I grew up in Vermont, literally grew up on Killington (ski area.) We moved there in the late 60s and it was conservative then. But a lot of people from New York and New Jersey bought 2nd homes there and brought their politics. Before that the dairy farmers were prevalent. They had the hardy Vermonter stance where you supported your families and communities, with limited government.

Plus, there is only one interstate in Vermont. It did not and does not have the industries to enable those of us raised there to stay and earn larger salaries, especially those of us that are engineers. I’ve watched the 2nd largest city shrink from 26K to 15K in the last 40 years.

The democrats pushed immigrants into Burlington and they inserted Bernie as mayor, in a liberal college town. Vermonters are very friendly and wanted to be welcoming and I think got fooled into supporting liberal policies that have totally changed the state.

My mother lives there still and all of her retired nurse friends are liberal. She has been trying to red-pill them by gently suggesting things and they aren’t listening at all. 40 or so of them. Retired boomers. We will know we are winning when they start to listen to her!