Ryan McLaren announced he’s running for lieutenant governor in January 2026. Courtesy Ryan McLaren. Ryan McLaren, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., announced a campaign to be the state’s next lieutenant governor on Thursday. The Essex Junction resident’s bid was widely expe cted. He will face former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, who announced her 2026 campaign for the state’s second highest office last week, in this year’s Democratic primary. On the Republican side, current Lt. Gov. John Rodgers has said he plans to run again. “Right now, too many Vermonters feel knocked down or stuck. It’s too hard to find a home you can afford. It’s too hard to find childcare or a doctor. And it’s too hard for working people to make ends meet,” McLaren said in a campaign press release. “But I know what’s possible when we don’t quit, when our communities show up for one another and we all work together.” McLaren has not previously run for statewide office. He worked in Welch’s office for about a decade, and before that, worked for the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the state chapter of the Democratic Party. This story will be updated. Read the story on VTDigger here: Ryan McLaren, former aide to Peter Welch, enters lieutenant governor race. ...read more read less