On the eve of election day 2016, below is a status update on the state of Vermont-based elections, drawn from
VT Digger's 2016 Election Guide.
Senator - Incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy, is widely predicted to win but has been in a bruising battle with Scott Milne, a Republican travel agency owner who narrowly lost to Gov. Peter Shumlin in 2014. Seven-term Leahy is the longest serving member in the U.S. Senate.
Governor - Competitive, civil, constructive and too close to call. That’s how the state’s senior political analyst described the 2016 race for Vermont governor, a contest that has pitted a popular Republican lieutenant governor against an energetic Democratic technocrat who held several posts in the Shumlin administration. The two campaigns have spent a record $12 million convincing voters to choose between Republican Phil Scott and Democrat Sue Minter.
Lieutenant Governor - Republican Randy Brock, a former state senator, state auditor and candidate for governor, is running against David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat senator from Chittenden County. The two men have diametrically opposed views on many issues. Brock is a fiscal conservative who believes in smaller government and opposes a hike in the minimum wage to $15 per hour. He also opposes marijuana legalization. Early on in the race, he distanced himself from Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump. Brock, an African American, has criticized Zuckerman for “racist” comments. He points to Zuckerman’s comparison of legalizing marijuana to the fight for racial justice, among other things. Zuckerman has worked for Sen. Bernie Sanders and is a beneficiary of Sanders’ vast fundraising list. Zuckerman is an organic farmer and wants to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. He led a failed initial effort in the Senate to legalize marijuana last year. He was also instrumental in the passage of Act 46, the school district consolidation law.
Attorney General - Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell is leaving the office he has held fr 18 years. Democratic candidates TJ Donovan is Chittenden County State’s Attorney and wants to end the use of out of state prisons. Republican opponent Deb Bucknam, an attorney from St. Johnsbury, says sending inmates to other states saves money. They also clash over campaign finance. Bucknam says the system works as is; Donovan would like to see the U.S. Supreme Court overturn the Citizens United decision, which has opened campaigns up to indirect spending by outside groups.
Vermont Legislature - A Democratic majority will likely continue to dominate the Statehouse but seats could shift somewhat. The 150 seats in the Vermont House of Representatives are being pursued by 246 candidates, 127 of which are incumbents. 57% of House candidates are Democrats, 35% Republicans, 4% Progressives and 4% Independents.
Fifty-five candidates are vying for the 30 seats in the Vermont Senate: 49% are Democrats, 35% are Republicans, 6% are Progressives and 6% are Independents.
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