Brenda Siegel of Newfane,  who slept on the State House steps for 27 days last year to secure funding for homeless housing, announced yesterday she is running for governor as a Democrat. Siegel’s nephew died of an overdose in 2018. Her brother died 20 years earlier while using heroin. She supports recovery treatment on demand. She would implement a housing plan based on assessed need with emergency, transitional and permanent housing for all.

Andy Paradee will run as a Republican for the Grand Isle – Milton House seat vacated by Leland Morgan, who is running for the new Senate seat, Chittenden North, which includes Milton, Westford, Essex. Longtime Essex political figure Irene Wrenner has announced she is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the new Senate seat. 

A leading Montpelier city Democrat said today she is unaware of any candidate seeking the Montpelier House seat vacated by longtime Rep. Warren Kitzmiller.

Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, told The Morning Drive on WVMT this morning she favors universal mailed ballots for primaries – not this year, but for a future election. Secretary of State Jim Condos opted against mailed ballots for the 2022 primary, in part due to the added cost and complexity of mailing one ballot for each party to every voter.

Lamoille County GOP Candidate Meet and Greet and Dinner Saturday May 7, 6 PM at the Teen Challenge Building 1296 Collins Hill Road in Johnson. Doors open at 5:30. Dinner is free, donations accepted. Candidates include Christina Nolan and Gerald Malloy (Senate), Anya Tynio for US House (Ericka Redic unavailable), and Joe Benning and Greg Thayer for Lt. Governor. RSVP to Shannara.Johnson@gmail.com