Write-in candidate Alex Yin reflects on Governor’s race
Winooski School Board member Alexander Yin lost his grassroots write-in campaign for governor, but he’s proud he got his name out there and learned along the way.
Incumbent Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, was re-elected for his fourth term on Nov. 8, garnering more than 202,000 votes compared to around 68,250 for second-place Brenda Siegel, a Democrat. Yin, who ran without party affiliation, netted 43 write-in votes, according to election results. But he expected this — he knew his election was a long shot, he said.
His campaign was a small one, and he spent his own money to fund the process rather than soliciting contributions. He focused on getting his name and stances greater recognition in Vermont, spearheading messaging through Instagram, Facebook and other online platforms.
As a Winooski School Board member, Yin felt he had good support from the education community around him. That made sense: His campaign centered largely on education initiatives, namely funding of school improvements and programs. Yin was a strong voice for carrying out the Winooski School District’s capital project, a multimillion-dollar revamp of the district’s campus that’s set to wrap up in the coming weeks. Democracy, in his eyes, takes two key elements: an educated populace and an active community.
Yin is an Asian American man, a piece of his identity he feels plays a key role in his mission. “I’ve been othered so much here (but) I am a Vermonter,” he said.
He believes government should better represent communities like Winooski, the state’s most culturally diverse city, and pushing toward that was a goal of his candidacy. As a school board member, he works with many students of color and from refugee families in the diverse district. He noted a number of instances when students’ faces lit up when they heard about his run for governor.
“If I won, it would be a great Disney+ movie,” Yin said, laughing.
All in all, Yin is happy with the learning experience of the campaign. He enjoys his current work and hopes to continue making inroads in politics, potentially posing another run for the 2024 election cycle, he said.