Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist, a former executive at an electric co-op, beat out three other candidates to become the nation’s first transgender gubernatorial nominee for a major party.
Hallquist campaigned on improving economic conditions in Vermont’s rural regions and advocated for single-payer health care. Now Hallquist will face incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who easily won his matchup with primary opponent Keith Stern, a grocer.
Scott’s popularity in the state dropped this year after he signed legislation that tightened the state’s gun laws. But he is expected to win in November, with the Cook Political Report rating this race as solid Republican.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, said Ms. Hallquist pulled off a historic primary victory. “We’re proud of Christine’s historic candidacy, and we welcome her to the most diverse crop of gubernatorial nominees in American history,” Inslee said.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
Also popular on WSJ.com:
How bosses waste their employees’ time.
