Vermont Senate Voting Records: What Public Roll-Call Data Shows for 2026 Candidates

Public Voting Records: The Foundation of Candidate Profiles

For any campaign preparing for the 2026 Vermont Senate race, the first source of actionable intelligence is the public voting record of each candidate. Whether a candidate served in the Vermont General Assembly, the U.S. House, or a local board, those roll-call votes create a paper trail that researchers on both sides may examine closely. This article reviews what public records exist for the declared and potential field, how those records can be used in competitive research, and what patterns may emerge as the race takes shape.

As of early 2025, the candidate field for Vermont's open Senate seat is still forming. Incumbent Senator Bernie Sanders has not yet announced whether he may seek reelection, leaving both parties in a waiting pattern. However, several names have been floated, and some have already taken steps toward a campaign. Among them are U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D), who served in the Vermont Senate from 2015 to 2023 before winning her House seat; former Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R), who has a long executive record but no legislative voting record; and several state legislators who have publicly expressed interest.

Public roll-call data is available from the Vermont Secretary of State's office for state legislative votes, and from the Clerk of the U.S. House and Senate for federal votes. Researchers can access these databases to analyze voting patterns on key issues such as healthcare, education, taxation, and environmental policy. For example, Balint's votes in the Vermont Senate on paid family leave (S.58, 2020) and minimum wage increases (S.23, 2019) are a matter of public record. Similarly, any candidate who served in the state legislature during the 2020-2022 sessions has a published voting history on issues like cannabis legalization (H.151, 2020) and renewable energy standards (S.148, 2019).

Candidate Bios and Their Voting Histories

Understanding a candidate's biography is essential to interpreting their voting record. Becca Balint, a Democrat from Brattleboro, served as President Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate from 2021 to 2023. Her voting record shows consistent support for progressive priorities: she voted for the state's landmark paid leave program, for gun safety measures including universal background checks (S.55, 2018), and for reproductive rights legislation (H.57, 2019). In the U.S. House, she has voted with Democratic leadership on major bills such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act.

On the Republican side, Governor Phil Scott has no legislative voting record, having served as governor since 2017 and previously as lieutenant governor. His public record consists of executive actions, budget proposals, and veto messages. Researchers would examine his veto of a paid leave bill in 2020 (later overridden) and his signing of gun safety measures in 2018 as signals of his policy positions. Without a voting record, opposition researchers would focus on his public statements and executive decisions, which may be less granular than legislative votes.

Other potential candidates include state senators like Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Chittenden) and Randy Brock (R-Franklin), both of whom have extensive voting records in the Vermont Senate. Ram Hinsdale, who also ran for lieutenant governor in 2020, has voted on housing policy, climate change, and criminal justice reform. Brock, a former state auditor and senator, has a record of fiscal conservatism and votes against tax increases. For each of these candidates, researchers can pull specific roll-call votes to build a profile of their ideological leanings and voting consistency.

Race Context: The 2026 Vermont Senate Contest

Vermont's Senate race in 2026 is a high-stakes contest for both parties. The seat has been held by Senator Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, since 2007. His retirement would create an open-seat race for the first time in nearly two decades. Vermont's electorate is reliably Democratic at the federal level, but Republicans have had success in statewide races, most notably with Governor Scott's repeated victories. The 2026 race could be competitive if the Republican nominee is able to appeal to moderate and independent voters.

Public voting records may be central to the messaging in this race. Democrats are likely to highlight their candidates' support for progressive policies that are popular in Vermont, such as paid family leave and climate action. Republicans, on the other hand, may use voting records to paint Democratic candidates as too liberal on spending or regulation. For example, a Republican researcher could point to a Democratic candidate's vote for a tax increase or a energy mandate as out of step with Vermont's business community.

The Vermont Secretary of State's office provides easy access to legislative roll-call data through its website, making it simple for campaigns to download and analyze voting histories. Additionally, third-party organizations like Project Vote Smart and GovTrack.us compile federal voting records. These public sources form the backbone of any opposition research file.

Competitive Research Framing: How Campaigns Use Voting Records

For campaigns, the goal of analyzing a voting record is to find patterns that can be used in paid media, debate prep, and earned media. A single vote rarely defines a candidate, but a pattern of votes on a particular issue can be powerful. For instance, a candidate who consistently votes against environmental protections may be vulnerable in a state that prizes its natural landscape. Conversely, a candidate who votes for tax increases may face criticism from business groups.

Opposition researchers may look for votes that contradict a candidate's public statements or party platform. This is known as the "flip-flop" or "hypocrisy" angle. For example, if a candidate campaigns on fiscal responsibility but voted for a budget that increased spending, that discrepancy becomes a data point. Researchers also examine attendance records: missed votes can be used to question a candidate's dedication or work ethic.

In the 2026 Vermont Senate race, the voting records of state legislators may be scrutinized for consistency on key issues. A Democrat who voted for a gas tax increase in 2022 may face attacks from Republicans in the general election. A Republican who voted against a popular healthcare expansion may be vulnerable in a primary. The key is to identify votes that resonate with specific audiences—primary voters, general election voters, or interest groups.

Campaigns can also use voting records to preempt attacks. By examining their own candidate's record, they can identify potential vulnerabilities and craft responses before the opposition does. This proactive approach is a core function of political intelligence research.

Source-Posture Analysis: What the Data Can and Cannot Say

Public voting records are powerful, but they have limitations. A roll-call vote is a binary choice—yea or nay—and does not capture the context of the vote, such as amendments, procedural motions, or the political environment at the time. Researchers must be careful not to overinterpret a single vote without understanding the full legislative history. Additionally, not all votes are recorded; voice votes or unrecorded divisions may not appear in the official record.

For candidates without a legislative voting history, such as Governor Scott or potential business figures, researchers must rely on other public records: campaign donations, public statements, media interviews, and past executive actions. These sources provide a different kind of data but are still valuable for building a candidate profile.

Another consideration is the timing of votes. A vote cast ten years ago may not reflect a candidate's current views, especially if the political landscape has shifted. Campaigns may need to assess whether a vote is still relevant or if the candidate has changed their position. This is where the art of opposition research meets the science of data analysis.

How OppIntell Can Support Your Campaign Research

OppIntell provides campaigns with the tools to track and analyze public voting records for candidates in the 2026 Vermont Senate race. Our platform aggregates data from official sources like the Vermont Secretary of State and the U.S. Congress, allowing researchers to search by candidate, issue, or date. Whether you are a Democratic campaign looking to preempt attacks or a Republican campaign seeking to define an opponent, OppIntell's database offers a comprehensive view of the public record. Visit our Vermont Senate race page for the latest candidate filings and voting data: /races/vermont/senate. For more on how voting records shape campaign strategy, see our blog on voting records: /blog/category/voting-records.

The 2026 election is still months away, but the groundwork for competitive research is being laid now. By examining public voting records early, campaigns can build a factual foundation for their messaging and avoid surprises. Whether the race features a seasoned legislator or a newcomer, the public record may be a central battleground.