vermont politics

With a rare opening this fall in its congressional delegation, Vermont appears poised to lose its distinction as the only state that has never been represented by a woman in Washington. Three women, including Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, are among the Democrats competing in the Aug. 9 primary for the seat being vacated by the state’s...

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill that would have created a clean heat standard for Vermont to help the state reduce emissions from heating buildings to meet the state’s climate change commitments. Scott said in his veto message on Friday that the legislation does not include details on the costs and impacts, which he said…

A cancer diagnosis is adding yet another wrinkle to the political campaign season in Vermont, by forcing the retirement of a longtime public servant and elected official. “This is a tough day,” said State Treasurer Beth Pearce, who revealed Wednesday she needs surgery and other treatments for an undisclosed form of cancer that was diagnosed last month. “I will not…

Democrat Beth Pearce said she had planned to run for re-election, before her doctor gave her the news.

The nation’s longest-serving current U.S. senator received a series of standing ovations Wednesday, in a tri-partisan show of gratitude for his nearly half-century in Washington serving Vermonters. Democrats, Republicans, and Progressives from the Vermont Legislature, along with the governor and lieutenant governor, said thank you to Sen. Patrick Leahy in a special ceremony at the Vermont State House. The...

A high-profile Republican has entered the race for U.S. Senate in Vermont — a contest the major parties at both the state and national levels consider a top goal to win in November. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, who has served for nearly 50 years, is not seeking re-election this fall. “I believe I’m a unifier,” Christina Nolan said in an…

After Democrat Patrick Leahy – the longest-serving current member of the Senate, decided not to run again, both major parties now consider the seat a top goal in November. Republican Christina Nolan, the state’s former top federal prosecutor, just joined the race.