Former Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman says he wants his old job back.
Zuckerman announced Monday morning that he’ll run for the lieutenant governor’s post he departed in 2020 to launch a failed bid for governor.
“Really there’s no experienced and effective progressive voice in statewide office right now that can really fight on behalf of working Vermonters,” Zuckerman told VPR.
Zuckerman served two terms in the lieutenant governor’s office before challenging Republican Gov. Phil Scott in the 2020 general election.
Scott won that race by more than 40 percentage points.
“The last election didn’t prove to be the right choice to leave the office for, but … I feel I still have a lot to offer Vermonters,” Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman said he wants to the use the lieutenant governor’s post to build momentum for legislative initiatives related to climate change, paid family and medical leave and rural economic development.
If re-elected to the post, Zuckerman said his approach to governance will look different than it did during his first two terms in the office.
“In my prior terms in office, I did not work as aggressively to challenge or counter the governor on the many instances when he vetoed legislation that was critically important to many Vermonters,” Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman said he’ll be more a more forceful foil to Scott if he’s elected in 2022.
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Molly Gray is running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Woodstock Rep. Charlie Kimbell, former Danville Rep. Kitty Toll and non-profit executive Patricia Preston are also seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
Caledonia County Sen. Joe Benning is seeking the Republican nomination.
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