BURLINGTON — Mayoral candidate Carina Driscoll won’t seek the endorsement of city Democrats at a party caucus in January, her campaign announced last week.
Driscoll will likely also not seek the Republican endorsement, she said Tuesday.
A former state representative and Burlington city councilor, Driscoll had previously hinted she may seek support from all three major political parties in the city. The Progressive Party formally backed her at a caucus earlier this month.
Driscoll is the stepdaughter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a former Burlington mayor.
The campaign made the announcement in a news release to “clear up speculation” about Driscoll seeking the Democratic endorsement — which current Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, is widely expected to win.
“It wouldn’t make sense for me to ask the Democrats to endorse an independent over an incumbent who is currently bearing the party title,” Driscoll said.
At the Burlington Progressive Party caucus earlier this month, Driscoll told VTDigger she wanted to engage all three parties in the city.
“This is the first of three city caucuses I am looking to engage, Progressive, Democratic and Republican,” Driscoll said at the time.
She said Tuesday she was never sure if she wanted to formally ask for their support through an endorsement.
“I was looking to reach out and engage all three caucuses, but not necessarily as a candidate,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll won the Progressive endorsement 116-84 over independent candidate Infinite Culcleasure, a longtime community organizer.
Driscoll will continue courting support from Burlington Democrats in other ways, she said. At this point there isn’t a set plan to engage the Democratic caucus, Driscoll said, but said her campaign may send a letter to the party before their caucus meeting on Jan. 7.
“The numbers just don’t add up without some Democrats,” Driscoll said.
Meanwhile, other endorsements in the mayoral race are starting to roll in. Driscoll picked up the backing of the advocacy group Rights and Democracy last week. Weinberger also recently announced the support of the Burlington Police Officers Association, the union that represents about 70 Burlington police officers.
The election is on Town Meeting Day next year.
