Anticipating the 2024 election season, VTDigger has rolled out its comprehensive Election Guide. While the state’s primary doesn’t offer an abundance of competition across all positions, important races integral to the future of Vermont’s political factions are certainly to be seen. When looking at the lieutenant governor position, it’s one seat that has sparked heated competition from both left-leaning and right-leaning candidates.
More than just the governorship, potential party candidates are stirring the pot in the race for the state Senate. A number of experienced representatives from the House and some fresh faces are stepping up to fill the spots left empty by incumbents, some of whom had a run of 20 years or remarkably even more. Indeed, a significant 20% of incumbents are stepping aside, refusing to re-contest.
This situation presents an interesting predicament, as the Democrat’s overwhelming control, particularly over the Senate, hangs in the balance. The primary election for Vermont is set to be held on August 13, while the general election follows later in the year on November 5.
The 2024 Primary Election Guide released by VTDigger has several resources put together to help voters navigate the election process. This includes guidelines on registering and voting so that no one is left behind – be it through mail-in voting, voting early, or casting their vote in-person on Election Day.
The guide goes beyond simple logistics, featuring profiles of candidates that give insight into their pasts, their responses to crucial questions regarding matters pertinent to Vermont, and clear documentation of their personal finances. It also covers various race highlights across county, state, and federal levels, giving voters a comprehensive picture of who is running, where, and why.
In addition to the above, the guide comes particularly handy for those looking to delve deeper into the politics of the state, providing access to a database showing the campaign finances of each statewide candidate. It also serves as a detailed guide on the various roles and responsibilities within the Vermont state government.
For all those who have been keeping up with VTDigger’s recent coverage of the 2024 elections, the guide offers a time-saving summary of all their articles. Alongside this, it includes important dates to keep in mind, tools to assist voters in finding their specific polling stations, and resources to look up Senate and House district boundaries.
The collective efforts of the VTDigger team have made this exceptional guide possible. Key contributors included Taylor Haynes, the director of product design, data journalist Erin Petenko, senior editors Natalie Williams and Kristen Fountain, Libbie Sparadeo who is in-charge of membership and engagement, and editor-in-chief Paul Heintz.
They intend to continue refining and updating the guide as the election dates draw nearer. The aim of every improvement will be to provide more detailed, useful, and relevant information to the voters.
While we cannot deny the hard work and effort VTDigger has put into this comprehensive guide, one cannot help but question whether the guide remains impartial given the bleak prospect of the Democrat’s supermajority at risk. Are they truly objective and fair in their presentation, or does a hint of bias taint the resource?
For example, are the Democrats adequately challenged on their policies within the guide, or are they portrayed in a sympathetic light? With a long history of incumbency, it’s evident that there may be some hesitation or fear to question the status quo.
The guide’s focus on Democrat’s risk of losing control could be seen as giving undue attention to one party’s dilemmas, potentially steering the narrative in their favor. Given the changes on the horizon, it is crucial to present a balanced view of all political parties and the candidates they field.
It’s hard not to wonder whether the supposedly impartial guide will truly present the upcoming contenders for the lieutenant governor position in an unbiased light. After all, which party in the race seems to be the primary focus now? Is it the one facing significant challenges and risks?
The upcoming competition for the state Senate seats is a prime opportunity to shed light on the crucial role of an ever-skilled and strategic political party— the Republicans. Could they emerge as the much-needed change-makers or, as some would say, the saviors Vermont needs?
It remains critical for the likes of VTDigger to remain balanced in their election coverage. While their guide may emphasize the dread the Democrats must be feeling at the potential loss of their supermajority, one must not lose sight of the opportunity this presents to other promising political parties.
As the primary date of August 13 approaches and subsequently, the general election on November 5, the citizens of Vermont should carefully examine the motivations behind VTDigger’s guide. Does it give everyone fair coverage, or does it lean towards favoring the Democrats? After all, in the democratic pursuit, every political faction should be given room on the stage.