said he does not support Trump's dangerous agenda. Now is the time for him to show it. We call on him to match his rhetoric with policy—to stand with Vermonters by clearly and unequivocally rejecting the dangerous direction of his party’s platform.

“Vermonters are rising to the moment. We ask Governor Scott to do the same.”