( – promoted by JulieWaters)

While I’m taking a few days off this week to be with my family, it has been truly inspiring to see supporters and volunteers continuing to move the campaign forward in my absence.

This is the benefit of running a grassroots campaign built on a movement rather than an individual. Vermonters across the state have been demanding change in Montpelier and a new approach to politics in the state. That groundswell of support has pushed issues like jobs, the environment and education to the forefront of this campaign and has helped encourage me to run for Governor to help make these changes a reality.

Even while I’m not on the campaign trail, this support surges on. Today, a group from the campaign turned out in our state’s capital to submit my Candidate Petitions of Nomination. Submitting these forms is one of the final steps in running for Governor and ensures that a candidate’s name appears on the ballot in August.

More important than this formality, though, are the names of Vermonters who have signed the petition. This form contains hundreds of signatures, which we gathered from across the state through personal, face-to-face, grassroots engagement. Supporters of our campaign have been canvassing neighborhoods, attending local community events, participating in service politics projects, and meeting Vermonters at candidate forums to have real, authentic conversations about what we need to do to bring the state back on track.

We’re excited to keep the momentum of the campaign going forward and to continue engaging with Vermonters. I encourage you to check out my public calendar to see where I’ll be next and I hope to meet you at the next community event to have an honest conversation about the future of our state.