Molly Gray | |
|---|---|
 Gray in 2020 | |
| 83rdLieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office January 7, 2021 – January 5, 2023 | |
| Governor | Phil Scott |
| Preceded by | David Zuckerman |
| Succeeded by | David Zuckerman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Molly Rose Gray (1984-03-18)March 18, 1984 (age 41) Newbury, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent |
|
| 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 83rdlieutenant governor of Vermont from 2021 to 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party, she was an assistant attorney general for Vermont from 2018 to 2021.
A native ofNewbury, Vermont, Gray graduated from theUniversity of Vermont (BA, 2006),Vermont Law School (JD, 2014), and theGraduate Institute of International and Development Studies (LLM, 2016). While in college, she interned in U.S. SenatorPatrick Leahy'sBurlington office. She was active inPeter 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 theInternational Committee of the Red Cross. After law school, she worked for theInternational 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 theVermont Attorney General's Criminal Division. She also taught atVermont 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 senatorsTim Ashe andDebbie Ingram for the Democratic nomination. In the November general election, she defeatedRepublican nomineeScott Milne 51.3% to 44.2%, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office sinceDoug Racine left office in 2003.
In2022, Gray ran for theU.S. House of Representatives, seeking to representVermont's at-large congressional district. She lost the Democratic primary election toBecca Balint.
Gray was born inNewbury, Vermont, on March 18, 1984.[1][2][3] Her father,Bob Gray, competed in the1968 Winter Olympics and1972 Winter Olympics as across-country skier.[4] Her mother, Kim Mumford, was analpine skier who was prevented by injury from qualifying for the Olympics.[4] Her uncle,William B. Gray, was theUnited States Attorney for Vermont.[5] Bob and Kim Gray raised Molly and her two siblings on a 225-acre (91 ha) vegetable and dairy farm in Newbury.[2] The farm is still owned and operated by the Gray family.[2]
Gray attended the schools of Newbury andBradford's Oxbow High School,[6] and graduated fromStratton Mountain School in 2002.[1] She studied at theUniversity of Vermont (UVM) on an athletic scholarship and competed for theVermont Catamounts in cross-country skiing.[4][7] Gray earned aBachelor of Arts degree inarea andinternational studies from UVM in 2006 and aJuris Doctor fromVermont Law School (VLS) in 2014.[8] While at VLS, Gray served as symposium editor for theVermont Journal of Environmental Law.[9] She also co-chaired the VLS International Law Society.[10] She earned aMaster of Laws ininternational law from theGraduate Institute of International and Development Studies in 2016.[11]
While in college, Gray served as anintern inPatrick Leahy's Vermont office.[5] She then worked onPeter Welch's 2006 campaign for theU.S. House of Representatives, and became a member of his Congressional staff after he was elected.[5][7] She later worked for theInternational Committee of the Red Cross, where she engaged the U.S. government on humanitarian issues and led field missions toHaiti,Uganda,Georgia, theWestern Balkans, and theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.[12]
Gray graduated fromVermont Law School in 2014 and worked as alaw clerk for JudgePeter W. Hall of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.[13] In August 2018, state Attorney GeneralT. J. Donovan hired her as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division.[11] Gray has taught courses atVermont Law School, with her instruction focused on international human rights law.[8]
Gray announced her campaign for lieutenant governor in early 2020.[11] She defeatedTim Ashe andDebbie Ingram in the Democratic primary on August 11, 2020.[14] Gray facedRepublican businessmanScott Milne in the November 3 general election.[15] One major campaign issue was whether Gray met the four-year residency requirement thestate constitution mandates for the lieutenant governor; most legal and political observers agreed that she did.[16] A related issue was that Gray had not voted between 2008 and 2018.[17][18] Milne also admitted to not having voted in some elections, but characterized himself as a consistent voter and Gray as an inconsistent one.[17][18] Gray won the election with 51.3% of the vote.[19]
Gray took office in January 2021, becoming the fourth woman to serve as Vermont's lieutenant governor[20] and the first Democrat to hold the office in 18 years.[1] Within months of taking office, she hired a nearly full-time political staffer.[21] 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".[21] Some Vermont political observers suggested Gray was a likely candidate for the U.S. Senate or U.S. House.[21] Gray discounted such speculation, saying she was focused on her work as lieutenant governor.[21]
As lieutenant governor, Gray virtually hosted classrooms at theVermont State House so schoolchildren could experience being "lieutenant governor for a day".[22] Through her "Seat at the Table" meeting series, she met with local leaders to discuss issues facing Vermont, from equity in access tohealth care andbroadband to women's economic well-being and how to tackleclimate change.[23] She toured the state throughout 2021, visiting all 14 counties for her "Recover Stronger" initiative.[24][25]
In November 2025, Gray announced that she would run again for lieutenant governor.[26]
In December 2021, Gray announced hercandidacy forVermont's at-large congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives in 2022.[27] The seat was held byPeter Welch, who in November announced his candidacy for theUnited States Senate seat ofPatrick Leahy, who was not seeking reelectionin 2022.[28][29] Gray was endorsed by former Vermont GovernorsMadeleine Kunin andHoward Dean, as well as Marcelle Leahy, Senator Leahy's wife.[30] Leahy declined to formally endorse Gray, but indicated that he had voted for her.[31]
Gray was both praised and criticized for announcing her run for Congress less than a year after taking her first public office.[32][33] She lost the Democratic primary toBecca Balint, thepresident pro tempore of theVermont Senate, 59.6% to 36.4%.[34]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Molly Gray | 47,636 | 46.0 | |
| Democratic | Tim Ashe | 35,954 | 34.7 | |
| Democratic | Brenda Siegel | 9,945 | 9.6 | |
| Democratic | Debbie Ingram | 9,466 | 9.1 | |
| Write-in | Write-ins | 568 | 0.5 | |
| Total votes | 103,645 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Molly Gray | 182,820 | 51.3 | |
| Republican | Scott Milne | 157,065 | 44.1 | |
| Progressive | Cris Ericson | 7,862 | 2.2 | |
| Independent | Wayne Billado III | 5,101 | 1.4 | |
| Stop the F35s | Ralph Corbo | 2,289 | 0.6 | |
| Write-in | Write-ins | 1,097 | 0.3 | |
| Total votes | 356,234 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Becca Balint | 61,025 | 60.6 | |
| Democratic | Molly Gray | 37,266 | 37.0 | |
| Democratic | Louis Meyers | 1,593 | 1.6 | |
| Democratic | Sianay Chase Clifford(withdrawn) | 885 | 0.9 | |
| Total votes | 100,769 | 100 | ||
In March 2023, Gray joined the board of trustees of theInstitute of International Education'sScholar Rescue Fund.[35]
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.[36] In this short-term role, Gray expected to be responsible for implementing a budget, fundraising, staffing, and decisions about which programs would be offered.[36] In the long term, the organization's founders anticipate it will be led by Afghans who have settled in Vermont.[36]
On August 29, 2021, Gray announced that she had married airline pilot Michael David Palm.[37] According to Gray, they met in Burlington after being introduced by mutual friends.[37] The wedding took place at the Gray family farm in Newbury.[37] On July 18, 2023, Gray announced that their son, Jack Francis Palm, had been born on July 15.[38]
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.
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.
Gray has earned the right to represent Vermonters in Washington, even with only a year of political experience under her belt.
[I]n not even a year in office, you have yet to show me any accomplishments or achievements.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Vermont 2020 | Succeeded by David Zuckerman |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Vermont 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
