Vermont Lt. Gov. Candidates Clash Personally in Debate

Incumbent Lt. Gov. John Rodgers and Democratic challenger Molly Gray debated Tuesday in a Vermont Public-hosted forum, trading personal attacks over past experience more than policy. The two largely agreed on the need to lower the cost of living, support rural Vermonters, and address education spending, healthcare, land-use policy and property taxes, but clashed over Gray's education and prior departure from the lieutenant governor's office and Rodgers' record on constituent work. Gray proposed universal primary care funded partly by recouping federal tax cuts and taxing luxury second homes, while Rodgers criticized her for not detailing funding sources. The debate occurred ahead of Vermont's lieutenant governor election.