Supporters of TJ Donovan may have been disappointed when campaign staffers and volunteers sporting his banner paraded by without their candidate this week. While the campaign was represented in seven parades around the state, Donovan himself didn’t march in any.
That’s because the Democratic primary challenger, who is in a bid to unseat fellow party stalwart Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell, was with his family over the Fourth of July holiday. His wife, Jess, gave birth to their second son on the afternoon of July 3 as fireworks were being prepped on Donovan’s home turf, Burlington, and the town he’s set his sights on, Montpelier.
“That really was a testament to Ryan Emerson and the rest of the campaign team to step it up because I wanted to be here with my family,” Donovan said in an interview.
Donovan’s campaign has been relatively quiet about his absence because he has said he wants to keep his family life private.
His wife and newborn son are both happy and healthy, Donovan said, and he will likely be back on the campaign trail this weekend.
“We’re going to play it by ear,” he said, “but obviously family comes first.”
