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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Bernie Sanders Endorses Sue Minter For Governor, Other Vermont Democrats

Charles Krupa
/
AP
Sen. Bernie Sanders, shown here at a campaign event for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Friday in Keene, N.H., announced his support for a full roster of Democratic statewide candidates Thursday.

Sen. Bernie Sanders came out with a full slate of endorsements for Democratic candidates for Vermont office Thursday, including gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter.

Sanders also endorsed TJ Donovan's bid for attorney general, as well as the re-election campaigns of his congressional colleagues Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch.

Incumbents Treasurer Beth Pearce, Auditor Doug Hoffer and Secretary of State Jim Condos also received Sanders' support.

The endorsements come after Vermont's Democratic Party had expressed some worry that Sanders, who has been stumping for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, had not yet bestowed his star power on his home state colleagues.

In a release, Sanders praised Minter's platform on education.

“Sue Minter understands that the key for Vermont's economic future is opening up higher education to all Vermonters, regardless of income,” Sanders said. “That’s why, if elected governor, she will work to make community colleges and Vermont Tech tuition free."

On Thursday afternoon, Minter told VPR she and Sanders share the same economic goals.

"I definitely look forward to hitting the campaign trail with Bernie and discussing how we can really help Vermonters,” she said. “We want to raise the minimum wage, we want to create more livable wage jobs and help get more young people through college to get access to those jobs. We're definitely feeling the Bern today."

On the candidacy of TJ Donovan, Sanders wrote: “T.J. Donovan understands that criminal justice is about more than just sending people to jail. As attorney general he will help create a Vermont criminal justice system that focuses on preventing crime through early intervention, job training and educational opportunities for at-risk Vermonters."

Sanders has previously endorsed the candidacy of David Zuckerman, a Progressive-Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor.

Sanders will be campaigning with Vermont's statewide candidates in the "near future," according to the release.

Update 5:25 p.m. This post has been updated to include a comment from Sue Minter.

Angela Evancie serves as Vermont Public's Senior VP of Content, and was the Director of Engagement Journalism and the Executive Producer of Brave Little State, the station's people-powered journalism project.
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