State Government

Bradford rep to run for Orange County senate; Hart out

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Rep. Monique Priestley (D-Bradford)
Sen. Larry Hart

By VDC staff

Rep. Monique Priestley (D-Bradford), now in her second term in the Vermont House of Representatives, announced Tuesday that she will run for the Vermont State Senate in 2026.

She will not face incumbent Larry Hart, the Republican businessman and retired Marine who unseated longtime Democrat senator Mark MacDonald in 2024. Hart resigned on Monday. To date no other Democrat has declared for the Senate seat.

In 2024 she defeated Republican Zack Lang 53-46%.

Priestley said the decision came after a period of reflection following her first term. “After my first term, I wasn’t sure I’d continue in elected office,” she said. “But something shifted this past year…. I’m not done. I’m just getting started.”

Since joining the Legislature, Priestley said she has focused on rural equity, data privacy, consumer protection, and youth engagement.  In her Senate campaign, Priestley plans to highlight housing, climate resilience, affordability, economic fairness, and government transparency.

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Categories: State Government

7 replies »

  1. She likely won’t face Hart. He announced his resignation in a letter to Senate Secretary John Bloomer on Monday.

  2. Marxist decoder ring needed….

    Priestley said she has focused on rural equity, data privacy, consumer protection, and youth engagement.

    Translates to…..

    Marxism, drive out business, indoctrinate the youth into socialism, aka marxism.

    Everybody needs a Marxist decoder ring.

    • You don’t know what you’re taking about! She’s a smart person and would probably be a good senator. Unfortunately she’s in the wrong party. I liked Larry Hart.

  4. A look at the public record IRS Form 990 tax filing for 2024 for her non-profit The Space On Main shows that she paid herself an annual salary of $76,000…for what she herself describes on that IRS tax form as 1 hour a week of work on average on behalf of her non-profit. Make of that what you will.