Donovan
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - Vermont's Democratic Committee over the weekend voted against endorsing incumbent Attorney General Bill Sorrell.
According to the Burlington Free Press, Sorrell needed 19 votes to win a required two-thirds majority for an endorsement.
Of the 28 committee members, 16 voted for the attorney general Saturday, the newspaper reported.
Meanwhile, Sorrell's Democratic opponent, T.J. Donovan, received the committee's endorsement back in May.
The Chittenden County state's attorney announced his candidacy in March.
Sorrell told the Free Press he doesn't think anyone can "legitimately challenge" his Democratic credentials.
"I've earned the support of Democratic voters seven times and I expect to get it this time," he told the newspaper.
He will face Donovan in the Democratic primary Aug. 28.
The winner will face Burlington businessman Jack McMullen, a Republican, in the Nov. 6 election.
Republican state Sen. Vince Illuzzi was rumored to run; however, in June he filed to seek the position of state auditor.
Sorrell hasn't faced what some would consider a serious challenger since being appointed by former Gov. Howard Dean in 1997.
Since then, he has won re-election seven times -- in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.