Rachel Shaw
Progressive
Bennington
The gist
No documented position found.
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State
State Senator, Bennington District
- Vote for
- 2
- Term
- 2 years
- Candidates
- 5
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
What this office does: A state senator votes on Vermont laws and the state budget; Vermont's Senate districts elect one to three senators each.
Lawrence "Spike" Whitmire
Republican
Shaftsbury
The gist
No documented position found.
Josh R. Williams
Republican
Arlington
The gist
No documented position found.
Seth Bongartz
DemocraticIncumbent
State senator; nonprofit consultant · Manchester
The gist
- Authored law allowing duplexes wherever single-family homes are allowed
- Authored Act 250 exemptions for downtown housing
- Pledges to lower property taxes and health care costs
- Co-sponsored a zero-carbon nuclear feasibility studyIn office
In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.
More about Seth
View sources (2)
Authored law allowing duplexes wherever single-family homes are allowed
Bongartz and Plunkett for State SenateCampaign website · Bongartz and Plunkett for State Senate · sethbongartzforstatesenate.com
“He was the author of successful legislation requiring towns to allow a duplex anywhere a single-family home can be built”
Authored Act 250 exemptions for downtown housing
Bongartz and Plunkett for State SenateCampaign website · Bongartz and Plunkett for State Senate · sethbongartzforstatesenate.com
“He also authored legislation exempting many downtown areas from Act 250 review for the creation of housing.”
Pledges to lower property taxes and health care costs
Bongartz and Plunkett for State SenateCampaign website · Bongartz and Plunkett for State Senate · sethbongartzforstatesenate.com
“lower the cost of health care, lower the property tax burden, improve education outcomes”
Co-sponsored a zero-carbon nuclear feasibility study
S.281: Zero-Carbon Nuclear Feasibility Study (2025-2026 session)Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov
“An act relating to the Zero-Carbon Nuclear Feasibility Study for Vermont”
Robert F. Plunkett
DemocraticIncumbent
State senator; former deputy state's attorney · Bennington
The gist
- Pledges to lower property taxes and health care costs
- Sponsored a genetic data privacy billIn office
- Co-sponsored a ban on surveillance pricingIn office
- Co-sponsored overtime pay for firefightersIn office
- Co-sponsored a community nurse pilot for older VermontersIn office
In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.
More about Robert
View sources (5)
Pledges to lower property taxes and health care costs
Bongartz and Plunkett for State SenateCampaign website · Bongartz and Plunkett for State Senate · sethbongartzforstatesenate.com
“lower the cost of health care, lower the property tax burden, improve education outcomes”
Sponsored a genetic data privacy bill
S.248: genetic data privacy (2025-2026 session)Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov
“An act relating to genetic data privacy”
Co-sponsored a ban on surveillance pricing
S.207: surveillance pricing (2025-2026 session)Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov
“An act relating to prohibiting surveillance pricing”
Co-sponsored overtime pay for firefighters
S.307: overtime pay for firefighters (2025-2026 session)Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov
“An act relating to overtime pay for firefighters”
Co-sponsored a community nurse pilot for older Vermonters
S.33: community nurse pilot for aging Vermonters (2025-2026 session)Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov
“An act relating to establishing a pilot for community nurse programs serving aging Vermonters”
Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.