In the most heated race since the 2016 presidential election, two rival Vermont candidates recently joined forces in a remarkable display of civility.
Zac Mayo (R) and Lucy Rogers (D) are facing off in the hope of claiming a state House seat. Both campaigned rigorously, each visiting just about every home — around 2,000 total — in the rural northern district.
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“They both want to win in the worst way,” one person told CBS News.
Despite the intense competition, the candidates did something unprecedented during a recent debate hosted by a local library.
At one point, Mayo and Rogers requested a few extra minutes to do something together. The two then stood up from their tables, rearranged some furniture and set the “stage” for an impromptu musical performance.
“We asked them if we could have a few minutes at the end to play a duet,” Rogers said.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, the Democrat and the Republican rivals came together in beautiful harmony. The unexpected gesture brought many attendees to tears as they listened to Mayo and Rogers sing the lyrics to Eddie Vedder’s, “Society.”
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The song’s lyrics communicated the type of longing many feel today for civil discourse and bipartisan unity:
“Society, have mercy on me
I hope you’re not angry if I disagree
Society, you’re crazy indeed
I hope you’re not lonely without me”
“It marked a turning point for us,” one attendee said.
“It gave me a lot of hope,” another added.
The event clearly had a positive impact on the entire community. Following the performance, some Lamoille County homes even displayed signs for both candidates.
“It strikes a chord, so to speak,” Mayo said. “To say to the world that this is a better way.”
(H/T: CBS News)