This is the second episode of To the Left, a Jezebel video series chronicling the ways candidates who lost their elections affected the political climate. In 2018, Christine Hallquist’s bid for the Vermont governor’s office ended in defeat. Her campaign’s impact, however, extended well beyond election day. By winning the nomination in the Democratic primary, Hallquist became the first transgender nominee for governor by a major party in the United States. Cementing her political legacy even further, one of Hallquist’s key campaign promises is being formalized into statewide policy under the current leadership. The former energy executive called for universal fiber-optic cable, highlighting the impact of the exceptionally poor internet connection in Vermont’s rural areas on those residents’ ability to function in the modern economy. While the state hasn’t implemented a fiber-optic connection just yet, the state legislature consulted Hallquist in the formation of a bill that would require universal broadband to be deployed across Vermont. In June, Governor Phil Scott passed the measure. Watch the video above for more of Hallquist’s reflections on her 2018 campaign and how she was able to be the catalyst for enacting new progressive policy in Vermont, even without an elected title.
