Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith is expected to announce next week that he's a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Two high-ranking Democrats with knowledge of the speaker's thinking provided the information to The Associated Press. They would not speak for attribution because they did not want to be seen pre-empting Smith's announcement.
Smith said Thursday morning on "The Mark Johnson Show" on WDEV that he would make an announcement next Wednesday in his home town of Morrisville, but he would not say whether he's running.
Former lawmaker Matt Dunne of Hartland also is expected to announce his candidacy for the Democratic nomination later in the fall.
Governor Peter Shumlin's announcement in June that he won't seek a fourth term in 2016 leaves the seat open.
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