Published: 8/11/2020 11:00:19 PM
Modified: 8/11/2020 11:03:27 PM
Political newcomer Molly Gray swept past Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe and two others Tuesday to capture the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. She will face travel executive Scott Milne, who out-polled Meg Hansen and three others for the Republican nomination.
Gray, an assistant attorney general, beat out Ashe, Chittenden Sen. Debbie Ingram and Brenda Siegel, an activist and former gubernatorial candidate.
The Associated Press called both races around 10 p.m.
With roughly 90% of precincts reporting, Gray was maintaining a lead of more than 11 percentage points over Ashe, with the others farther back.
In a statement, the 36-year-old Newbury resident thanked her fellow Democratic candidates and said she is “humbled by the support” for her candidacy.
“I entered this race because now is the time for the next generation of Vermont leaders to step forward and to ensure that rural communities have a strong voice in Montpelier,” said Gray, who also is an adjunct professor at Vermont Law School.
“While so much about our future is unclear, I believe in Vermont, in our communities and our people,” she added. “As your neighbor, your fellow Vermonter, and now your Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, I promise to be by your side every step of the way.”
The Ashe campaign told VtDigger the outgoing Senate leader was not available for comment Tuesday night.
Milne, the president of Milne Travel who narrowly lost a bid for governor in 2014, was gaining just more than half the vote on the GOP side. Hansen, a health care advocate and communications specialist, had about 33% of the vote.
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