Following Friday’s recount, Gulick’s lead over Mahnke grew from two votes to four — but Mahnke signaled he may not yet be ready to give in. The candidates were vying to clinch a third spot on the ballot, along with Sen. Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden, and Rep. Tanya Vyhovski, P/D-Essex.
“Redistricting has made campaigning accessible for independent candidates such as myself,” Culcleasure said in an interview Thursday.
The process could take weeks, said Josh Wronski, executive director of the Vermont Progressive Party, who is skeptical about the current count.
The race for a third spot in the Chittenden Central district remained too close to call.
For Progressives, the redrawn district will serve as a key battleground to maintain influence in a Democrat-dominated chamber.
Battleground districts in Franklin County and across the state could determine whether Democrats hold the power to override the governor’s vetoes in the next legislative session.
Campaign tactics by opponents of the just cause ballot item in Burlington have come under scrutiny.
Problems have only worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, and lawmakers and the Scott administration are beginning to discuss new steps on affordable housing and homelessness.
The 13 Democratic Senate candidates have raised $270,000 in the current election cycle.
The trend has led to renewed calls from some advocates for greater regulation.
The Scott administration plans to make $42 million available to renters and landlords and an $8 million housing rehabilitation program aimed to shelter individuals experiencing homelessness.
The measure provides tenants who can’t afford to pay rent a moratorium until 30 days after the Covid-19 state of emergency ends. But it does not provide a rent freeze.
The call service run by the United Ways of Vermont says it cannot afford the nearly $300,000 it would cost for 24/7 coverage.
Vermont’s new head of racial equity wants people to think about how a “not in my backyard” mentality” is stifling efforts to advance justice in housing.
