By John Celock
A Vermont resident is the Republican nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in the seat, along with the state’s sole congressional seat and four other statewide offices.
Businessman H. Brooke Paige officially captured the GOP nominations for state auditor, state treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general on Tuesday, after all four jobs unopposed in the GOP primary. Paige defeated opponents for the nominations for U.S. Senate and Congress.
Paige said in a post on his campaign Facebook page that he is willing to give up the GOP nominations for auditor, treasurer or attorney general if another candidate steps forward to run for one of those offices. Vermont Republicans have until later this month to nominate a replacement for Paige in any race he drops out of. Paige did not indicate if his offer extends to the U.S. Senate, congressional or secretary of state nominations.
Paige is currently challenging U.S. Sen. Bernie Sander (I), U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D), Secretary of State Jim Condos (D), Attorney General T.J. Donovan (D), Auditor Doug Hoffer (D) and Treasurer Beth Pearce (D) in the general election.
While Paige is the only Republican to file in the four down ballot contests and one of a few to run for the Senate or Congress, Vermont Republicans are fielding Gov. Phil Scott (R) as their nominee in his bid for a second term. State House Minority Leader Don Turner (R) is the GOP nominee against Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman (D).