Scott Milne

Scott Edward Milne (born March 10, 1959) A Republican, Milne was the party's nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 2020, losing to Democrat Molly Gray; the nominee for United States Senate in 2016, losing to incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy; and the nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2014, losing to two-term incumbent Peter Shumlin in the closest gubernatorial election in Vermont since 1962.

Early life and education Milne was the second of four children born to Donald and Marion Milne in the New York borough of Brooklyn.

His parents started Milne Travel American Express in 1975. He then transferred to the University of Redlands, where he graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

Business and civic life Milne has worked at Milne Travel since the mid-1980s. It was started by his parents in 1975, and Milne later took over operation of the company.

Political family Milne's paternal grandfather, Henry Milne, served in Vermont's state House representing Barre. He also worked for U.S. Senator George Aiken and served as state employment commissioner. A Milne cousin, James F. Milne, served as Vermont's secretary of state from 1995 to 1999.

In 2014, Milne was the Republican nominee for governor. He narrowly lost to the Democratic nominee, incumbent Peter Shumlin.

In 2016, Milne was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator, and lost to incumbent Patrick Leahy.

Milne won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor in 2020. He faced Democrat Molly Gray in the general election. Milne hired Republican political operative Jim Barnett for his campaign. In the general election held on November 3, Gray defeated Milne.

Political positions

ProgressVT Plan In September 2020, Milne released his ProgressVT plan, a ten-pillar approach containing proposed policy reforms he would work towards as lieutenant governor. These include protecting the economically disadvantaged, revitalizing rural Vermont, opening up the lieutenant governor's office, growing the workforce, reforming health care, expanding educational opportunities, streamlining state government, securing our environment, valuing entrepreneurs, and tackling affordability.

Firearms

Milne is a proponent of expanding background checks for purchasing firearms, and supports banning certain types of firearm.

2014 Vermont gubernatorial election

Milne was the Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2014. He finished in second place in the popular vote with 87,075 votes (45.1 percent). Two-time incumbent Democratic governor, Peter Shumlin, came in first with 89,509 popular votes (46.4 percent). Libertarian candidate Dan Feliciano earned 8,428 (4.4 percent). Because no candidate received 50 percent of the popular vote, the decision was made in Shumlin's favor by the Vermont House of Representatives and Senate. Milne was slow to concede defeat, noting that 54 percent of Vermonters voted against the incumbent. He later declined a recount request, citing the expected cost to the state.

According to uncertified results, Milne came within 2,434 votes of beating the two-term incumbent Democratic governor. A challenger had not defeated an incumbent governor in Vermont since 1962 when Phil Hoff, riding the popular wave of President John F. Kennedy, became the first Democratic governor in the state since 1854.

Milne declined to call for a recount of the vote—a right he earned by state law by coming within 2%—saying: "It is extremely unlikely, almost unfathomable, that a recount would put either candidate above the 50 percent mark."

While Shumlin had earned a greater share of the popular vote, Milne had won more districts.

Determining winner With no candidate receiving a majority, as required by the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont General Assembly decided the election by secret ballot January 8, 2015. Milne had said that if Shumlin won a plurality, he would support him, expecting that Shumlin would do the same if the situation were reversed.

By tradition, the General Assembly almost always selects the candidate who won a plurality in the general election. The most recent selection of a candidate who had not won a plurality was in 1976, when Republican T. Garry Buckley defeated Democrat John Alden for lieutenant governor.

2016 U.S. Senate election

Milne ran in the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Vermont. He was the only declared Republican candidate. Milne faced seven-term Democratic senator Patrick Leahy as well as three minor party candidates. He lost the election, receiving 32% of the vote.

2020 Vermont lieutenant governor election

In 2020, Milne defeated several minor candidates to win the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. The Democratic nomination was won by Molly Gray. In the general election, Gray defeated Milne and Progressive nominee Cris Ericson.

Republican primary

General election

Personal life Milne resides in the unincorporated community of North Pomfret, Vermont, located within the town of Pomfret, and is a divorced father of two grown children.