2026 Progressive endorsed Candidates
More endorsement meetings are scheduled across the state and will likely result in many additional endorsements
Amanda janoo
An economist, community advocate, and policy leader, Amanda Janoo has dedicated her life’s work – in Vermont and around the globe – to helping governments build more resilient, people-centered economies that actually work for communities, not just the wealthy and powerful. A graduate of Newton Elementary, Hanover High School, and Macalester College, she went on to become a Fulbright researcher and study development economics at the University of Cambridge before working with governments, international institutions, and the United Nations in various countries.
In 2018, Amanda moved home permanently and co-founded the Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont (WEAV), a broad coalition working to transform the state’s economy into one that is sustainable, inclusive, and benefits all Vermonters. Before deciding to run for office, Janoo served on the Board of the ACLU of Vermont and was a Steering Committee Member of the Fund Vermont’s Future Initiative, a coalition working to reform Vermont’s tax system so it is fairer, more affordable for working families, and able to fund the services Vermonters rely on, from schools and healthcare to housing and climate resilience.
Janoo grew up in Strafford, VT and now rents in Burlington.
Tim Ashe
Tim Ashe has been the Deputy State Auditor since 2021. He’s the Board President of the Community Health Centers, the largest non-hospital primary care organization in Vermont. He spent a decade developing affordable housing in communities throughout northwestern Vermont. Tim worked in the Vermont office of then-Congressman Bernie Sanders, served in municipal government as a City Councilor, and was a State Senator for twelve years, the last four as its leader. He holds degrees from UVM and the Kennedy School of Government. When not working or volunteering, he can usually be found on a soccer field.
Statewide Candidates
Candidate for Secretary of StateDONATE
Rachel Shaw
Rachel was born and raised in Massachusetts. She attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy studying Emergency Management and Homeland Security while serving in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer. She worked in HAZMAT response, responding to oil and chemical spills all over the East Coast. At the age of 26, she moved to Savannah, Georgia where she continued her work in HAZMAT for a time, until starting my own small construction business in 2018. It was then that she met her wife Hannah and her step-daughter. They later had a son and decided to move to Bennington in 2023.
Since moving here, she has worked in the hospitality industry. She has learned first-hand about our incredible ecotourism economy and the small businesses that contribute so much to our vibrant mountain communities. Raising a family is never an easy feat, but with a community that constantly has your back, it certainly makes things easier. Like many other working Vermonters, her children benefit from both Dr. Dynasaur and the childcare subsidies. She believes it is important that families continue to be able to access these important social programs, and that we continue to work to support each other. Bringing affordable housing to our communities, protecting rural Vermont’s schools and land rights, bringing doctors to our hospitals, and fighting for universal primary care are all things you can expect from her.
Meeting people in our community has filled her with an immense amount of hope. Learning about our history and the future we are building has motivated her. Every Vermonter deserves to feel heard and supported by our government, and it is this idea that makes her proud to be a candidate. She hopes to engage with every Vermonter as we work together to build a prosperous future
Elizabeth Burrows
Elizabeth has represented the Windsor-1 district at the Vermont House of Representatives for the last six years — and now she is running for the Vermont Senate.
If you’re like Elizabeth, you are frustrated by political machines: they make decisions on your behalf without fully understanding the effects on working class people. They create bandaid changes that don’t dig down and address root causes. This is what called her to public service.
Vermont is at several crossroads—education, healthcare, housing, jobs, and economic stability all hang in the balance. We can stand up for working families and actually address these problems. We can secure primary care for every Vermonter and stand up to private insurance companies. We can make housing easier for Vermonters to find and not wealthy out-of-state developers. We can fund education in a smarter way without overwhelming Vermonters with high property taxes. We can create an economy where our children see a life for themselves at home in Vermont.
This campaign is about truth, inclusion, creating together and realizing where our potential could take us, and working to empower Vermont’s people and communities who get left out or just plain sidelined. Every one of us has the right to live a decent life and have their needs met. Elizabeth is here to help us get that.
This campaign will be focused on building community and bringing neighbors together. We are fueled by supporters all over this county and donations of all types.
If you are ready for a stronger Windsor County, sign up to volunteer and donate. Everyone has a role and home in this campaign.
Rachel Shaw
Rachel was born and raised in Massachusetts. She attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy studying Emergency Management and Homeland Security while serving in the Massachusetts Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer. She worked in HAZMAT response, responding to oil and chemical spills all over the East Coast. At the age of 26, she moved to Savannah, Georgia where she continued her work in HAZMAT for a time, until starting my own small construction business in 2018. It was then that she met her wife Hannah and her step-daughter. They later had a son and decided to move to Bennington in 2023.
Since moving here, she has worked in the hospitality industry. She has learned first-hand about our incredible ecotourism economy and the small businesses that contribute so much to our vibrant mountain communities. Raising a family is never an easy feat, but with a community that constantly has your back, it certainly makes things easier. Like many other working Vermonters, her children benefit from both Dr. Dynasaur and the childcare subsidies. She believes it is important that families continue to be able to access these important social programs, and that we continue to work to support each other. Bringing affordable housing to our communities, protecting rural Vermont’s schools and land rights, bringing doctors to our hospitals, and fighting for universal primary care are all things you can expect from her.
Meeting people in our community has filled her with an immense amount of hope. Learning about our history and the future we are building has motivated her. Every Vermonter deserves to feel heard and supported by our government, and it is this idea that makes her proud to be a candidate. She hopes to engage with every Vermonter as we work together to build a prosperous future.
Candidate for State Senate - Bennington CountyDONATE
State senate candidates
Matt Gile
Matt is a school librarian, labor activist, and proud progressive. He is running for state rep to represent working class people in their struggle to live a thriving, meaningful life. He’s been a part of the Winooski community for a decade and he wants to spend the rest of his life here. As your state rep, he promises to work hard every day to ensure that everyone is safe, supported, and able to live their best life.
Matt grew up in Colchester and has been working for libraries his whole life. Everyone is welcome in a library and he believes that spirit should extend across our state. Matt is the Librarian at Winooski School District, a position he’s held for 10 years, where he serves all students from preschool to 12th grade. Before that, he worked as a library assistant for Colchester High School, his alma mater. While attending UVM, he was a clerk at the Burnham Library and drove the bookmobile in the summer. He love libraries so much that he married a librarian… in a library! Matt’s wife Shannon is the librarian for Milton High School and they were married in the Bixby Library in Vergennes.
Matt is an active member of his union, the Winooski Education Association (WEA), where he has served as President and Building Representative. Currently, he is the Community Action Chair and they’re working to build labor power through educational events for union members like the People’s Summit. They also mobilize mass demonstrations such as the May Day Strong Rally that marched on the ICE data facility in Williston, and the 2025 Labor Day Rally in Burlington. He is the Labor Advisor to the Coordinating Committee for the Vermont Progressive Party. For twelve years he’s served as the Communication Chair of the VT School Library Association, and he hosts the Storytime Jam at our annual conference every year.
Matt was a founding member of the Central Vermont Democratic Socialists of America — now Green Mountain DSA (GMDSA) — and he’s an active member of our Labor Committee. He is a proud member of GMDSA because he believes that we are all entitled to an equal say in how the world works. A world where billionaires dictate the conditions we work and live under — and wield the levers of our government’s power — is a world that can never be just. Socialism is a commitment to the principle that we are all entitled to equal power to shape our society, and the belief that with power, we will choose care and love over domination and exploitation.
Matt loves the beauty of Vermont, and he feels most alive when he’s out exploring our woods. He’s run the Chill Snowboarding program in Winooski for the past 6 years and he’s had the privilege to join the Winooski Wanders (led by students!) on many outings. Currently Matt serves on the board of the Bolton Outdoor Adventure Fund, whose mission is to give underrepresented kids the opportunity to explore the outdoors. Previously he served on the board for the Waterbury Area Trail Alliance, a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association. They built and maintained trails for a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable future.
Jeffrey Peterson
Jeffrey is running for State House in Chittenden-16 to take on rising costs, broken systems, and a status quo that leaves too many Vermonters behind.
Growing up in Burlington’s New North End and going through our public schools, Jeffrey understood from a young age that our future is determined by the people who show up. At 16, he joined the Wards 4&7 Neighborhood Planning Assembly as its youngest-ever steering committee member. He interned for CEDO and saw how the government can set its priorities for people, not corporate interests.
The community shaped not only his values, but his sense of efficacy in the world at a time when functioning democracy feels increasingly out of reach. He’s built a career at the intersection of public service and grassroots action: working for Vermont’s congressional delegation in Washington, advancing climate-tech solutions on the west coast, and leading operations at a Vermont-based startup that champions small businesses.
Vermont is at a turning point where it feels like the values that held us together for so long are breaking down in the face of intractable crises: A healthcare system on the brink. Housing that’s either unsafe or unaffordable, if you can find it at all. Fewer and fewer ways to get around without a private vehicle. And climate catastrophes that exacerbate all of this instability. From housing and healthcare to climate and democracy, he will fight for bold, systemic change — not band-aid fixes and more of the same.
He’s proud to have the support of outgoing Representative Kate Logan, who has been a strong and principled advocate for Burlington in her two terms. He’s also running with the support of Green Mountain DSA, Vermont’s chapter of democratic socialist organizers focused on improving conditions for all people, everywhere.
This campaign is 100% people powered so I’ll always be accountable to this community.
State Representative candidates
Candidate for State Representative - Chittenden-15Brian Cina
Brian was born and raised in northeastern New Jersey. He moved to New Hampshire in 1994 to attend Dartmouth College, where he was a Senior Fellow and graduated with an A.B. in Music. Brian has served in the Vermont legislature since 2017.
In 1998, he moved to Burlington, Vermont and served as an Americorps member at Spectrum Youth and Family Services. From 1999-2003, Cina continued working in human services, providing restorative justice and outreach to youth and families. From 2003-2005, he attended the University of Vermont, earning a Master of Social Work degree. From 2005-2010, Cina worked at Transitional Services for Youth and Families, providing family support services and supervising the social services program.
Since 2010, he has operated a private practice in clinical social work/psychotherapy located in downtown Burlington. Cina is a community organizer and activist. He co-founded ISGOOD (Isham Street Gardening and Other Optimistic Doings), a neighborhood organization that has reduced crime through gardening and other community service activities since 2005. From 2018-2019, Cina served on the Vermont Artificial Intelligence Task Force as the member with social work expertise in human rights and ethics. Cina served as a School Board member from 2014-2017. He led the search for a new superintendent in 2015 and was the chair of the Finance Committee. Cina is also a musician and performance artist.