Who is running for statewide offices in the Vermont primaries?

On Aug. 13, Vermonters will cast their ballots for major party candidates in the statewide primary election.

Vermont's statewide offices include lieutenant governor, state treasurer, secretary of state, auditor of accounts and attorney general.

In addition to these statewide offices, Vermonters on primary day will also choose major party candidates for governor, 50 state senators, 150 state representatives, 1,800 justices of the peace and high bailiff.

Primary winners of each race will face each other, plus any minor party candidates, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Lieutenant Governor

Democrats

• Incumbent David Zuckerman, Hinesburg: Zuckerman, an organic vegetable farmer, served as lieutenant governor from 2017-2021, before regaining his seat in 2023. He ran for governor against Phil Scott in 2020, garnering the Progressive and Democratic nominations. Prior to his stint as lieutenant governor, Zuckerman served as a state senator for four years and a state representative for 14 years.

• Thomas Renner, Winooski: Renner is Winooski's deputy mayor and a member of the Winooski City Council, positions he has held since 2023 and 2021, respectively. In the past, he served as a community liaison for U.S Rep. Becca Balint and on the staff of former U.S Sen. Patrick Leahy. He was also a member of Winooski's Safe, Healthy, and Connected People Commission. Outside of public service, he worked as an operations support specialist at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Republicans

• Gregory M. Thayer, Rutland City: Thayer, a financial accountant and tax advisor, was a member of the Rutland City Board of Aldermen from 1999-2005. He has also served as a member of the Rutland Downtown Partnership, Rutland Redevelopment Authority, Rutland City Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Rutland Regional Planning Commission. Thayer also ran for lieutenant governor in 2022.

• John S. Rodgers, Glover: Rodgers is a former Democratic state senator and state representative, positions he held for a total of 16 years. In 2018, he sought the Democratic nomination for governor as a write-in candidate. Rodgers is the owner of a stonework and excavation business and hemp and cannabis farm.

Progressives

• Zoraya Hightower, Burlington: Hightower is a former Burlington city councilor, a position she held for almost four years. She is a self-described activist with a background in environmental, social and economic justice. Hightower currently works as managing director for Nature For Justice and an as an equity consultant with the Creative Discourse Group.

Treasurer

Democrats

• Incumbent Mike Pieciak, Winooski: Pieciak was elected as state treasurer in 2022. He previously served as commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation for six years and as deputy commissioner for the department's securities division. Prior to his stint in public office, Pieciak practiced law.

Republicans

• H. Brooke Paige, Washington: Paige is a perennial candidate for statewide office who has a background in business administration. This year, he is also running for state auditor, secretary of state and attorney general. Paige has previously run for U.S president, U.S Senate, U.S House, Vermont governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

• Joshua Bechhoefer, Cornwall: Bechhoefer is the Republican National Convention committeeman-elect for Vermont. He is also the GOP chair for Addison County, the chair of the County Chairs' Committee and the town chair in Cornwall. Bechhoefer has a bachelor's degree in economics and is a credit analyst associate at Farm Credit East, ACA.

Progressives

• Tim Maciel, Brattleboro: Maciel is a Windham Southeast School District school director, a position he has held for over four years, according to the Brattleboro Reformer. Outside of public office, he has held administrative and instructor roles at different universities. He currently works as a higher education consultant at Educational Solutions of New England.

Secretary of State

Democrats

• Incumbent Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Bradford: Copeland Hanzas, a former educator and small business owner, was elected secretary of state in 2022. Prior to her current position, she spent 18 years in the Vermont House, where she served as a member of the Health Care Committee and the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, and as chair of the Government Operations Committee. She was the House majority leader from 2015-2017.

Republicans

• H. Brooke Paige, Washington. Paige is a perennial candidate for statewide office who has a background in business administration. This year, he is also running for state auditor, treasurer and attorney general. Paige has previously run for U.S president, U.S Senate, U.S House, Vermont governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

Auditor of Accounts

Democrats

• Incumbent Doug Hoffer, Burlington: Hoffer was first elected as auditor of accounts in 2012 after losing the previous race to Republican incumbent Tom Salmon. Before that, Hoffer worked as a self-employed policy analyst for 19 years. He also served on the Burlington Election Commission for six years, five of which he spent as its chair, and worked in Burlington's Community and Economic Development office for five years.

Republicans

• H. Brooke Paige, Washington. Paige is a perennial candidate for statewide office who has a background in business administration. This year, he is also running for treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general. Paige has previously run for U.S president, U.S Senate, U.S House, Vermont governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

Progressives

• Linda Gravell, Waterbury: Gravell is a former programmer and analyst and database administrator with a background in computer science. She currently serves as a Waterbury delegate at CVFiber, a communications union district municipal organization seeking to provide quality internet services in participating communities. She is listed as the Waterbury town chair for the Vermont Progressive Party.

Attorney General

Democrats

• Incumbent Charity R. Clark, Williston: Clark was elected as attorney general in 2022. She served as chief of staff under former Attorney General TJ Donovan from 2018-2022. In 2014, she was hired as assistant attorney general in Public Protection Division. Prior to law school, she served as a policy analyst in the Vermont Governor's Office. In addition to her work as attorney general, Clark is also justice of the peace and chair of her town's library board.

Republicans

• H. Brooke Paige, Washington. Paige is a perennial candidate for statewide office who has a background in business administration. This year, he is also running for state auditor, secretary of state and treasurer. Paige has previously run for U.S president, U.S Senate, U.S House, Vermont governor, secretary of state, attorney general and state auditor.

Progressives

• Elijah Bergman, Danby: Bergman is an associate attorney and former law clerk at Larson & Gallivan. The Vermont Progressive Party lists him on their website as their town chair in Danby. He previously ran for attorney general in 2022, securing the Progressive endorsement, but losing to Clark. Additionally, he worked on U.S Sen. Bernie Sanders' re-election campaign in 2012.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont primaries: Candidates seek party backing for statewide offices