Newspaper editorial boards throughout Vermont appear to be lining up behind incumbents ahead of next Tuesday’s statewide elections.

Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin has been endorsed by six newspapers thus far, including the Burlington Free Press and the more conservative St. Albans Messenger. His Republican opponent, Randy Brock, has garnered endorsements from two papers: the conservative Caledonian Record and the Manchester Journal.

Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott has so far shut out Progressive/Democrat Cassandra Gekas, while fellow Republican Vince Illuzzi has shut out Democrat/Progressive Doug Hoffer in their race for state auditor. Though neither candidate for auditor is an incumbent, most of the seven papers endorsing Illuzzi treated him as one, given his 32 years in the senate. 

In the hotly contested race for state treasurer, appointed incumbent Democrat Beth Pearce has drawn the support of seven papers, including the Freeps, the Messenger and opponent Wendy Wilton’s hometown paper, the Rutland Herald. Like Brock, Wilton was endorsed by the Caledonian Record and the Manchester Journal.

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Paul Heintz was part of the Seven Days news team from 2012 to 2020. He served as political editor and wrote the "Fair Game" political column before becoming a staff writer.

One reply on “Media Note: In Endorsements, Newspapers Go For Incumbents”

  1. Newspaper endorsements are more of trying to pick the winner as opposed to anything else. They are pretty much irrelevant at this point..

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