Molly Gray defeated Timothy Ashe, Debbie Ingram, and Brenda Siegel in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of Vermont. With 68% of precincts reporting, Gray had received 45% of the vote. Ashe was second with 32%. Siegel and Ingram each received less than 10%.
Incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman (D/P) is running for governor, leaving the position open. Gray is an assistant attorney general. Ashe is a state senator and serves as the chamber’s president pro tempore.
The 2016 election was the first time since 2000 that Vermonters had elected a non-Republican lieutenant governor. Vermont Public Radio‘s Peter Hirschfeld, commenting about the office, wrote, “Aside from presiding over the state senate … [the] job doesn’t carry much in the way of constitutional powers. But the statewide post has been an important stepping stone for many ambitious politicians.” Vermont has had six governors since 1980, three of whom had previously served as lieutenant governor.
