Vermont primary: Christine Hallquist makes history as transgender candidate becomes Democrat governor nominee as Bernie Sanders is also victorious
The state boasts a number of unique — many of them progressive — candidates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Christine Hallquist has become the first transgender candidate to win a major political party's nomination for governor.
As part of the primaries in Vermont, Ms Hallquist beat three other Democrats to secure the victory.
The 62-year-old Ms Hallquist is part of a wave of LGBTQ candidates seeking higher office across the US. Ms Hallquist is being supported by The Victory Fund, a political action committee that backs LGBTQ candidates across the country. The committed labelled her a “game changer.”
Before Vermont's election, only four transgender candidates had won primaries in 2018, all for house and senate seats in state legislatures, and have a general election ahead. Seventeen have lost primary or general elections and 21 have yet to face voters
Elsewhere, Bernie Sanders has won the Democratic Senate beating Folasade Adeluola as he seeks a third term in office.
With 98 per cent of precincts reporting, Mr Sanders had 94 per cent of the vote. It was not immediately clear which Republican he will face in the general election in November, given a close race between Brooke Paige and Lawrence Zupan that had just hundreds of votes in it.
Mr Sanders' win does not come as a surprise. The self-described Democratic Socialist won re-election in 2012 with about 71 per cent of the vote. Before that, in 2006, he carried about 65 per cent of the vote.
While Mr Sanders won the Democratic nomination, he is widely expected to reject it. Doing so has become a regular move for the notably independent senator over the years.
Phil Scott, the Republican governor in the reliably Democratic state, has won the GOP primary as he seeks re-election and will face Ms Hallquist.
Ethan Sonneborn is another candidate worth mentioning. He’s a 14-year-old progressive who decided to launch his campaign after violence erupted last year during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, North Carolina. State law allows anyone who has lived in Vermont for four years to run for governor after securing enough signatures to get on the ballot, making Mr Sonneborn legally qualified despite his age. He secured more than 4,000 votes for an eight per cent share of the ballots.
Please allow the live blog to load
Vermont isn’t the only state that held a primary on Tuesday — Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut also had elections to determine which candidates will face off come November.
Minnesota state Senator Karin Housley has easily won the state's Republican primary in a race to finish Mr Franken's Senate term.
Ms Housley faced no major challengers when launching her campaign in the days after Mr Franken announced his resignation over allegations of sexual misconduct.
She will face Senator Tina Smith
A former aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan has won the Wisconsin Republican primary race to replace him.
Bryan Steil over five other competitors. Steil far outraised his opponents and secured the backing of prominent donors and Republicans, including Mr Ryan.
He will face either Randy Bryce or Cathy Myers in November.
Minnesota state Rep. Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American legislator, has won a crowded Democratic primary to replace Rep. Keith Ellison in Congress.
Omar's victory Tuesday all but ensures she'll set another historic mark as the first Somali-American in Congress. Minnesota's 5th Congressional District includes Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs that tilt heavily Democratic.
Wisconsin state schools chief Tony Evers has won the Democratic primary for governor and will face Republican Governor Scott Walker in November.
Mr Evers emerged from a field of eight candidates in Tuesday's primary.
He was the only candidate to have won election statewide before and now faces his biggest challenge against Walker.
Democrat Keith Ellison has won the Minnesota Attorney General primary, just days after abuse allegations surface.
Mr Ellison recently denied allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan.
The accusation surfaced days before the election when the son of Ms Monahan posted online that he had seen angry text messages from Mr Ellison to his mother and a video that showed him dragging Ms Monahan off a bed.
Former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos has won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Connecticut Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut, who came under fire for her handling of a sexual harassment case in her office
A Wisconsin state senator and close ally to Governor Scott Walker has defeated a former Marine who cast himself as a political outsider in the state's Republican primary for US Senate.
Leah Vukmir beat Kevin Nicholson in Tuesday's primary and now advances to face Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Ms Vukmir won the endorsement of the Wisconsin Republican Party and the backing of most prominent GOP officeholders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. She ran as the proven conservative in the race, pointing to her long voting record in support of Republican priorities.
Both she and Mr Nicholson ran as strong supporters of President Donald Trump.
Mr Nicholson failed to overcome his past as a Democrat. He also lost despite millions more being spent on his behalf by outside groups.
Madison businessman and political newcomer Bob Stefanowski has won the Republican primary for Connecticut governor, defeating four fellow GOP contenders.
The 56-year-old former General Electric executive promoted his ability to turn around struggling companies and dubbed himself "Bob the Rebuilder" in his campaign advertisements.
Mr Stefanowski was the second-biggest spender in the campaign primary, trailing only former Greenwich hedge fund manager David Stemerman
Mr Stemerman and former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst questioned Mr Stefanowski's Republican pedigree, noting he became a Democrat only to switch back to the GOP shortly before announcing his candidacy for governor.
Mr Stefanowski was the first to launch a major TV ad campaign in the race. He has called for eliminating the personal income tax.
Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy is not seeking a third term.
Democratic Representative Tim Walz has won a three-way primary for Minnesota governor.
Mr Walz leveraged his rural Minnesota connections and a geographically balanced ticket to defeat state Rep. Erin Murphy and Attorney General Lori Swanson in Tuesday's primary. Mr Walz is leaving Congress after six terms representing southwestern Minnesota.
Former state Representative Joe Radinovich has won a crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring US Representative Rick Nolan in a northeastern Minnesota swing district.
Mr Radinovich defeated Representative Jason Metsa, longtime former news anchor Michelle Lee and others on Tuesday. Mr Radinovich served one term in the state House and managed Nolan's 2016 re-election campaign.
It sets up another hard-fought general election in what has become one of the most expensive and competitive congressional districts in the country. Mr Radinovich will face Pete Stauber, a St. Louis County commissioner and retired Duluth police officer. Mr Stauber has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments