Molly Gray

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Molly Gray

|image = MollyGrayCrop.jpg

|caption = Gray in 2020

|office = 83rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

|governor = Phil Scott

|term_start = January 7, 2021

|term_end = January 5, 2023

|predecessor = David Zuckerman

|successor = David Zuckerman

|birth_name = Molly Rose Gray

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|03|18}}

|birth_place = Newbury, Vermont, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = {{marriage|Michael Palm|2021}}

|children = 1

|father = Bob Gray

|relatives = William B. Gray (uncle)

|education = University of Vermont (BA)
Vermont Law School (JD)
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (LLM)

}}

Molly Rose Gray (born March 18, 1984) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 83rd lieutenant governor of Vermont from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she was an assistant attorney general for Vermont from 2018 to 2021.

A native of Newbury, Vermont, Gray graduated from the University of Vermont (BA, 2006), Vermont Law School (JD, 2014), and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (LLM, 2016). While in college, she interned in U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy's Burlington office. She was active in Peter Welch's successful 2006 U.S. House campaign, then joined his staff after he took office in 2007. Gray subsequently worked on human rights issues for the International Committee of the Red Cross. After law school, she worked for the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers, an organization created to monitor the human rights compliance of private security contractors.

In August 2018, Gray was appointed an assistant attorney general in the Vermont Attorney General's Criminal Division. She also taught at Vermont Law School, where her courses centered primarily on international human rights law. In early 2020, Gray announced her candidacy for lieutenant governor. In the August primary, she defeated better-known state senators Tim Ashe and Debbie Ingram for the Democratic nomination. In the November general election, she defeated Republican nominee Scott Milne 51.3% to 44.2%, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office since Doug Racine left office in 2003.

In 2022, Gray ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to represent Vermont's at-large congressional district. She lost the Democratic primary election to Becca Balint.

Early life and education

Gray was born in Newbury, Vermont, on March 18, 1984.{{cite magazine |editor1-last=Morin |editor1-first=Meredith |date=Winter 2013 |title=Alumni News: 2002; Molly Gray |url=https://issuu.com/strattonmountainschool/docs/startinggate_2013/22 |magazine=Starting Gate |location=Stratton, VT |publisher=Stratton Mountain School |page=22 |via=Issuu.com}}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Nicola |date=July 6, 2018 |title=Newbury's 4 Corners Farm Undertakes the Tricky Transfer Between Generations |url=https://www.vnews.com/4-Corners-Farm-Celebrates-40-years-18571683 |work=Valley News |location=West Lebanon, NH}}{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Charlie|date=March 18, 2020|title=A call to service on Molly's Birthday|work=News About Molly Gray's Campaign|publisher=Molly Gray for Vermont|location=Burlington, VT|url=https://www.mollyforvermont.com/news|quote=Today is my sister Molly's birthday. ... I invite you to join me in recognizing Molly's 36th birthday with an act of service today.}} Her father, Bob Gray, competed in the 1968 Winter Olympics and 1972 Winter Olympics as a cross-country skier.{{cite web|last=Therrien|first=Jim|date=March 9, 2020|title=Molly Gray brings campaign for lieutenant governor to county | The Bennington Banner | Bennington Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic|url=https://www.benningtonbanner.com/uncategorized/molly-gray-brings-campaign-for-lieutenant-governor-to-county/article_9587e16a-ded7-56e2-b913-75161a67386d.html|access-date=November 18, 2020|publisher=The Bennington Banner}} Her mother, Kim Mumford, was an alpine skier who was prevented by injury from qualifying for the Olympics. Her uncle, William B. Gray, was the United States Attorney for Vermont.{{cite web|last=Flanders |first=Colin |title=Newcomer Molly Gray's LG Bid Has Gained a Lot of Traction. How? |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/newcomer-molly-grays-lg-bid-has-gained-a-lot-of-traction-how/Content?oid=30889122 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |work=Seven Days |location=Burlington, VT}} Bob and Kim Gray raised Molly and her two siblings on a {{convert|225|acre|adj=on}} vegetable and dairy farm in Newbury. The farm is still owned and operated by the Gray family.

Gray attended the schools of Newbury and Bradford's Oxbow High School,{{cite magazine |date=February 1, 2021 |title=Spotlight: Molly Gray |url=https://strattonmagazine.com/features-and-stories/spotlight-molly-gray/ |magazine=Stratton Magazine |location=Manchester Center, VT |publisher=Old Mill Road Media LLC}} and graduated from Stratton Mountain School in 2002. She studied at the University of Vermont (UVM) on an athletic scholarship and competed for the Vermont Catamounts in cross-country skiing.{{cite web|last=Flanders|first=Colin|date=February 27, 2020|title=Molly Gray Kicks Off Campaign for Lieutenant Governor | Off Message|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/02/27/molly-gray-kicks-off-campaign-for-lieutenant-governor|access-date=August 15, 2020|publisher=Sevendaysvt.com}} Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in area and international studies from UVM in 2006 and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School (VLS) in 2014.{{Cite web|title=Molly Gray JD'14 {{!}} Vermont Law School|url=https://www.vermontlaw.edu/directory/person/gray-molly|access-date=November 4, 2020|website=www.vermontlaw.edu}} While at VLS, Gray served as symposium editor for the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law.{{cite journal |editor-last1=Remmel |editor-first1=Emily |date=Spring 2014 |title=Front Matter |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/vermjenvilaw.15.4.fm |journal=Vermont Journal of Environmental Law |volume=15 |issue=4 |page=4 |jstor=vermjenvilaw.15.4.fm}} She also co-chaired the VLS International Law Society.{{cite journal |last1=Sala |first1=Richard K. |last2=Gray |first2=Molly |date= |title=Reaching Critical Mass: An Introduction From the Hosts of the 2013 Solutions Conference |url=https://lawreview.vermontlaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/02-Introduction2.pdf |journal=Vermont Law Review |location=South Royalton, VT |publisher=Vermont Law School |volume=38 |issue=1 |page=1}} She earned a Master of Laws in international law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in 2016.{{cite web|date=July 21, 2020|title=Molly Gray touts global experience, Vermont roots, in run for lieutenant governor|url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/07/21/molly-gray-lieutenant-governor-vermont/|website=VTDigger}}

Early career

While in college, Gray served as an intern in Patrick Leahy's Vermont office. She then worked on Peter Welch's 2006 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, and became a member of his Congressional staff after he was elected. She later worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross, where she engaged the U.S. government on humanitarian issues and led field missions to Haiti, Uganda, Georgia, the Western Balkans, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite news |last=Kahrs |first=Lee J. |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Assistant AG runs for lieutenant governor |url=https://addisonindependent.com/news/assistant-ag-runs-lieutenant-governor |work=Addison County Independent |location=Middlebury, VT}}

Gray graduated from Vermont Law School in 2014 and worked as a law clerk for Judge Peter W. Hall of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.{{cite news |last=Keays |first=Alan J. |date=March 11, 2021 |title=Peter Hall, lone Vermont judge on federal appeals court, dies at 72 |url=https://vtdigger.org/2021/03/11/peter-hall-lone-vermont-judge-on-federal-appeals-court-dies-at-72/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}} In August 2018, state Attorney General T. J. Donovan hired her as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division. Gray has taught courses at Vermont Law School, with her instruction focused on international human rights law.

Political career

=2020 Vermont elections=

Gray announced her campaign for lieutenant governor in early 2020. She defeated Tim Ashe and Debbie Ingram in the Democratic primary on August 11, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/08/11/molly-gray-and-scott-milne-to-face-off-for-lieutenant-governor/|title=Molly Gray and Scott Milne to face off for lieutenant governor|date=August 11, 2020|website=VTDigger|access-date=December 20, 2020}} Gray faced Republican businessman Scott Milne in the November 3 general election.{{cite news |last=Norton |first=Kit |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Newcomer Molly Gray defeats Scott Milne in lieutenant governor's race |url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/11/03/newcomer-molly-gray-defeats-scott-milne-in-lieutenant-governors-race/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}} One major campaign issue was whether Gray met the four-year residency requirement the state constitution mandates for the lieutenant governor; most legal and political observers agreed that she did.{{cite news |last=Meyn |first=Colin |date=July 10, 2020 |title=Molly Gray confident her 15 months in Switzerland OK despite 'residency' requirement |url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/07/10/molly-gray-confident-her-15-months-in-switzerland-ok-despite-residency-requirement/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier}} A related issue was that Gray had not voted between 2008 and 2018.{{cite news |last1=Flanders |first1=Colin |title=In LG Race, Gray and Milne Clash Over Their Voting Records |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/09/25/in-lg-race-gray-and-milne-clash-over-their-voting-records |work=Seven Days |date=25 September 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Meyn |first1=Colin |title=Fact-check: Molly Gray's claim she voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 is false |url=https://vtdigger.org/2020/09/29/fact-check-molly-grays-claim-she-voted-for-hillary-clinton-in-2016-is-false/ |work=VTDigger |date=29 September 2020}} Milne also admitted to not having voted in some elections, but characterized himself as a consistent voter and Gray as an inconsistent one. Gray won the election with 51.3% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2020/11/04/vermont-lieutenant-governor-race-democratic-candidate-molly-gray-wins-2020-scott-milne/6158492002/ |title=VT lieutenant governor results: Molly Gray beats Scott Milne |work=The Burlington Free Press |date=November 4, 2020 |access-date=November 4, 2020}}

=Lieutenant governor=

Gray took office in January 2021, becoming the fourth woman to serve as Vermont's lieutenant governor{{Cite web|title=Meet Molly Gray|url=https://www.mollyforvermont.com/meet-molly|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Molly Gray for Vermont|language=en-US}} and the first Democrat to hold the office in 18 years.{{ref|a}} Within months of taking office, she hired a nearly full-time political staffer.{{cite news |last1=Gram |first1=Dave |title=Team Molly: Lt. Gov. Gray Hires a Political Staffer to Stay 'Connected' |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/team-molly-lt-gov-gray-hires-a-political-staffer-to-stay-connected/Content?oid=32560951 |work=Seven Days |date=17 March 2021 |language=en}} While Gray had a chief of staff in the lieutenant governor's office to aid with official duties, she said she had also hired a full-time political assistant to aid her in keeping "a clear distinction between official work and political things that may come up from time to time". Some Vermont political observers suggested Gray was a likely candidate for the U.S. Senate or U.S. House. Gray discounted such speculation, saying she was focused on her work as lieutenant governor.

As lieutenant governor, Gray virtually hosted classrooms at the Vermont State House so schoolchildren could experience being "lieutenant governor for a day".{{cite news |date=February 10, 2021 |title=Lt. Governor Molly Gray launches 'Lt. Governor for a Day' program |url=https://vtdigger.org/press_release/lt-governor-molly-gray-launches-lt-governor-for-a-day-program/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier}} Through her "Seat at the Table" meeting series, she met with local leaders to discuss issues facing Vermont, from equity in access to health care and broadband to women's economic well-being and how to tackle climate change.{{cite news |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Lt. Governor Molly Gray to host 'Seat at the Table' on equity in public health |url=https://vtdigger.org/press_release/lt-governor-molly-gray-to-host-seat-at-the-table-on-equity-in-public-health/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier}} She toured the state throughout 2021, visiting all 14 counties for her "Recover Stronger" initiative.{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Molly |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Commentary: Lt. Gov. Molly Gray; To recover stronger, we have to listen to Vermonters |url=https://vtdigger.org/2021/06/10/lt-gov-molly-gray-to-recover-stronger-we-have-to-listen-to-vermonters/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier}}{{cite news |last=Sukiennik |first=Greg |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Lt. Gov. Molly Gray announces bid for the U.S. House |url=https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/lt-gov-molly-gray-announces-bid-for-the-u-s-house/article_d1025f08-5685-11ec-be51-577abfcb7207.html |work=Bennington Banner |location=Bennington, VT |quote="Last month, she released the results of her “Recover Stronger” listening tour, in which she crisscrossed the state talking to residents about what Vermont needs to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. That report identified workforce development, housing, child care, paid family and medical leave, mental health and internet and cellular service as priorities, based upon meetings in 29 communities in all 14 counties."}}

U.S. House campaign

In December 2021, Gray announced her candidacy for Vermont's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 2022.{{cite news |last=Mearhoff |first=Sarah |date=December 6, 2021 |title=Vermont Lt. Gov. Molly Gray launches campaign for U.S. House |url=https://vtdigger.org/2021/12/06/vermont-lt-gov-molly-gray-launches-campaign-for-u-s-house/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}} The seat was held by Peter Welch, who in November announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat of Patrick Leahy, who was not seeking reelection in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Ring |first1=Wilson |last2=Rathke |first2=Lisa |agency=Associated Press |date=November 22, 2021 |title=Vermont Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch to seek Senate seat after Leahy retirement |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/11/22/peter-welch-election-2022-senate-seat-patrick-leahy/8718963002/ |work=USA Today |location=McLean, VA}}{{cite news |last=Epp |first=Henry |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Vermont's Patrick Leahy says he will retire from the U.S. Senate |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1055936681/vermonts-patrick-leahy-says-he-will-retire-from-the-u-s-senate |work=NPR.org |publisher=National Public Radio |location=Washington, DC}} Gray was endorsed by former Vermont Governors Madeleine Kunin and Howard Dean, as well as Marcelle Leahy, Senator Leahy's wife.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-12 |title=Endorsements – Molly Gray for Vermont |url=https://mollyforvermont.com/endorsements/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812141118/https://mollyforvermont.com/endorsements/ |archive-date=12 August 2022 |url-status=dead}} Leahy declined to formally endorse Gray, but indicated that he had voted for her.{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Sasha |title=Leahy Says He Voted for Molly Gray in U.S. House Primary |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/leahy-says-he-voted-for-molly-gray-in-us-house-primary/Content?oid=36128120 |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}

Gray was both praised and criticized for announcing her run for Congress less than a year after taking her first public office.{{cite news |last1=Conant |first1=Christopher |title=Letters to the Editor (12/29/21): Gray's Day |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/letters-to-the-editor-12-29-21/Content?oid=34546774 |work=Seven Days |date=29 December 2021 |language=en |quote=Gray has earned the right to represent Vermonters in Washington, even with only a year of political experience under her belt.}}{{cite news |last1=Bear |first1=Euan |title=Letters to the Editor (12/29/21): Questions for Molly Gray |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/letters-to-the-editor-12-29-21/Content?oid=34546774 |work=Seven Days |date=29 December 2021 |language=en |quote=[I]n not even a year in office, you have yet to show me any accomplishments or achievements.}} She lost the Democratic primary to Becca Balint, the president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, 59.6% to 36.4%.{{Cite web |url=https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/election-info-resources/elections-results-data/ |title=Election Results |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=sos.vermont.gov}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change| title=2020 Democratic primary, Vermont Lieutenant Governor}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Molly Gray

| votes = 47636

| percentage = 46.0

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Tim Ashe

| votes = 35954

| percentage = 34.7

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Brenda Siegel

| votes = 9945

| percentage = 9.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Debbie Ingram

| votes = 9466

| percentage = 9.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 568

| percentage = 0.5

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 103645

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=2020 general election, Vermont Lieutenant Governor}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Molly Gray

| votes = 182820

| percentage = 51.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Scott Milne

| votes = 157065

| percentage = 44.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Vermont Progressive Party

| candidate = Cris Ericson

| votes = 7862

| percentage = 2.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Wayne Billado III

| votes = 5101

| percentage = 1.4

}}

{{Election box candidate no change

| party = Stop the F35s

| candidate = Ralph Corbo

| votes = 2289

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Write-in

| candidate = Write-ins

| votes = 1097

| percentage = 0.3

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 356234

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Democratic primary, United States House of Representatives}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Becca Balint|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=61,025|percentage=60.6}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Molly Gray|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=37,266|percentage=37.0}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Louis Meyers|votes=1,593|percentage=1.6}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Sianay Chase Clifford (withdrawn)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=885|percentage=0.9}}

Continued career

In March 2023, Gray joined the board of trustees of the Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund.{{cite web |url=https://www.scholarrescuefund.org/srf_committee/molly-gray/ |title=Biography, Molly Gray |date=March 24, 2023 |website=IIE Scholar Rescue Fund |publisher=Institute of International Education |location=New York, NY |access-date=April 21, 2023}}

In May 2023, the Vermont Afghan Alliance, a Burlington-based nonprofit that supports Afghans who are resettling in the state, announced that Gray would serve as its interim executive director.{{cite news |last=Crowley |first=Patrick |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Molly Gray will lead Vermont Afghan Alliance |url=https://vtdigger.org/2023/05/16/molly-gray-will-lead-vermont-afghan-alliance/ |work=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}} In this short-term role, Gray expected to be responsible for implementing a budget, fundraising, staffing, and decisions about which programs would be offered. In the long term, the organization's founders anticipate it will be led by Afghans who have settled in Vermont.

Personal life

On August 29, 2021, Gray announced that she had married airline pilot Michael David Palm.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=August 29, 2021 |title=Vermont's lieutenant governor ties the knot |url=https://www.wcax.com/2021/08/29/vermonts-lieutenant-governor-ties-knot/ |work=WCAX-TV |location=Burlington, VT}} According to Gray, they met in Burlington after being introduced by mutual friends. The wedding took place at the Gray family farm in Newbury. On July 18, 2023, Gray announced that their son, Jack Francis Palm, had been born on July 15.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/mollyforvermont/status/1681334817185492994 |title=Mike and I are thrilled to share the news of the arrival of our son, Jack Francis Palm, who joined us Saturday, July 15 |last=Gray |first=Molly |date=July 18, 2023 |website=Twitter.com}}