By Kolby LaMarche

Burlington voters have selected a somewhat fresh delegation of lawmakers to Montpelier last night, with several closely watched keeping on pace with Democrat performance state-wide.

The results will give Burlington a different legislative delegation heading into 2027, following the departures of several longtime lawmakers, including House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth – both did not run for re-election.

Hartnett falls short as Ode and Dieng win New North End seats

In Chittenden-18, incumbent Democrat Carol Ode and former Burlington City Councilor Ali Dieng secured the district’s two House seats, defeating independent and former City Councilor Dave Hartnett.

Ode finished first with 2,545 votes, or 36.2 percent, followed by Dieng with 2,329 votes, or 33.2 percent. Hartnett finished third with 2,115 votes, or 30.1 percent.

The race drew particular attention because all three candidates had ties to Burlington politics and given the twos, Dieng and Hartnett’s, independent political nature, especially while on the council. Dieng previously represented Ward 7 on the City Council, while Hartnett also served on the council as an independent.

Dieng’s election marks his return to public office after an unsuccessful 2021 mayoral campaign. His background includes more than a decade working in the Burlington School District and regional early childhood services.

Ode, first elected in 2016, will continue representing the district.

Hartnett had received the endorsement of the Burlington Fire Fighters Association. However, as seen in recent years, the endorsements of public sector unions, like police and fire, haven’t mustered the type of electoral hype some have ascribed to it.

Ted Kenney, Bram Kranichfeld, and now Dave Hartnett represent recent candidates who did secure the fire fighters nod, albeit some late in the game, but did not win election.

Headrick loses seat as Bosley and Cina advance

Another notable Burlington-area result came in Chittenden-15, where independent incumbent Troy Headrick lost his seat.

Democrat Ben Bosley finished first with 1,629 votes, or 41 percent. Progressive/Democrat Brian Cina followed with 1,525 votes, or 38.4 percent. Headrick received 785 votes, or 19.8 percent.

The result gives the district’s two seats to Bosley and Cina, replacing Headrick’s independent representation with two candidates affiliated with the Democratic and Progressive parties.

Cina is a longtime Progressive lawmaker who has served in the House since 2016 and this cycle received endorsements from fellow Progressives as well as a, quite nice one from, Republican House Rep. Gina Galfetti, which Cina proudly posted to his campaign page shortly before the election. Bosey, who

Independent Rep. Troy Headrick lost his reelection bid after one term in the Vermont House.

Headrick drew controversy over his opposition to Vermont’s Abenaki tribal recognition process and calls for greater involvement by Quebec-based First Nations. In September, he was involved in a confrontation at a Burlington event concerning Abenaki recognition, resulting in a reported arrest. An ethics complaint filed against Headrick earlier this year was dismissed by a House Ethics Panel.

Young DSA member elected from Burlington

Chittenden-16 also produced a notable result for Burlington’s emerging political leadership.

Trang Do and Jeffrey Peterson won the district’s two seats, defeating independent and former mayoral candidate Christopher Haessly.

Do received 2,200 votes, or 46.2 percent, while Peterson received 1,929 votes, or 40.5 percent. Haessly finished with 598 votes, or 12.6 percent.

Peterson, 28, is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and previously worked as a political strategist, including serving as communications director for gubernatorial candidate Amanda Janoo.

Do, who lives in Burlington’s Old North End, has been active in labor organizing and community mutual-aid efforts. Both candidates campaigned on affordability and broader changes to state policy.

Kesha Ram Hinsdale wins Senate seat as Bruce Roy falls short

Burlington’s South End Senate races also produced significant results.

In the three-seat Chittenden-Southeast Senate District, Democrats Thomas Chittenden, Virginia “Ginny” Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale finished ahead of the Republican field.

Chittenden received 28,843 votes, Lyons received 26,375 and Ram Hinsdale received 24,859.

Republican Bruce Roy finished fourth with 11,366 votes, followed by Javen Sears with 7,728 and Rohan St. Marthe with 6,916.

The result leaves the district’s three Senate seats in Democratic hands, with Roy unable to secure a seat.

In Chittenden-Central, which includes Burlington, Democrat/Progressive Nikhil Goyal, Democrat Martine Larocque Gulick and Progressive/Democrat Tanya Vyhovsky were elected. Republican Louis “Louie” Manno gathered about 10% of the vote.