David Zuckerman wrapped up victory in the Vermont lieutenant governor’s race late on election night, becoming the first Progressive Party politician to take the state’s No. 2 office.
Zuckerman, who ran on a hybrid Progressive/Democratic ticket, said his Republican opponent Randy Brock called shortly after midnight to concede the race.
Unofficial results Wednesday morning showed Zuckerman more than 6 points ahead of Brock with more than 50 percent of the vote.
The Hinesburg organic farmer and state senator said he was feeling “very good and very tired and ready to tackle some really big challenges for Vermonters.” He said his first priority as lieutenant governor would be setting up committees in the Senate, which is one of the lieutenant governor’s official duties.
Zuckerman made no victory speech because the race remained undecided long after the Progressive Party gathering at the Skinny Pancake restaurant in Burlington had broken up. The night stretched later than Zuckerman expected, and he took the microphone to thank his family for their support before his daughter, Addie, had to go to bed.
“The margin is not what’s critical,” Zuckerman said in an interview as he waited for results. “Given the current feeling about the country, it just feels good to be ahead right now.”
Zuckerman said his support had been building for years, and that running a positive campaign also helped.
Brock said voters who supported him were attracted by his focus on jobs and the economy, which also was the cornerstone of Phil Scott’s successful bid for governor.
“I knew it was going to be a close race, and the real question was which direction would it be close?” Brock said in a telephone interview before his concession.
In the weeks before Election Day, two statewide polls had shown Zuckerman with a significant lead. Brock said he’d expected the race to be closer than indicated.
Unofficial results showed Zuckerman, 45, taking much of Chittenden County, with the exception of Brock territory in Colchester and Milton. Brock picked up votes around Barre and Rutland, and in the conservative northeast region of the state.
Zuckerman represented Burlington in the Vermont House of Representatives for 14 years before he moved to Hinesburg to start Full Moon Farm with his spouse, Rachel Nevitt. He won a Chittenden County state Senate seat in 2012.
Zuckerman’s campaign was propelled by a focus on social and economic issues, including marijuana legalization and the resulting tax revenue. Zuckerman argued the revenue could be used for expanding phone and Internet access in rural Vermont, supporting Vermont State Colleges and addressing the opiate addiction crisis. He also supports raising the minimum wage to $15 and linking the property tax to income for all Vermonters, including the wealthy.
Zuckerman picked up endorsements from environmental leaders such as Bill McKibben and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who inspired his first political involvement as a University of Vermont student.
He played up his farming work by handing out seed packets as part of his campaign. He pledged to use the lieutenant governor’s office to gather grassroots support for environmental and labor issues as he had with marriage equality legislation and genetically-modified food labeling.
Zuckerman defeated Democratic House Speaker Shap Smith and Rep. Kesha Ram in a hard-fought Democratic primary in August, then took a Progressive Party endorsement and placed the “P” before the “D” in his hybrid political affiliation. On Tuesday he become the highest-ranking member of the Progressive Party in state history.
“It means the people in Vermont want Progressive values and want us to address those many economic challenges that we’re facing,” Zuckerman said, mentioning workers’ rights, affordable child care and good-paying jobs.
Brock, 73, of Swanton was an executive at Fidelity Investments who served as Vermont state auditor from 2005-07, then entered the state Senate to represent Franklin County for two terms. Brock ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2012 against incumbent Democrat Peter Shumlin.
Brock differed with Zuckerman over economic policy, marijuana policy, wind energy and campaign style. He promised to find $100 million in savings or new revenue for the state budget and sought to build state government’s relationships with business executives and entrepreneurs.
The tone of the race shifted after Brock introduced two radio advertisements attacking Zuckerman’s character and ethics, particularly on issues of race. Brock, who is African American, claimed Zuckerman’s campaign event about race and discrimination was little more than a political stunt.
Zuckerman raised $344,000 and spent about $304,000 through Nov. 4. Brock raised nearly $179,000 and spent about $150,000 through the same period.
VT: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Updated Nov. 11, at 12:05 p.m.
Zuckerman D
159,068 votes
52.0%
Brock R
138,865 votes
46.0%
Wardinski L
7,025 votes
2.0%
100% rpt
This article was first posted online Nov. 8, 2016.
Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.
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