Phil Baruth
Phil Baruth
Vermont Democratic Governor nominee?
$16.7K
AUG 12, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age64 years old (Feb 10, 1962)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationVermont
BackgroundVermont State Senator
EducationBrown University — B.A. in English (1984)
Notable personal detailsPhilip E. Baruth is a Vermont state senator representing the Chittenden-Central District and has served as president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate since January 2023. He was first elected to the Vermont Senate in 2010 and previously served as Senate Majority Leader (2013–2017) and as chair of the Senate Education Committee. Outside government, he is a professor of English at the University of Vermont and has also worked as a Vermont Public Radio commentator and as a novelist and biographer.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted revenue measures to fund social programs and reduce property tax burden, including a payroll tax to fund childcare and proposals to dedicate revenue (such as from cannabis) to higher education; has proposed policies aimed at delivering property tax relief while funding state services.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening public programs and protecting Medicaid funding for vulnerable Vermonters, expanding access to services such as overdose prevention, and increasing support for the nursing workforce (subsidies, loan forgiveness, and stronger wages). Does not present evidence of advocating single-payer or Medicare-for-All in the sourced materials.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports protecting immigrants and asylum seekers from aggressive federal enforcement, backing state measures to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities and to restrict civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations. Has sponsored or championed legislation and resolutions that defend asylum access and urge federal compliance with expedited asylum provisions. Has called for terminating state agreements that enable federal immigration detention in Vermont facilities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate has sponsored legislation that protects access to abortion and related reproductive and gender-affirming health care and supported statutory protections for patients and providers. The candidate’s legislative actions indicate support for preserving and codifying access to reproductive health care in Vermont.
Climate & Energy
Phil Baruth has led and defended aggressive climate and clean-energy policies as Vermont Senate President Pro Tem, including support for a law requiring 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and legislation holding fossil fuel companies financially responsible for climate damages. He has criticized the governor’s vetoes of climate bills and promoted measures on flood safety, a Climate Superfund, and other progressive climate actions.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports significant firearm restrictions including limits on semi-automatic/assault-style weapons and expanded background-checks and has sponsored or championed legislation to restrict where certain firearms may be carried and to tighten possession rules. Has publicly backed measures to remove firearms from specific public spaces and supported red-flag style legislation.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising