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Vermont House Speaker Race Intensifies Ahead of January Vote
As the Vermont House of Representatives prepares for its 2025 legislative session, the race for Speaker remains undecided following a contentious pre-session caucus where Democratic lawmakers opted against a vote concerning incumbent Speaker Jill Krowinski. Krowinski, a Democrat from Burlington, faces an unexpected challenge from Independent Rep. Laura Sibilia, who has pledged a tripartisan approach to address Vermont’s pressing issues.
During the caucus, convened on Saturday at the Statehouse, Krowinski’s supporters successfully blocked a nonbinding vote on Sibilia’s nomination, which could have indicated the level of support each candidate holds within the Democratic caucus. Notably, 18 incumbent Democrats lost their seats in the recent elections, prompting concerns regarding party leadership and direction. Rep. John O’Brien of Tunbridge voiced his belief that the party needs new leadership, stating, “We’ve become the party that raised property taxes by 14%. We need new leadership at the top.”
While Krowinski has championed key policies, including a bipartisan childcare bill, her leadership style has come under scrutiny, with some echoing sentiments that she doesn’t connect sufficiently with party needs. On the other hand, Sibilia’s candidacy has garnered mixed reactions, with some Democrats firmly opposing her due to her Independent status.
Moving forward to the official election on January 8, the House will conduct secret-ballot voting among its 150 members. Sibilia maintains she has enough Democratic backing to push Krowinski to necessitate support from outside her caucus to secure the role. The political dynamics within Vermont’s House remain fluid as representatives weigh their options in anticipation of the crucial vote.
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Photo credit www.vermontpublic.org
