Candidates for August House and Senate primary races set

AREA TOWNS – Vermont candidates for statewide and local legislative races had until Thursday, May 28. to file petitions declaring themselves as candidates for the primary election, scheduled on Tuesday, August 11. Independent candidates have until Thursday, Aug. 6, to file their petitions.

In Senate races, incumbent Minority Leader, Caledonia County Sen. Scott L. Beck, has entered the race as a Republican to serve a second term. He will be unopposed in the primary.

David M. Roth of St. Johnsbury is entering the Caledonia County Senate primary as a Democrat and is unopposed there. Roth works at Cary & Main Co. in Danville with maple syrup production.

Beck said, “I am very excited to run for reelection to represent the Caledonia Senate District. I will continue to remain laser focused on affordability concerns and ensuring that Vermont spends tax dollars wisely.”

Incumbent Sen. Richard A. Westman, who has served in that role since 2011, is running unopposed in the primary and will face no declared major party opponent in the Tuesday, November 3 general election.

In the Washington County Senate race, incumbent Senators Ann Cummings, Andrew Perchlik and Anne Watson will be joined in the Democratic primary race by Gabriel Lajeunesse of Montpelier who is employed at UBS Financial Services in Burlington as a financial advisor. The four-way primary will result in three Democratic candidates for the November general election.

Republicans Rob Laclair of Montpelier and Peter Schmeeckle are unopposed in the primary.

LaClair reports working at RJE Co. in Berlin and Schmeeckle didn’t submit a financial disclosure.

In Vermont House races, Walden’s Rep. Michael Southworth has submitted his name for a second term to serve the Caledonia-2 District representing Hardwick, Walden and Stannard. He will be unopposed in the Republican primary.

Hardwick’s Audrey Grant is running unopposed as a Democratic candidate for State Representative in the Caledonia-2 District. She works at Northeast Kingdom Organizing in Newport as operations director.

“I am excited to run for State Representative,” said Grant. “Our rural communities need a strong voice in Montpelier to advocate for our needs. I’ve spent the last few years listening to neighbors and seeing complex policy issues up close. It’s now time to bring your voice to the State House.”

Incumbent Democratic Rep. Leanne Harple enters the Orleans-4 primary unopposed, looking to serve residents of Greensboro, Craftsbury, Albany and Glover for a second term. No Republican has entered the race to face her in the November general election.

“I have found this work deeply engaging, even when it has been exhausting,” said Harple.

“Having now experienced the legislative process from an inside perspective, I feel much better prepared for my second term. I learned that there is a huge difference between understanding how the legislative process works as a teacher and actually experiencing it as a boots-on-the-ground legislator. I will now return with a greater understanding of how policy moves through the State House, how alliances are built, and what it takes to have the greatest impact on legislation.”

She said, “One of the most valuable lessons I learned as a first-time legislator is that, much like teaching, this work is fundamentally grounded in strong relationships, and I formed some very meaningful bonds on both sides of the aisle over this past biennium.”

Incumbent Republican Rep. Greg Burtt of Cabot is running unopposed in either party’s primary to retain his House seat representing the Caledonia-Washington District to serve the towns of Cabot, Peacham and Danville.

Incumbent Representative Daniel Noyes is running again in the two-seat Lamoille-2 district with a new candidate James “Jim” Lipinski, who reports working for the State of Vermont in Montpelier, joining him for the Democratic primary to serve Wolcott, Hyde Park, Johnson and Belvidere.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Richard Bailey is running again with Malcolm “Mac” Teale in the August primary to represent the two-seat Lamoille-2 District.

Lamoille-Washington incumbent Democratic Representatives Saudia Lamont and David Yacovone have entered the Democratic primary in the two-seat district where they represent the towns of Woodbury, Elmore, Worcester, Morristown and Stowe.

Susanna G. Burnham of Morristown enters that race as a Republican with no primary opposition. She reports no employment, with income from the sale of a home continuing into 2027.