In 2017, Danica Roem made history by defeating the “chief homophobe” of the Virginia House of Delegates, becoming the first openly trans person to win and serve in a state legislature. Now she’s hitting the campaign trail to stump for other qualified trailblazing candidates like Vermont gubernatorial candidate, Christine Hallquist.
On Thursday night, Roem was in Burlington, Vermont to help Hallquist become the country’s first transgender governor. Roem and Hallquist spent Thursday afternoon canvassing Burlington’s old North End followed by an event at Switchback Brewing Company.
“If you’re a trans-person, if you’re LGBTQ, or just whatever your inherent identifiers are… if you are well-qualified to serve and you have got a lot of good ideas then bring those ideas to the table because this is your America too,” Roem told the audience.
Hallquist certainly fits that description. As CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative, she transformed the utility into a national leader on climate change with a 96% carbon-free power grid. Now she wants to bring her managerial skills and expertise in physics/electrical engineering to the state-level. “As Danica showed us last fall, when we come together on the side of what is just, nothing is impossible,” Hallquist said.
Vermont Democratic Party Chair Terje Anderson told Victory Fund, “Vermont has been a real trailblazer in advancing LGBTQ+ equality over the years. As an openly gay state party Chair, it was thrilling and fitting to have a trailblazer like Danica visit here on behalf of Christine Hellquist’s campaign. She spoke powerfully about her how own experience earning votes to become the country’s first openly transgender legislator, and how the lessons of her campaign can be transferred to Christine and other trans candidates around the country.”
The visit comes amid tense budget negotiations in the state capital, with incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the state budget and a bill to increase the minimum wage. Hallquist urged Governor Phil Scott to address his mishandling of state finance legislation, and promised to take a collaborative approach with state officials if elected.
Christine Hallquist is one of four Democrats in the August 14 primary.
