Primary election featured fewer competitive races

Staff report

Vermonters went to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 13, to vote in a primary that features far fewer competitive statewide races than last cycle but many high-interest races lower down on the ballot. And for some offices, there isn’t going to be much of a choice until the general election in November.

Only two statewide races featured competitive primaries, and neither the state Democratic or Republican party has fielded more than one candidate for U.S. Senate or U.S. House, both Dems are incumbents — Rep. Becca Balint and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.

But there were some hotly contested races on the local level, including a challenge to Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, the chair of one of the House’s two budget writing committees.

Incumbents are also facing primary challenges in five Senate district races in Addison County; Chittenden-Central; Chittenden-Southeast, Windsor County and Grand Isle County.

Statewide, the most active race was for spot No. 2. Lieutenant Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat, is facing a challenge from Thomas Renner, deputy mayor of Winooski, in the Democratic primary. The Republican candidate for the position could be John Rodgers, formerly a Democratic state senator, or frequent statewide candidate Gregory Thayer, a staunch backer of former President Donald Trump.

Finally, Tuesday’s voting will decide the Democratic nominee for governor, who will have the unenviable task of competing against popular incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott in November. Will it be “Democrat through and through” Esther Charlestin or “fusion candidate” Peter Duval? For results visit: MountainTimes.info.

Editor’s at VTDigger contributed to this report.