Updated 6:15 p.m.
Lt. Gov. Molly Gray will seek the Democratic nomination for Vermont's only seat in the U.S. House.
The office will become vacant as Rep. Peter Welch runs for the U.S. Senate in the wake of the announced retirement of Sen. Patrick Leahy.
Gray, who is serving her first term as lieutenant governor, says she's running for Congress to work on many of the issues that she's focused on in her time in office, including the expansion of broadband, universal access to child care, and paid family leave.
Previously, Gray told VPR she feels it's best to work on these issues in a non-partisan way.
"The issues we are facing today are not party issues, they're not political issues as much as they are issues that are facing Vermonters," Gray told VPR.
Gray said the congressional vacancy gives Vermont an opportunity to have robust debate.
"And I welcome all sorts of Vermonters who want to step up and run into this race," she said. "That is good for democracy, it's good for Vermont, and I hope we can focus this race on the issues."
Several other Democratic women are considering a bid for the U.S. House. They all hopeto be the first woman that Vermont has ever elected to federal office.
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