Vermont businesswoman well-positioned to become America’s first transgender governor
WASHINGTON – Vermont businesswoman Christine Hallquist is well-positioned to become the first transgender governor in the U.S. following her victory in the state’s Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday.
“Christine’s victory is a defining moment in the movement for trans equality and is especially remarkable given how few out trans elected officials there are at any level of government,” Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, said in a statement on Tuesday evening. “Many thought it unthinkable a viable trans gubernatorial candidate like Christine would emerge so soon. Yet Vermont voters chose Christine not because of her gender identity, but because she is an open and authentic candidate with a long history of service to the state, and who speaks to the issues most important to voters.”
Hallquist, 62, is CEO of Vermont Electric Coop. She defeated four primary opponents in Tuesday’s contest and will face Gov. Phil Scott in the general election.
Scott faces the unusual predicament of being a Republican at the helm of the nation’s most liberal state. Since taking office in 2016 Scott has embraced socially liberal policies while implementing austerity measures.
Primaries were held in three other states Tuesday.
Minnesota:
Fifth Congressional District
State Rep. Illhan Omar is well-positioned to become the first Somali-American woman elected to Congress following her victory in the Democratic primary.
Omar is running for the seat Rep. Keith Ellison (D) will vacate in January. Ellison won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota Attorney General on Tuesday.
The district is reliably Democratic.
Gubernatorial race
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) will face Rep. Tim Waltz (D) in the general election.
Recent polls showed a tight race in a hypothetical matchup.
Pawlenty served as governor from 2003-11. He unsuccessfully sought the 2012 Republican nomination for president.
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has served two-terms and will leave office in January.
Minnesota law prohibits the governor from exceeding two consecutive terms.
U.S. Senate races
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) will face State Rep. Jim Newberger (R) in the general election.
A recent Emerson poll showed Klobuchar with a nearly two-to-one lead in a hypothetical matchup.
Klobuchar has served in the Senate since 2007 and is regarded as a moderate-liberal. Klobuchar has been mentioned as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.
Minnesota’s junior senator, Tina Smith (D), will face State Sen. Karin Housley (R) in the general election.
A recent Emerson poll showed the two candidates neck-in-neck in a hypothetical matchup.
Smith was appointed to the Senate in December following the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D).
Wisconsin
Gubernatorial race
Gov. Scott Walker (R) will face Superintendent of Public Construction Tony Evers (D).
Recent polls showed Evers with a slight lead.
Walker assumed office in 2011 and is seeking a third term. He is a staunch conservative.
Walker garnered national headlines during his first year in office amid a contentious dispute with public sector employee unions over the collective bargaining rights of state employees.
The dispute stemmed from the passage of legislation which made large budget cuts. The cuts resulted in teacher layoffs and decreased pension benefits.
Protests over the law culminated in an unsuccessful 2012 initiative to recall Walker from office.
Walker was re-elected by a comfortable margin in 2014.
First Congressional District
Democrat Randy Byrce and Republican Bryan Steil are vying for the seat House Speaker Paul Ryan (R) will vacate in January.
The predominately white working-class district leans Republican.
Connecticut
Fifth Congressional District
Two-thousand-sixteen National Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes is well-positioned to become the first African-American Democrat to represent Connecticut in Congress following her primary victory.
Hayes will face Ex-Meriden Mayor Manny Santos (R) in the general election.
The district is reliably Democratic.
This article is republished with permission from Talk Media News
Bryan is an award-winning political journalist who has extensive experience covering Congress and Maryland state government.
His work includes coverage of the election of Donald Trump, the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and attorneys general William Barr and Jeff Sessions-as well as that of the Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Larry Hogan, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bryan has broken stories involving athletic and sexual assault scandals with the Baltimore Post-Examiner.
His original UMBC investigation gained international attention, was featured in People Magazine and he was interviewed by ABC’s “Good Morning America” and local radio stations. Bryan broke subsequent stories documenting UMBC’s omission of a sexual assault on their daily crime log and a federal investigation related to the university’s handling of an alleged sexual assault.