AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Vermont's state primaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Democrats will compete in Vermont’s state primary on Tuesday for the right to challenge four-term Republican Gov. Phil Scott in November. The race is the highest profile of a handful of contested primaries on the ballot.

Voters will also decide primaries for lieutenant governor and additional contested races for the heavily Democratic state legislature.

Esther Charlestin and Peter Duval are vying for the Democratic nomination for governor. Charlestin is an educator and former member of the Middlebury Selectboard. She is endorsed by former Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman and Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak.

Duval is a computer scientist and former Underhill Selectboard member who ran for governor as an independent in 2022. His website states that “I am going to lose this election,” a message held over from his previous run, but says a vote for him will help elevate environmental issues in state politics. He also encourages Republicans and progressives to write in his name in their party primaries.

Scott is unopposed for his party’s nomination. Despite being a Republican governor in a heavily Democratic state, he remains a popular figure. He received 69% of the vote in the 2022 general election. Scott has been a critic of Republican Donald Trump and endorsed former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for president. He says he was one of the 66% of Vermont voters who cast their ballots for Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.

Both Democrats and Republicans will hold contested primaries for lieutenant governor. Zuckerman is seeking reelection to a fourth term. He had served four years in the post when he lost his bid for governor against Scott but returned to office two years later. He has drawn a primary challenge from Democrat Thomas Renner, the deputy mayor and city...