Trans United Fund ( TUF ) and the Working Families Party ( WFP ) congratulated Christine Hallquist on her victory in Vermont's Democratic gubernatorial primary and pledged to support her in the general election this fall. Hallquist is a transgender woman, and would become the first openly trans statewide elected officials in U.S. history if she defeats incumbent Republican governor Phil Scott in November.
"Tonight's win is proof positive that Christine's platform of raising wages, funding public schools, and expanding broadband opportunities for rural Vermonters is resonating across the state," said Georgia Hollister Isman, spokesperson for the Working Families Party. "Hallquist is the progressive champion Vermont needs, and we're proud to support her historic candidacy."
TUF and the WFP said they would mobilize their volunteer networks in support of Hallquist. The joint effort by a leading national progressive political group and trans-led political group is the latest example of how progressive candidates from marginalized communities are uniting the progressive base.
"With tonight's primary win, Christine is a huge step closer to becoming the first openly trans governor in U.S. history." said Daye Pope, Trans United Fund's Organizing Director. "Tonight shows that Vermont — and the country — is ready to vote for trans and nonbinary candidates who care about the people and can get things done. In our mission of building trans and nonbinary political power across the country, Christine is a champion we're proud to support."
Hallquist is well-known throughout Vermont for instituting working-class friendly and environmentally-sustainable practices during her time as CEO of the Vermont Electric Coop, including keeping energy costs affordable for Vermont's working families rather than raising consumer electrical prices.
Hallquist's progressive platform includes a $15 minimum wage, protecting collective bargaining and workers rights, increasing funding for public education, and addressing racial disparities in Vermont's criminal justice system.
Trans United Fund is a national trans-led political group that works to build trans and nonbinary political power across the U.S. Led by a majority of trans women of color, TUF works with community leaders and allies to elect bold, transformative trans, nonbinary, and ally candidates to public office with a commitment to improving conditions for all, and was instrumental in doubling the number of trans elected officials in 2017.
The Working Families Party is a national political organization that recruits, trains, and elects the next generation of progressive leaders to office. The WFP plans to work in hundreds of races this year, large and small, in an effort to elect more progressive leaders and end Republican control of Congress and in state houses. The WFP has already contacted hundreds of thousands of voters to help Stacey Abrams in Georgia and Ben Jealous in Maryland win their gubernatorial primaries.
— From a press release
