A 61-year-old biological male now living as a woman is running for the Democratic nomination for governor in Vermont.
Expanding communications infrastructure to rural Vermont and dealing with looming hate groups are among the priorities of Christine Hallquist, who says being on both sides of the gender divide offers perspective.
The mass shooting in Florida and an apparent near-miss in Fair Haven, Vermont last week has some Vermont legislators considering new gun laws.
"We've put guns on the agenda for leadership meetings, caucuses, our meetings with the governor's staff and Senate leadership," Vermont House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, a Democrat, told Seven Days, a Vermont newspaper. "People are energized and disturbed by how close to home this was."
