ELECTIONS

Primary Elections 2024: Who is running for Vermont governor?

Megan Stewart
Burlington Free Press

On Aug. 13, Vermonters will cast their ballots for major party candidates — Republicans, Democrats and Progressives — in the statewide primary election.

Four candidates across three major parties met the May 30 deadline to file for governor. The winners of the Republican, Democratic and Progressive gubernatorial primaries will face each other and minor party candidates in the statewide general election on Nov. 5.

As of noon on June 5, only one minor party candidate had filed to run for governor in the general election: Independent Eli "Poa" Mutino of Barre City.

In addition to governor, Vermonters on primary day will also choose major party candidates for U.S senator, U.S. representative, lieutenant governor, treasurer, secretary of state, auditor of accounts, attorney general and high bailiff. The seats for all 50 states senators, 150 state representatives and 1,800 justices of the peace are also on the ballot this year.

The Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier seen on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.

Primary elections 2024 candidates

Republican

  • Incumbent Phil Scott, Berlin: Scott was elected first governor in 2016 after previously serving six years as lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state senator. If re-elected, he will be the first governor since Howard Dean to serve more than four terms. He has is currently considered the most popular governor in country.

Democrat

  • Esther Charlestin, Middlebury: Charlestin is a former Middlebury Selectboard member and school administrator. She currently serves as co-chair of the Vermont Commission on Women. In 2023, she won a Leahy Award for exceptional community leadership.
  • Peter K. Duval, Underhill: Duval has a background in physics and computer science. In 2021, Duval was recalled from the Underhill Selectboard due to allegations of verbal abuse and conflicts of interest, according to WCAX. In 2022, Duval ran for the Republican nomination for governor , before running in the general election as an Independent.

Progressive

  • Marielle Blais, Brandon: Blais has a background in education and speech language pathology, according to her LinkedIn page. In 2022, she secured the Progressive nomination for Vermont state auditor, but withdrew her candidacy from the general election. Blais has also previously run for the Brandon Selectboard.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.