AUG. 10, 2016, 12:47 AM BY MORGAN TRUE AND ANNE GALLOWAY
BURLINGTON — In what may be a sign of just how far Bernie Sanders has pulled Vermont to the left, a Progressive state senator appears to have defeated a Democratic Party stalwart and four-term House speaker in the primary race for lieutenant governor.
With 265 of 275 districts reporting early Wednesday, Chittenden County Sen. David Zuckerman was ahead of Speaker Shap Smith by a margin of 43 percent to 37 percent, with a 4,300-vote lead, according to the secretary of state’s website. Rep. Kesha Ram, D-Burlington, came in third with 17 percent of the vote. Smith did not immediately concede the race.
Zuckerman declared victory before a crowd of elated supporters at Sweetwaters Restaurant on Church Street in Burlington, saying The Associated Press had declared him the Democratic nominee.
He said he would continue to fight for Sanders’ progressive ideals and pledged to help bring a $15 minimum wage and universal health care to Vermont. Sanders endorsed Zuckerman a week before Tuesday’s primary.
Of the three candidates, Zuckerman invested the most in television, radio and online advertising in the waning weeks of the primary.
If Zuckerman were to win the general election, it would be the highest office held by a member of the Vermont Progressive Party since it was formed in 1999. With that in mind, Zuckerman set his sights on his Republican opponent, Randy Brock, promising to run a positive campaign. Brock is a former state auditor and state senator and was the Republican nominee for governor in 2012.
“We’ve got Randy Brock as an opponent, and he’s held statewide office before. He’s got the respect of a lot of Vermonters, and we’re going to run a respectful and positive campaign,” Zuckerman said, urging supporters to redouble their efforts over the next three months.
Progressive Party Chair Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said Zuckerman’s victory is a validation of the viability of a third party in Vermont.
“The Bernie momentum is real, and the Progressive Party is a real and vibrant alternative to the two-party system, and Vermonters are really hungry for that,” Mulvaney-Stanak said.
Zuckerman needed 250 write-in votes on Progressive ballots, plus enough to defeat Boots Wardinski who also sought the Progressive nod for lieutenant governor, in order to clinch the party’s nomination.
Progressives said the state party committee had selected Zuckerman as its nominee in May, and were working to ensure he received the requisite votes.
The Secretary of State’s website showed 512 votes cast for lieutenant governor in the Progressive primary, but the results were not yet tabulated early Wednesday.
Speaking Tuesday night, Zuckerman said he believes the small “p” progressives, regardless of party affiliation, are attracted to his campaign because of its focus on social, economic and environmental justice.
Zuckerman appeared acutely aware of the work ahead winning back establishment Democrats who supported Smith.
The mood was somber at Breakwater Cafe and Grill where Smith watched the returns come in with some consternation. After an hour or so of analyzing the results by town, Smith, surrounded by family and friends, thanked his supporters and said he would not concede the race that night but would make an announcement Wednesday.
In an interview, Smith blamed his poor showing at the ballot box on coming into the race late. He launched a run for governor about a year ago but decided to drop out after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. After she was given a clean bill of health in May, Smith decided to make a bid for lieutenant governor.
“We came in less than three months ago, and other candidates came in 10 months ago,” Smith said. That late start put his campaign fundraising efforts at a disadvantage, he said, and consequently he didn’t have enough money to spend on TV and radio advertising at the end of the campaign.
Instead, Smith focused on running an effective field game, and he spent a lot of time outside Chittenden County. Zuckerman, on the other hand, who has served as a state senator in Chittenden County for two terms and before that was a House member from Burlington, had a built-in presence in the most populous region in the state.
Smith was philosophical about the prospect of losing the race. “I have a very good life, a healthy wife and two wonderful kids,” Smith said. “If it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be.”
Ram conceded early in the night and said that although she feels she’s closed a chapter on her eight-year stint in the Legislature, she’s not sure what’s next.
“I feel it’s only the beginning,” Ram said.
“We ran an incredibly optimistic and positive campaign, and it resonated with many Vermonters, and for that I’m eternally grateful,” Ram added, thanking her supporters and campaign volunteers.
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