Application Open for Vermont Signature Events

Application Open for Vermont Signature Events
The Vermont Signature Events program is a partnership with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. It is a great way for events to gain exposure and prominence. Signature Events are awarded annually and celebrate the diversity of experiences Vermonters and visitors alike can enjoy in the Green Mountain State.
 
Events must take place between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. The deadline to apply for the Vermont Signature Events program is Thursday, December 22. 
 
10 Winners Will Receive:
Events Must Meet the Following Guidelines:
  • Event must take place for specified and limited period of time.
  • Events can occur over a period of months (i.e., a special exhibit at a museum) or for just a few hours. Events must have an end date.
  • If your business regularly produces events, the event must be above and beyond what your normal business offers.
  • Event must be appropriate for out of state visitors as well as for local Vermonters.
  • Event must showcase the unique character of Vermont.

Submit an application for your event here.

Accumulating Costs Add to Economic Uncertainty

Accumulating Costs Add to Economic Uncertainty

Pressure on businesses has not eased since the pandemic lockdowns ended. Many industries are reporting more dire business conditions today than two years ago, and many businesses that weathered the pandemic are deeper in debt and less able to withstand the economic instability due to depleted reserves and ruined credit.

Right now, businesses are facing an avalanche of mounting costs. Inflation is at 9%, driving food prices up by a nationwide average of 13.1% in July. In Vermont, gas prices soared to a high of $5.61/gallon in June. This comes as businesses continue to struggle to source basic products amid ongoing supply chain issues. Labor costs in Vermont rose 15% during the pandemic, well above the nationwide average of 5%. In addition, Vermont health insurance rate hikes and hospital budget increases will put an even greater burden on those in the small group marketplace. 

Policymakers must consider the accumulation of these costs on small businesses before raising taxes, passing new fees, or mandating costly and time-consuming compliance with new programs. Taken individually, a small payroll tax or a new registration fee for a growing industry may seem insignificant. However, businesses are still fighting to recover from the pandemic while also shouldering the mounting costs associated with inflation, soaring labor and healthcare costs, and a broken supply chain. Vermont has already seen stores closing, reduced restaurant hours, fewer options for childcare, fewer homes being built, and longer wait times to see a doctor or dentist. As the news of an impending recession continues, this could ultimately result in fewer jobs, less revenue to the state, and less vibrant communities.  We need to ensure that we balance the desire to spend with the ability to pay.

The State of Manufacturing in October

The State of Manufacturing in October

October is Manufacturing Month nationwide and is celebrated in Vermont with events and onsite tours of plants and facilities. It is essential to showcase Vermont’s $3 billion industry as an important economic driver that employs more than 28,000 Vermonters (10% of Vermont’s workforce) and contributes 9% to Vermont’s Gross Domestic Product.

Manufacturing contributes to the greater economy via the:  

  • Economic Multiplier Impact: Every $1 in manufactured goods generates an estimated $2.79 worth of additional economic activity, the highest of any other economic sector. If the entire manufacturing supply chain is included, every $1 spent in manufacturing adds another $3.60 worth of additional economic activity.
  • Employment Multiplier Impact: Each manufacturing job supports an additional 5 jobs elsewhere.

Nationally, September saw an increase in manufacturing activity from August, but saw a decline in the index, from 52.8% to 50.9%, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Overall, the data is mixed with new orders contracted, production and inventories increasing, and prices slowing, as reported on the Q3 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey done by National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

While the economy added 263,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, the second quarter saw U.S. economy shrink by 0.6% and the real GDP decline by 8.5% in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing job openings fell in August from 910,000 to 795,000, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. However, manufacturing job openings remained high overall, as demand for goods increased the need for employees during a severe workforce labor shortage. Manufacturers hired an increase of 24,000 workers for a total of 452,000, up from 428,000 in July, according to NAM.

Inflation accelerated in September, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.4%, for a total of 8.2% over the past 12 months. Looking ahead to the remainder of Q4 manufacturers can expect additional higher interest rate hikes, supply chain disruptions, and worker shortages. All of this will compound, leading to recession worries in 2022 or 2023.

These pressures and workforce challenges will persist into Q4 and beyond, but manufacturing has proved resilient. According to NAM, the manufacturing value-added output increased to an all-time high of $2.768 trillion in Q2, while the industry accounted for 11% of manufacturing value-added output.

Spotlight on Open Approach

Spotlight on Open Approach

Open Approach is a managed IT services company based in Burlington, VT, serving New England and beyond. Every day, Open Approach focuses on one thing; helping their clients use technology to make their businesses better. They remove IT complexity through the practice of trust, integrity, and partnerships so that companies can move forward with confidence. The team at Open Approach is a group of friendly, curious, motivated individuals with years of experience helping businesses grow. Their list of services is broad — and looks like what you’d find at any good IT company. Yet while they may be jacks-of-all-trades, they’re masters of one: Making IT systems work to leverage and advance your business.
 

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Spotlight on MVP Health Care

Spotlight on MVP Health Care

This month, we are spotlighting Vermont Chamber member MVP Health Care.
 
Vermont’s fastest-growing health plan is now even better. MVP Health Care has been providing affordable, high-quality health insurance for Vermont businesses for 20+ years—for healthier employees and a better bottom line. 
 

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Rising Business Costs Inform Policy Agenda

Rising Business Costs Inform Policy Agenda

With 15 consecutive months of total job openings exceeding 20,000, Vermont’s workforce crisis continues to impact businesses. At the same time, the impact of inflation is being felt by every industry. While consumer spending remains high, the rising cost of labor, goods, and services are a strain on the business community. In the year ahead, there will be opportunities to advocate for responsible policies that address this issue by prioritizing the following solutions:

  • Strategically recruiting more people to work for Vermont businesses
  • Reducing barriers to developing new housing stock in smart growth areas
  • Redeploying unused APRA funds to support issues impacting the workforce
  • Marketing the state to visitors as a year-round destination

It will also be necessary to ensure there isn’t further impact to these rising costs by the growth of government spending. Siloed conversations for multiple initiatives that would result in steep payroll tax increases for businesses and workers will have broad ramifications. The Vermont Chamber will work to broaden the perspective so policy leaders can make decisions based on the full impact rather than one issue at a time. There will be an opportunity to find and advocate for balance in moving the state forward.

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Solutions for Recruiting and Retaining Workers

Solutions for Recruiting and Retaining Workers

During the 2022 legislative session, the Vermont Chamber focused on the workforce crisis currently impacting Vermont’s businesses. While there is no easy fix, there are a variety of new or expanded tools for relocation, training, housing, and child care that are available for employers to use as workforce recruitment and retention tools.

Recruitment

  • Worker Relocation Grant: Promote this relocation incentive as a way for recruiting out-of-state workers to recoup a portion of their moving expenses.
  • Military Retiree Pension Tax Exemption: Recruit retired military veterans with Vermont’s new partial exemption of retired military pensions which will exempt the first $10,000 of military retirement pay from state personal income tax.
  • Recent College Graduate Forgivable Loans: Entice students at Vermont higher education institutions to become employees through forgivable loans available to students committing to work in Vermont for two years after graduation. The program will be administered by the UVM Office of Engagement, and more information is coming soon.
  • New Americans: Offer access to support services available through a program aimed at in retention of recent arrivals. More information on the program, administered by the Agency of Human Services, is coming soon.

Training

  • Professionals in Health Care: Offer training opportunities to fill health care positions with incentives including grants, forgivable loans, loan repayment, and tuition assistance.
  • Vermont Trades Scholarship Program: Get the high-demand trade sector employees needed by promoting the Vermont Trades Scholarship Program which provides initial licensing fees, exam fees, and tuition payments for certification and degree programs to applicants and employees.

Housing Costs

  • First-Generation Homebuyer Tax Credit: Retain employees struggling with buying a home by sharing the new first-generation homebuyer tax credit program with them. This program will be administered by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. More details are coming soon.
  • Home Heating Incentives: Help employees receive financial assistance to switch to lower cost, energy efficient residential heating sources. Some products and services are free to income qualified households.

Child Care Costs

  • Child Care Financial Assistance Program: Promote Vermont’s expanded child care subsidies available to a wide range of income levels as a way to reduce out-of-pocket childcare costs.
  • Child Tax Credit: Vermont’s new child tax credit for individuals and families with children under five will reduce the financial burden of child care costs for employees through a refundable tax credit. This new State benefit is a great way to recruit out of state employees with child care needs.

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Looking Ahead to the General Election

Looking Ahead to the General Election

Below is a complete list of general election candidates. You can find more information on the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office to confirm which races will be on your ballot in November. The online portal makes it simple and easy to access voting information on their website. The online system allows Vermonters to update their voter registration status, request absentee ballots, and find out their polling locations.

U.S. Senate

  • Peter Welch (D)
  • Gerald Malloy (R)
  • Martha Abbott (P)
  • Mark Coester (I)

U.S. House of Representatives

  • Becca Balint (D)
  • Liam Madden (R)
  • Barbara Nolfi (P)
  • Ericka Redic (L)

Governor

  • Phil Scott (R)
  • Brenda Siegel (D/P)
  • Susan Hatch Davis (P)

Lieutenant Governor

  • David Zuckerman (D/P)
  • Joe Benning (R)

Secretary of State

  • Sarah Copeland Hanzas (D)
  • H. Brooke Paige (R)
  • Robert Millar (P)

Attorney General

  • Charity Clark (D)
  • H. Brooke Paige (R) – will decline nomination and be replaced by party
  • Elijah Bergman (P)

 Treasurer

  • Mike Pieciak (D)
  • H. Brooke Paige (R) – will decline nomination and be replaced by party
  • Don Schramm (P)

Auditor

  • Doug Hoffer (D/P)
  • H.Brooke Paige (R) – will decline nomination and be replaced by party
  • Marielle A. Blais (P)

State Senate

Addison

  • Chris Bray (D)
  • Ruth Hardy (D)
  • Mason D. Wade III (I)

Bennington

  • Brian Campion (D)
  • Dick Sears (D)

Caledonia

  • Jane Kitchel (D)
  • JT Dodge (R)

Chittenden Central

  • Phil Baruth (D/P)
  • Tanya Vyhovsky (P/D)
  • Martine Larocque Gulick (D) – Erhard Mahnke is two votes behind and has requested a recount
  • Infinite Culcleasure (I)

Chittenden North

  • Irene Wrenner (D)
  • Leland Morgan (R)

Chittenden Southeast

  • Virginia “Ginny” Lyons (D)
  • Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D)
  • Thomas Chittenden (D)

Essex

  • Russ Ingalls (R)

Franklin

  • Pam McCarthy (D)
  • Jessie Nakuma Palczewski (D)
  • Randy Brock (R)
  • Robert Norris (R)

Grand Isle

  • Dick Mazza (D)
  • Stephen Bellows (R)

Lamoille

  • Richard Westman (R)

Orange

  • Mark MacDonald (D)
  • John Klar (R)

Orleans

  • Robert Starr (D)
  • Samuel Douglass (R)

Rutland

  • Bridgette Remington (D)
  • Anna Tadio (D)
  • Brian Collamore (R)
  • David Weeks (R)
  • Terry Williams (R)

Washington

  • Anne Watson (D)
  • Ann Cummings (D)
  • Andrew Perchlik (D)
  • Paul Matthew Bean (R)
  • Dwayne Tucker (R)

Windham

  • Nader Hashim (D)
  • Wendy Harrison (D)
  • Richard Kenyon (R)
  • Richard “Rick” Morton (R) – appointed to replace Mark Coester on the ballot by Windham County Republican Committee
  • Mark Coester (I) – won the Republican primary but will run as an Independent after being disavowed by GOP leadership over his display of fascist and alt-right symbols at a 4th of July parade
  • Tim Wessel (I)

Windsor

  • Rebecca White (D)
  • Alison Clarkson (D)
  • Richard McCormack (D)
  • Dana Colson (R)
  • Alice Flanders (R)

State House of Representatives

Addison-1

  • Amy Sheldon (D)
  • Robin Scheu (D)

Addison-2

  • Peter Conlon (D)

Addison-3

  • Diane Lanpher (D)
  • Matt Birong (D)
  • Rob North (R)
  • James H. McClay (R)

Addison-4

  • Caleb Elder (D)
  • Mari Cordes (D)
  • Valerie Mullin (R)
  • Lynn Dike (R)

Addison-5

  • Jubilee McGill (D)
  • Jon Christiano (D)

Addison-Rutland

  • Joseph Andriano (D)

Bennington-1

  • Nelson Brownell (D)
  • Bruce Busa (I)

Bennington-2

  • Dane Whitman (D)
  • Timothy R. Corcoran II (D)

Bennington-3

  • David K. Durfee (D)
  • Victor K. Harwood Jr. (R)

Bennington-4

  • Kathleen James (D)
  • Seth Bongartz (D)

Bennington-5

  • Jim Carroll (D)
  • Michael Nigro (D)
  • Mary A. Morrissey (R)

Bennington-Rutland

  • Mike Rice (D)
  • William Gaiotti (R)

Caledonia-1

  • Bobby Farlice-Rubio (D)

Caledonia-2

  • Chip Troiano (D)

Caledonia-3

  • Eileen Boland (D)
  • Dennis LaBounty (D)
  • Charles Wilson (R)

Caledonia-Essex

  • Scott Campbell (D)
  • Scott Beck (R)
  • Frank Empsall (R)

Caledonia-Washington

  • Henry Pearl (D)

Chittenden-1

  • Jana Brown (D)

Chittenden-2

  • Erin Brady (D)
  • Angela Arsenault (D)

Chittenden-3

  • Trevor Squirrell (D)
  • Edye Graning (D)

Chittenden-4

  • Phil Pouech (D)
  • Sarah J. Toscano (R)

Chittenden-5

  • Chea Waters Ecans (D)

Chittenden-6

  • Kate Lalley (D)

Chittenden-7

  • Jessica Brumsted (D)

Chittenden-8

  • Noah Hyman (D)

Chittenden-9

  • Emily Krasnow (D)

Chittenden-10

  • Kate Nugent (D)

Chittenden-11

  • Brian Minier (D) 

Chittenden-12

  • Martin Lalonde (D)

Chittenden-13

  • Tiff Bluemle (D)
  • Gabrielle Stebbins (D)
  • Tom Licata (I)

Chittenden-14

  • Barbara Rachelson (D)
  • Mary-Katherine Stone (D)

Chittenden-15

  • Brian Cina (D)
  • Troy Headrick (D)

Chittenden-16

  • Jill Krowinski (D)
  • Kate Logan (D)

Chittenden-17

  • Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (D)

Chittenden-18

  • Carol Ode (D)
  • Robert Hooper (D)

Chittenden-19

  • Sarita Austin (D)
  • Patrick M. Brennan (R)

Chittenden-20

  • Curt Taylor (D)
  • Seth Chase (D)
  • Doug Wood (R)

Chittenden-21

  • Taylor Small (D)
  • Daisy Berbeco (D)
  • Jordan Matte (I)

Chittenden-22

  • Lori Houghton (D)
  • Karen Dolan (D)
  • Seth Adam Manley (R)

Chittenden-23

  • Leonora Dodge (D)
  • Rey Garofano (D)

Chittenden-24

  • Alyssa Black (D)
  • Roger Drury (R)

Chittenden-25

  • Julia Andrews (D)
  • Allison Duquette (R)

Chittenden-Franklin

  • Chris Mattos (R)
  • Chris Taylor (R)

Essex-Caledonia

  • Terri Lynn Williams (R)

Essex-Orleans

  • Peggy Stevens (D)
  • Larry Labor (R)

Franklin-1

  • Alan “Al” Maynard (D)
  • Devon Thomas (D)
  • Carolyn Whitney Branagan (R)
  • Ashley R. Bartley (R)

Franklin-2

  • Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson (R)

Franklin-3

  • Mike McCarthy (D)
  • Joe Luneau (R)

Franklin-4

  • Thomas Oliver (R)
  • Matthew E. Walker (R)

Franklin-5

  • Wayne Laroche (R)
  • Lisa A. Hango (R)

Franklin-6

  • Brenda Kai Churchill (D)
  • James Gregoire (R)

Franklin-7

  • Cindy Weed (D)
  • Allen “Penny” Demar (R)
  • Suzanne “Suzi” Hull-Casavant (I)

Franklin-8

  • Lauren Dees-Erickson (D)
  • Casey Toof (R)

Grand Isle-Chittenden

  • Michael Morgan (R)
  • Andy Paradee (R)

Lamoille-1

  • Scott Weathers (D)
  • Jed Lipsky (I)

Lamoille-2

  • Kate Donnally (D)
  • Daniel Noyes (D)
  • Richard J. Bailey (R)
  • Malcolm “Mac” Teale (R)

Lamoille-3

  • Lucy Boyden (D)
  • Rebecca Pitre (R)

Lamoille-Washington

  • Avram Patt (D)
  • Saudia Lamont (D)
  • Ben Olsen (R)
  • Nichole Loati (R)

Orange-1

  • Carl Demrow (D)
  • Samantha Lefebvre (R)

Orange-2

  • Monique Priestley (D)
  • Zachary M. Lang (R)

Orange-3

  • Seth Keighley (D)
  • Rodney Graham (R)

Orange-Caledonia

  • Kelsey Root-Winchester (D)
  • Joe Parsons (R)

Orange-Washington-Addison

  • Jay Hooper (D)
  • Larry Satcowitz (D)
  • Wayne D. Townsend (R)
  • Jackie Klar (R)

Orleans-1

  • Brian Smith (R)

Orleans-2

  • Woodman “Woody” H. Page (R)

Orleans-3

Orleans-4

  • Katherine Sims (D)
  • Vicki Strong (R)

Orleans-Lamoille

  • Mark Higley (R)
  • Michael J. Marcotte (R)

Rutland-1

  • Patricia A. McCoy (R)

Rutland-2

  • Dave Potter (D)
  • Ken Fredette (D)
  • Arthur Peterson (R)
  • Thomas “Tom” Burditt (R)

Rutland-3

  • Mary Droege (D)
  • Jarrod E. Sammis (R)

Rutland-4

  • Paul Clifford (R)

Rutland-5

  • Eric Maguire (R)

Rutland-6

  • Mary E. Howard (D)
  • Cynthia “Cindy” Laskevich (R)

Rutland-7

  • William Notte (D)

Rutland-8

  • Charles “Butch” Shaw (R)

Rutland-9

  • Stephanie Z. Jerome (D)

Rutland-10

  • William “Bill” Canfield (R)

Rutland-11

  • Jim Harrison (R)

Rutland-Bennington

  • Christopher Hoyt (D)
  • Sally Achey (R)

Rutland-Windsor

  • Logan Nicoll (D)

Washington-1

  • Kenneth W. Goslant (R)
  • Anne B. Donahue (R)

Washington-2

  • Kari Dolan (D)
  • Dara Torre (D)
  • Rebecca Baruzzi (I)
  • Gene Bigano (I)

Washington-3

  • Peter D. Anthony (D)
  • Jonathan Williams (D)
  • Thomas “Tom” Kelly (R)
  • Brian Judd (R)

Washington-4

  • Kate McCann (D)
  • Conor Casey (D)
  • Glennie Fitzgerald Sewell (P)
  • Dona Bate (I)

Washington-5

  • Ela Chapin (D)

Washington-6

  • Marc B. Mihaly (D)
  • Tina Golon (R)
  • Bram Towbin (I)

Washington-Chittenden

  • Theresa A. Wood (D)
  • Thomas Stevens (D)
  • Kathi Tarrant (R)
  • William McGorry (I)

Washington-Orange

  • Melissa Battah (D)
  • Francis “Topper” McFaun (R)
  • Gina M. Galfetti (R)

Windham-1

  • Sara Coffey (D)
  • Nancy Gassett (R)

Windham-2

  • Laura Sibilia (I)
  • George Wilson (I)

Windham-3

  • Michelle Bos-Lun (D)
  • Leslie Goldman (D)
  • Tyler Austin (R)
  • Bonnie Depino (R)
  • Ryan Coyne (I)

Windham-4

  • Mike Mrowicki (D)
  • Lynn Kuralt (R)

Windham-5

  • Emily Long (D)

Windham-6

  • Tristan D. Roberts (D)
  • John A. Lyddy (R)

Windham-7

  • Emilie Kornheiser (D)

Windham-8

  • Mollie S. Burke (D)

Windham-9

  • Tristan Toleno (D)

Windham-Windsor-Bennington

  • Kelly Maclaury Pajala (I)

Windsor-1

  • John Bartholomew (D)
  • Elizabeth Burrows (D)

Windsor-2

  • John Arrison (D)
  • Stuart Lindberg (I)

Windsor-3

  • Alice M. Emmons (D)
  • Kristi C. Morris (D)
  • Judy Stern (R)

Windsor-4

  • Heather Surprenant (D)

Windsor-5

  • Tesha Buss (D)
  • Keith T. Cappellini (I)

Windsor-6

  • Tristan D. Roberts (D)
  • John A. Lyddy (R)

Windsor-Addison

  • Kirk White (D)

Windsor-Orange-1

  • John O’Brien (D)

Windsor-Orange-2

  • Rebecca Holcombe (D)
  • Jim Masland (D)
  • Bill T. Huff (R)

Windsor-Windham

  • Heather Chase (D)
  • Eva Ryan (R)

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Surprises and Fresh Faces in Down Ballot Races

Surprises and Fresh Faces in Down Ballot Races

Redistricting prompted a shakeup in the Chittenden County Senate Races this year. In the Chittenden North district, Democrat Irene Wrenner, a former Essex Town Selectboard member, will face off against Republican Leland Morgan, a former House member, for a Senate seat. However, in the Chittenden Southeast and Central districts, primary winners are likely to cruise through the general election to a seat in the Senate. In the Chittenden Southeast district, all three incumbents, Senators Ginny Lyons, Kesha Ram Hinsdale, and Thomas Chittenden, secured primary wins. In the new Chittenden Central district, incumbent Phil Baruth and current Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky easily secured two of three seats, but only two votes separated the next two vote-getters for the third and final seat, with Erhard Mahnke requesting a recount to challenge Martine Larocque Gulick.

In Washington county, incumbents Ann Cummings and Andrew Perchlik secured two of the three Democratic nominations, but it was Anne Watson who secured the most votes, a significant result for the current mayor of Montpelier. In Windham County, former Rep. Nader Hashim and Wendy Harrison won the Democratic nominations for Senate and will face off against Republicans Mark Coester (who is not being backed by the Republican party after he displayed alt-right and fascist imagery at a 4th of July parade) and Richard Kenyon, in the general election. Mark Coester has since announced his decision to run in this race as an Independent, and the party nominated third-place finisher Richard Morton to replace him on the ballot. In Windsor County, Rep. Rebecca White and incumbents Alison Clarkson and Richard McCormack won the Democratic nominations for Senate. Like Watson, White also secured the most votes in her primary race, another significant result for a first-time Senate candidate.

Notable House races included Chittenden-5, where Democrat Chea Waters Evans challenged incumbent Michael Yantachka over his vote on Prop 5, and won. Two incumbents, Republican Vicki Strong and Democrat Katherine Sims, will face off for the only seat in the new Orleans-4 district. In Washington-4, Kate McCann and Conor Casey, who ran as an informal ticket, secured the two Democratic nominations to represent Montpelier.

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Political Intrigue in Federal Races Drives High Voter Turnout, Upsets

Political Intrigue in Federal Races Drives High Voter Turnout, Upsets

On the Republican ballot for the U.S. Senate seat, political newcomer Gerald Malloy beat former U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan, who had been favored to win and was backed by powerful state and national Republican party leaders. In the closely watched race for the lone Congressional seat, State Senator from Windham County and Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint overcame her lack of statewide name recognition to beat Lt. Governor Molly Gray by a 23-point margin to secure the Democratic nomination. Vermont’s Senate delegation played a crucial role in this race, with Senator Bernie Sanders endorsing Balint, and Senator Patrick Leahy supporting Gray. In the Republican primary, self-proclaimed Independent Liam Madden defeated Ericka Bundy Redic, who has since announced her intention to run in the general election as a Libertarian.

David Zuckerman won the Democratic primary to be Lieutenant Governor, with three other competitors splitting the vote of the more moderate wing of the party. State Senator and moderate Republican Joe Benning beat the far-right candidate, Gregory Thayer, for the Republican nomination. Sarah Copeland Hanzas narrowly won the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State while Charity Clark won the Democratic nomination for Attorney General by a landslide.

Other Races turned out exactly as expected. Peter Welch handily won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator Patrick Leahy. Unsurprisingly, Governor Phil Scott easily secured the Republican nomination for his fourth term. Running unopposed, Brenda Siegel secured the Democratic nomination for Governor, though notably only received 55% of the votes. Mike Pieciak and Doug Hoffer also ran unopposed and secured the Democratic nominations for Treasurer and Auditor, respectively. Perennial candidate H. Brooke Paige won the Republican nominations for Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor, and Attorney General, though he has announced his intention to decline the nominations for all but Secretary of State to focus on that race. The party has one week to name his replacement on the general election ballot.

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