Vermont Democratic Party targets GOP over House candidate’s Jan. 6 involvement

The Vermont Democratic Get together is as soon as once more calling on the state GOP to denounce a Republican legislative candidate who claims he was current on the U.S. Capitol in the course of the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

The Democratic Get together’s newest blast facilities round one candidate vying to signify a southern Vermont district within the state Home. Nevertheless it follows a sample of calling out Republicans who’ve denied the outcomes of the 2020 election, and associating these people with the get together’s extra reasonable stalwarts, corresponding to Gov. Phil Scott.

“We all know the Vermont Republican Get together is filthy with insurrectionist sympathizers,” Vermont Democratic Get together Govt Director Jim Dandeneau stated in a Sunday information launch, “however to be actively supporting a traitor like (John) Lyddy ought to be a bridge too far for Phil Scott’s get together.” 

The candidate in query, John Lyddy of Whitingham, is operating to signify the Windham-6 district, which incorporates Halifax, Whitingham and Wilmington, within the Vermont Home. The seat is open; incumbent Rep. John Gannon, D-Wilmington, isn’t in search of reelection. Lyddy’s Democratic opponent is Tristan Roberts of Halifax.

On Jan. 6, 2021, at 7:38 p.m., Lyddy commented on one other Fb consumer’s publish that he was on the Capitol. “Chris, I used to be there, with Sharon, an unarmed lady was shot and killed in the present day,” Lyddy wrote. “I noticed all of it.”

Reached by telephone, Lyddy refused to reply questions past confirming his identification. After the reporter indicated they labored with VTDigger, Lyddy stated, “I do not converse to VTDigger. Thanks, bye” and hung up.

Each VTDigger and Seven Days beforehand reported that Lyddy, who had run for state Senate in 2020, rode on a bus that traveled to Washington, D.C., to protest the 2020 election outcomes alongside fellow supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Sunday’s information launch was not the primary time state Democratic Get together officers have stated particular person, far-right candidates point out a systemic drawback with the Republican Get together at massive. 

When Gregory Thayer, a former Rutland County GOP chair who additionally was current on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was operating in Vermont’s Republican lieutenant gubernatorial major, Dandeneau instructed VTDigger the get together was “rife with extremists.” Later, the Democratic Get together compiled a listing of major candidates, all of whom stay on the poll within the basic election, who had publicly supported overturning the 2020 election outcomes.

And as Democratic gubernatorial nominee Brenda Siegel challenges Scott — who stays enormously common in Vermont, even with Democrats — Dandeneau has regularly stated that moderates like Scott are responsible by affiliation with extremists and want to scrub up their get together.

All through the first election cycle, Vermont Republican Get together Chair Paul Dame maintained that the get together can’t management who recordsdata to run for workplace as a Republican. The get together can recruit candidates, however it might’t block somebody from registering with the get together.

On Monday, Dandeneau known as {that a} “cop-out.”

“In the event you’ve bought any person that does not signify your get together’s values operating to your nomination, you will discover any person to run towards them,” Dandeneau stated. “You possibly can work to guarantee that that individual isn’t your nominee.”

In response to the Democratic Get together’s weekend information launch, Dame in a written assertion on Monday didn’t disavow Lyddy, and even point out his identify. As an alternative, Dame shot again on the Democratic Get together for its “over-the-top rhetoric,” which he stated is “designed to draw media consideration and drive division and fire up hate.”

“After President Biden’s darkish speech calling half of the nation fascists, it seems that Vermont Democrats are bringing Washington politics to Vermont, and seeing how far they will push the envelope earlier than voters push again on their adverse campaigning,” Dame stated, referring to Biden’s primetime handle final month focusing on “MAGA Republicans.”

Pressed on whether or not the GOP will rescind its assist for Lyddy, Dame stated through textual content message, “Lyddy has finished an awesome job getting assist for his marketing campaign on his personal deserves and surpassed his deliberate fundraising aim. He doesn’t want lots of sources from the state get together.”

“However we aren’t going to let the Democrats bully us into altering which candidates we’re supporting,” he stated.

Requested on Monday about his opponent’s attendance on Jan. 6, 2021, Roberts in a written assertion chastised Lyddy for doubting the validity of election outcomes.

“This type of rhetoric sows mistrust and encourages residents to remain dwelling,” Roberts stated. “It reduces the voice of our small cities within the democratic course of at a time when many citizens in Windham-6 inform me they really feel unseen by each Montpelier and Washington. That’s unlucky, and avoidable.”

Rep. Laura Sibilia, I-Dover, represents the close by Windham-Bennington district. As an impartial, Sibilia stated she is anxious about extremism in each main events, however within the case of extremist Republicans, “this can be a group of parents who wish to overturn our election, who’re calling for violence towards state and federal establishments.”

“I’ve lots of associates who’re Republicans or who was Republicans, and I recognize that that is actually troublesome. However this seems like a line that may’t be crossed, actually,” Sibilia stated. “Calling for violence, calling for overturning election outcomes, would not really feel like a spot that you could accommodate or ought to accommodate.”