Another Democrat could soon join the race for lieutenant governor.
Former journalist Garrett Graff confirmed Friday that he's seriously considering the race. The 34-year-old was editor of Politico Magazine in Washington and worked as deputy national press secretary for Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign.
Graff is from Montpelier, and says he moved back to Vermont recently to take on new challenges, including running for office in the 2016 political cycle.
"Lieutenant governor is certainly on the table for next year," he said. "I'm talking to people and exploring the options."
Lieutenant governor isn't the only job Graff has considered recently. In September, Graff registered the website domain names graffforgovernor.com and graffforsenate.com. If domain name shopping is any indication, Graff considered a political run shortly after the 2008 election. In December of that year, he registered graffforvermont.com and graffforamerica.com. Though he has control of the web domains, Graff hasn't posted any content on those websites.
Graff said he doesn't have a timetable in mind for a formal announcement.
If he chooses to run for lieutenant governor, Graff would face a crowded primary in the race. Burlington Rep. Kesha Ram and Marlboro businessman Brandon Riker have already announced they’re running. On the Republican side, former senator and state auditor Randy Brock has announced his intent to run.
Graff had a rising journalism career in Washington. He was the first blogger to gain White House press credentials and at age 28 was named editor-in-chief of Washingtonian Magazine. In January he was hired as editor of Politico Magazine.
He moved to Burlington recently, and said it’s now time to apply what he learned covering technology and politics.
“I have spent a decade reporting on the changes that the world is facing as it undergoes this technological revolution that we’re seeing across basically all of society right now,” he said. “And I think it is time for me to take what I have learned observing and covering that field and begin to actually work towards making some real solutions and some real progress on those same issues.”
