[O]n Tuesday, Vermonters pick the major party candidates for federal statewide and local offices. Here are what we expect to be some of the most competitive and important races to watch. (For more information about who’s running, check out VTDigger’s candidate guide)
Governor
In a highly contested primary race, four Democrats are fighting for their party’s nomination in this year’s gubernatorial contest.
On the Republican side, Gov. Phil Scott faces a challenge from Keith Stern, a grocer from Springfield who has sought the support of gun rights advocates upset by Scott’s decision in April to sign gun control legislation.
While toppling Scott is a improbable for the political novice, winning a significant share of the votes would bruise the incumbent governor heading into the general election.
Vying for the Democratic nomination are James Ehlers, the executive director of Lake Champlain International, Christine Hallquist, the former CEO of the Vermont Electric Cooperative, Brenda Siegel, founder of the Southern Vermont Dance Festival, and Ethan Sonneborn, a 14-year-old incoming high school student.
None of these candidates have held statewide public office, and they are all struggling with name recognition among Vermonters, according to a recent VPR-Vermont PBS poll. Sen. John Rodgers, D-Essex/Orleans, is also running as a write-in candidate.
Washington County Senate
Six Democrats, including two incumbents, will face off in the primary for three spots on the general election ballot.
One of the county’s three Senate seats has been vacated by outgoing Sen. Francis Brooks. Democratic incumbents Ann Cummings and Anthony Pollina are expected to keep both of their seats, leaving the four other candidates on the Democratic ticket competing for the vacant spot.
Those candidates are Ashley Hill, a deputy state’s attorney in Washington County and a Montpelier city councilor; Andrew Perchlik, the director of Vermont’s Clean Energy Development Fund; Andrew Brewer, the former owner of Onion River Sports; and Theo Kennedy, a Middlesex attorney who used to work for the state and now owns Chill Gelato.
Rutland County Senate
Five Republicans are vying for three seats in this primary contest, including one left open by the retirement of Sen. Peg Flory, a Republican fixture of the Statehouse.
The candidates in the race include incumbent Sens. David Soucy, who was appointed to replace Kevin Mullin, and Brian Collamore. Also running are Edward Larson, a former Rutland City alderman and police officer; James McNeil, a local businessman who previously served in the House; and Terry Williams, a former alderman.
No Democrats have filed to run in the primary, but three are seeking the party’s nomination through write-in campaigns.
Chittenden County Senate
The six incumbent Democrats in Vermont’s most populous county are running a united campaign. Sens. Tim Ashe (the current Senate leader), Phil Baruth, Debbie Ingram, Ginny Lyons, Chris Pearson and Michael Sirotkin are all seeking re-election as a slate of candidates.
But their names will appear individually on the ballot alongside Democratic challengers Val Carzello, Steve May and Finnian Boardman Abbey. Carzello, of South Burlington, works at the University of Vermont library; May is a former Richmond Selectboard member; and and Abbey is teenager from Jericho.
Two Republicans who will be going up against the Democratic primary winners in November are Alex Farrell, a business intelligence analyst at Union Mutual of Vermont, and Dana Maxfield, a sales specialist in the agriculture industry.
Addison-4 House
Four Democrats are looking to keep the seat left behind by Dave Sharpe D-Bristol, the outgoing chair of the House Education Committee, and unseat incumbent Rep. Fred Baser, a Republican.
Mari Cordes, a nurse; Rob Demic, a contractor; Caleb Elder, a solar developer; and Paul Forlenza, a member of the Lincoln Selectboard, are in the running for two spots on the general election ballot. Valerie Mullin is also running on the Republican ticket.
Windham-4 House
The three major party candidates competing for two seats — one freed up by Rep. David Deen, D-Putney, who announced he was retiring in April — are all Democrats, meaning the winners of the primary will have a clear path to the Statehouse.
Incumbent Rep. Mike Mrowicki will face off against Nadir Hashim, a police officer, and Cindy Jerome, who has served as director at residential homes for elders.
Washington-1 House
Four Democratic candidates are hoping to turn another red seat blue since Rep. Patti Lewis, R-Northfield, will not be seeking re-election.
Denise MacMartin, a retired college administrator; Jeremy Hansen, a computer science professor at Norwich University; John Stevens, a retired Norwich University engineering professor; and Gordon Bock, an advocate for Vermont prisoners, are competing for two spots on the ballot in November.
The winners will face veteran legislator Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, and Republican candidate Kenneth Goslant, a small business owner in Northfield.
Washington-4 House
Three Democrats, including incumbent Rep. Tommy Walz, are vying for two spots on the primary ballot.
Former Barre Mayor Peter Anthony and Paul Flint, a technical consultant and security analyst, are also running on the Democratic ballot.
Incumbent Rep. Paul Poirier, I-Barre City, and John Steinman, a dentist and the sole Republican in the race, will await the winners.
U.S. House of Representatives
As a rule, Vermonters pick the incumbent when its three delegates to Washington, D.C., are up for re-election, and few expect this year to be different. However, Dan Freilich, a medical doctor and Navy veteran, has run a spirited campaign against Peter Welch, focusing on his acceptance of corporate campaign contributions.
Ben Mitchell, who was also running in the Democratic primary, dropped out during a debate on VPR last week and said he was endorsing Freilich.
State’s Attorneys
Around the state, several candidates are mounting primary challenges against incumbent state’s attorneys.
Arnold Gottlieb, a private practice attorney, is challenging Bennington State’s Attorney Erica Marthage.
Lamoille County Democratic State’s Attorney Paul Finnerty is facing a challenge from Todd Shove, a deputy state’s attorney in Orleans County.
And in Essex County, Amy Davis, a St. Johnsbury attorney, is challenging incumbent Vince Illuzzi in the Republican primary.
CORRECTIONS: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Sen. David Soucy, R-Rutland, was appointed to replace Dustin Degree; he replaced Kevin Mullin. Ed Larson, another Republican candidate in that Senate race, was incorrectly identified as the executive director of the Vermont Traditions Coalition. That position is held by another man of the same name.
