The Gist
Home

State

State Senator, Orange District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
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.

Photo of Monique Priestley
Monique PriestleyVermont General Assembly

Monique Priestley

Democratic/Progressive

State representative; technology consultant · Bradford

The gist

  • Led passage of digital privacy and Kids' Code protections
  • Pledges to stand up to corporate lobbying money
  • Supports tackling health costs as the driver of property taxes
  • Supports people-first rules on data privacy and AI
More about Monique
View sources (2)
  1. Led passage of digital privacy and Kids' Code protections

    2026 Primary: Orange Senate District (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The White River Valley Herald · ourherald.com

    “We passed comprehensive digital privacy protections, the Kids' Code for youth online safety, and data broker regulation”
  2. Pledges to stand up to corporate lobbying money

    2026 Primary: Orange Senate District (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The White River Valley Herald · ourherald.com

    “I'll stand up to corporate influence and lobbying money when it's working against Vermonters”
  3. Supports tackling health costs as the driver of property taxes

    2026 Primary: Orange Senate District (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The White River Valley Herald · ourherald.com

    “healthcare is the single biggest driver of education costs, which get funded by the property tax bill”
  4. Supports people-first rules on data privacy and AI

    Issues / Platform

    Campaign website · Monique for Vermont · priestleyvt.com

    “I will continue pushing for people-first policies that protect Vermonters' data, prevent fraud and exploitation”
Photo of John K. Benson
John K. BensonVermont General Assembly

John K. Benson

RepublicanIncumbent

State senator; retired professional engineer · Brookfield

The gist

  • Co-sponsored allowing recording of telehealth appointments with consentIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about John
View sources (1)
  1. Co-sponsored allowing recording of telehealth appointments with consent

    S.245: recording telehealth appointments (2025-2026 session)

    Government record · Vermont General Assembly · legislature.vermont.gov

    “An act relating to allowing telehealth appointments to be recorded with patient and provider consent”

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; 3 issues covered in this race.