Pledges to “finish what we started”
Small business owner and conservative activist Mark Coester announced Thursday, June 26 that he will again seek a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, declaring a 2026 congressional campaign with a populist message focused on “freedom, working families, and fighting Washington elites.”
The seat is now occupied by Democrat Rep. Becca Balint of Brattleboro, former leader of the Vermont Senate.
Coester, a logger, fisherman, and lifelong Vermonter known for his grassroots appeal, previously ran for the seat in 2024 and received over 100,000 votes. In his campaign launch announcement, he said the time has come to “finish what we started.”
“I’m not a polished politician,” Coester said. “I’m one of you. And I’m going to keep speaking up, standing firm, and fighting like hell for our state.”
His renewed campaign platform centers on lowering energy costs, defending constitutional rights, securing the U.S. border, supporting family farms and small businesses, and pushing for term limits to curb the influence of career politicians.
Coester emphasized that rising costs, federal overreach, and lax border security are hitting Vermont families hard, and criticized “out-of-touch elites” in Washington for failing to address local needs.
“Bad policies out of Washington hurt families like ours,” he said. “This is a people’s campaign. No big money, no backroom deals — just Vermonters coming together to take our future back.”
A longtime advocate for traditional values and government accountability, Coester’s biography reads like a throwback to Vermont’s rural roots. He has made maple syrup for over 50 years, a passion that began when he was just 10 years old. In 2024, syrup he made with his partner Laurie — whom he calls his “Sugar moma” — swept the Addison County Fair with multiple top awards.
Supporters say Coester’s appeal lies in his authenticity and deep ties to the land and working-class culture of Vermont. His campaign message positions him as an outsider ready to challenge entrenched interests in Washington.
For more information, visit mark4vermont.com.