During a Tuesday morning press conference on the Statehouse steps, Brenda Siegel called for her fellow candidates to be upfront about their privileges in this lieutenant governor race and detailed how marginalized candidates can struggle to gain enough political traction in statewide races.
“When you step up to run for office … you expect to be scrutinized,” Siegel said. “However there is an added several layers when you are marginalized.”
As a low-income, single mom, Siegel said she’s experienced “trolling” on social media and at times felt shut out of the political process because of a lack of political connections and wealth.
But she said those who have experienced personal crises often have the skills to take on political crises, which is why she thinks Vermont needs to deconstruct campaign barriers to encourage those with underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds to run. She said she would be releasing a public campaign financing plan in the coming days to reevaluate how Vermonters can gain access to the political system.
“None of us should be OK with a system that says your proximity to wealth and power should give you different or more access,” Siegel said.
She also took a swing at the media. She said Vermont media has reinforced systemic power structures and biases that keep marginalized candidates undercovered in statewide races.
“The media must begin to cover candidates on equal footing,” she said. “If what it takes is comparing per column inch for a while to get it right, do that. Go back and do that. Let Vermonters decide who they support. Don’t tell them who to support.”
— Grace Elletson
