Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont crossed party lines Tuesday to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, who went on to win the state.

It is the second straight presidential race that Mr. Scott, a Republican, bucked his party to support the Democratic nominee.

“I did some soul searching and thought about a lot of different things … and came to the conclusion that I had to put country over party … and vote for Kamala Harris,” Mr. Scott said, according to vtdigger.org.

Ms. Harris’ path to the White House likely hinges on her picking up the support of like-minded Republicans across the country who feel former President Donald Trump has led the party in a negative direction.

“I know that Donald Trump, from my standpoint, doesn’t have the ability, nor the desire, to unite our country,” Mr. Scott said. “Does Kamala Harris have that ability? I don’t know either, but I do know she wants to, and she’ll try, and that’s half the battle.”

Vermont is among the most liberal states in the nation.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, has represented the state in the Senate since 2007 and served in the House since 1991.

Mr. Trump has dubbed him “crazy Bernie.”

• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.