Democrats’ Election Day loss of their supermajority in the 150-member Vermont House is casting a new spotlight on the coming race for the chamber’s top leadership post.
Incumbent Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, is set to run for a third term at the podium in January against at least one challenger: independent Rep. Laura Sibilia of Dover.
Sibilia, who just won an uncontested race for her Windham-2 district seat, surprised many by announcing her leadership intentions two weeks before Tuesday’s general election, noting “too many voices are going unheard” and “and important work remains unfinished.”
Krowinski and fellow House Democrats have often sparred with Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who was reelected to a fifth term Tuesday with more than 70% of the vote.
Sibilia, in comparison, said she wanted to foster more cooperation.
“I think the governor has his finger right on the key issue impacting Vermonters: affordability,” she told VTDigger. “I don’t think the Legislature has even acknowledged that we understand that. I certainly hope we will see the governor bring forward proposals to work towards affordability and the Legislature will tell Vermonters how they plan to make progress.”
Krowinski, just reelected to her Chittenden-16 district seat for a seventh term, has confirmed another run for speaker. No other candidates have yet to announce their own bids.
Krowinski declined a VTDigger request for an interview Wednesday. Instead, she released a written statement acknowledging her party’s electoral defeats and a desire to legislate alongside Republicans, Progressives and independents.
“While Democrats continue to hold a majority in the Legislature, it’s essential that we take stock of the messages sent by the voters,” Krowinski wrote in part. “I have, and remain, committed to working with all Vermonters to get the hard work done.”
In the wake of election headlines Wednesday, Sibilia said a Republican gain of 18 House seats didn’t change the math for her speakership bid.
“Before the election, I needed 76 of my colleagues to vote for me,” she told VTDigger. “After the election, I need 76 of my colleagues to vote for me.”
That said, Sibilia believes the election results confirm her feelings about the need for change.
“My candidacy is based on my sense of a lot of frustration in the House,” she said, “and my own frustration that we are not communicating with Vermonters and we’re not doing the work that they really need us to do.”
Sibilia has emailed newly elected House members to introduce herself. She also has announced a campaign chief of staff, former Rep. Lucy Rogers, D-Waterville, and an endorsement from current Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield.
“I will be reaching out in the coming weeks to meet in person,” Sibilia wrote fellow representatives, “and hear more about what your interests and talents are for serving in the House this biennium and to ask for your support in the January election for speaker.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Republican gains in Vermont House cast new spotlight on speaker’s race.