The woman who could make history by becoming the first trans governor of a US state says it was the election of "despot" Donald Trump that pushed her to run for public office.

Key points: Ms Hallquist says Mr Trump's tactics have targeted minorities like the LGBT community

Ms Hallquist says Mr Trump's tactics have targeted minorities like the LGBT community She is the first trans candidate to win a major party state-level nomination

She is the first trans candidate to win a major party state-level nomination Ms Hallquist says her gender is not an issue for the people of Vermont

Christine Hallquist, 62, who won the Democratic nomination to run for Vermont governor earlier this month, will take on Republican incumbent Phil Scott in the November 6 election.

Speaking to the ABC's The World program, Ms Hallquist, a former chief executive of Vermont Electric Cooperative, said Mr Trump's election and subsequent policy direction sparked her decision to run.

"I went into political depression after November 9th, 2016," Ms Hallquist told The World.

"I was not thinking about running for state-wide office at all, my goal was to solve climate change, but the election of November 2016 changed everything."

'Clearly this is a strategy of a despot'

Ms Hallquist is the first trans candidate to win any state-level major party nomination. ( Reuters: Caleb Kenna )

Ms Hallquist is highly critical of Mr Trump's divisive language and tactics, saying he has targeted minorities and set back years of work towards greater equality in the United States.

"Clearly this is a strategy of a despot," Ms Hallquist said.

"We've never achieved really the goal of equal opportunity for all, but we were certainly on the right direction, and we've been at it for 240 years. But in the last two years, things have reversed."

Mr Trump has moved to implement restrictions on trans Americans serving in the military and also revoked an Obama administration initiative to allow trans students of public schools to use the bathrooms matching their chosen gender identity.

US service members say Mr Trump's military trans policy violates their constitutional rights. ( Reuters: Carlo Allegri )

Forty-three trans candidates ran for political office at all levels in the United States in 2018 and in 2017 at least 10 trans candidates won positions ranging from state legislators to town planners.

But Ms Hallquist is the first to win a major party nomination for governor or any statewide office.

'Gender is not an issue here in Vermont'

Ms Hallquist, whose 2015 transition is documented in Denial, a film created by her son Derek, said she had received "tremendous support" from around the world since winning the nomination for governor.

"I get these letters everyday that move me to tears, about how the LGBT community is so pleased with the fact that finally someone from their community is going to become a governor."

Ms Hallquist won the Democratic nomination ahead of three other candidates. ( AP: Charles Krupa )

Her success has not come without hostility and death threats from detractors, but Ms Hallquist said she would "never stop fighting for our democracy".

"Thousands of people have died for freedom before me in this country, so it's the least I can do," Ms Hallquist said.

But Ms Hallquist said that despite the varying response to her nomination across the country, the prospect of a first transgender governor had not been a factor in her home state, saying that only one local had "brought up the issue of being transgender and they were just curious".

"Well, you know, it may be big news in the country, but for Vermont it's not big news," Ms Hallquist said.

"Vermonters are going to elect me because I'm going to grow the rural economy of Vermont, I'm going to move us towards improved Medicare for all, we're going to accelerate the work we're doing on climate change, as well as ensure everybody has a quality public education.

"The gender is not an issue here in Vermont."

Ms Hallquist says that her gender is not an issue in Vermont. ( Reuters: Caleb Kenna )

With midterm elections quickly approaching, Ms Hallquist said the Democrats were "energised" and ready to "bring [America] to a healthy democracy".

"I hope that 10 years down the road, people look back at 2018 and say 'hey, democracy in America is wonderful, we survived a despot'," Ms Hallquist said.

"I've no doubt we're going to succeed. The trajectory shows that's where it's headed."