Let’s Grow Kids Action Network Endorses 140 Child Care Champions for the 2026 Election
(Montpelier) – Today, Let’s Grow Kids Action Network (LGKAN) endorsed 140 child care champions for the upcoming election running for legislative and statewide office. This year’s slate of candidates, which includes Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, and independents, has shown their commitment to making child care more affordable and accessible for children and families, and to strengthening the early childhood education workforce. Today’s list includes 7 candidates running for statewide office, 109 House candidates, and 24 Senate candidates.
Vermont’s child care system is growing and public investment is working to help strengthen our economy and support working families. Since Act 76, Vermont's landmark child care law, passed in 2023, the state has made real progress: 5,000 more children are receiving child care tuition assistance, more than 4,300 families now have tuition-free child care, and 1,200 new child care spaces have been created. Additionally, the gap between the supply of child care and the demand for it has shrunk by 19%.
"Child care is becoming more affordable and accessible across Vermont and yet we know it's still out of reach for too many and costs are still too high. That's why the 2026 election is so important. Today's slate of endorsed child care champions are ready to protect and grow our child care progress," said Emilie Tenenbaum, executive director of LGKAN. "This election is a chance for voters to support a broad coalition of candidates who are ready to keep up the fight for affordable, accessible child care and we're proud to stand behind them today and in the lead up to election day in November."
LGKAN is a non-partisan organization that endorses candidates who are committed to ensuring that all Vermont children and families have access to quality, affordable child care. For the 2026 election cycle candidates were assessed based on the following criteria:
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Legislative voting record;
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Response to a candidate questionnaire;
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Results of candidate interview (as needed); and
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Commitment to child care in policy platforms and on the campaign trail.
LGKAN and its 40,000-plus supporters around the state will be active on the campaign trail in the lead-up to the November election to support these candidates who have listened to Vermonters and made child care a top priority.
Below is LGKAN’s full list of endorsed candidates. Please also find the list of candidates here: letsgrowkidsactionnetwork.org/endorsements.
Statewide Office:
Becca Balint, Congress
Amanda Janoo, Governor
Molly Gray, Lieutenant Governor
Charity Clark, Attorney General
Mike Pieciak, State Treasurer
Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Secretary Of State
Tim Ashe, Auditor
Vermont Senate:
Ruth Hardy, Addison
Hannah Sessions, Addison
Seth Bongartz, Bennington
Rob Plunkett, Bennington
Martine Gulick, Chittenden-Central
Tanya Vyhovsky, Chittenden-Central
Nikhil Goyal, Chittenden-Central
Ashley Bartley, Chittenden-North
Thomas Chittenden, Chittenden-Southeast
Ginny Lyons, Chittenden-Southeast
Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Chittenden-Southeast
Alexander Bobella, Franklin
Kim Gleason, Grand-Isle
Richard Westman, Lamoille
Monique Priestley, Orange
David Wolk, Rutland
Ann Cummings, Washington
Andrew Perchlik, Washington
Anne Watson, Washington
Wendy Harrison, Windham
Nader Hashim, Windham
Elizabeth Burrows, Windsor
Joe Major, Windsor
Becca White, Windsor
Vermont House:
Robin Scheu, Addison-1
Mike Roy, Addison-1
Ariel Bolles, Addison-3
John Stroup, Addison-3
Jubilee McGill, Addison-5
Jonathan Cooper, Bennington-1
Timothy Corcoran, Bennington-2
Will Greer, Bennington-2
David Durfee, Bennington-3
Rob Hunter, Bennington-4
Thomas West, Bennington-4
Michael Nigro, Bennington-5
Tom Blakely, Bennington-5
Mary Morrissey, Bennington-5
Mike Rice, Bennington-Rutland
David Tucker, Caledonia-1
Audrey Grant, Caledonia-2
Dennis Labounty, Caledonia-3
Amanda Cochrane, Caledonia-Essex
Brandolyn Bradley, Caledonia-Essex
Jana Brown, Chittenden-1
Angela Arsenault, Chittenden-2
Erin Brady, Chittenden-2
Edye Graning, Chittenden-3
Trevor Squirrell, Chittenden-3
Kelsey Pasteris, Chittenden-4
Chea Waters Evans, Chittenden-5
Kate Lalley, Chittenden-6
Shawn Sweeney, Chittenden-7
Bridget Burkhardt, Chittenden-8
Emilie Krasnow, Chittenden-9
Kate Nugent, Chittenden-10
Brian Minier, Chittenden-11
Martin Lalonde, Chittenden-12
Bram Kleppner, Chittenden-13
Karen Paul, Chittenden-13
Adam Franz, Chittenden-14
Brian Cina, Chittenden-15
Ben Bosley, Chittenden-15
Troy Headrick, Chittenden-15
Jeffrey Peterson, Chittenden-16
Christopher Haessly, Chittenden-16
Abbey Duke, Chittenden-17
Carol Ode, Chittenden-18
Ali Dieng, Chittenden-18
Dave Hartnett, Chittenden-18
Sarita Austin, Chittenden-19
Doug Bishop, Chittenden-20
Gayle Pezzo, Chittenden-20
Daisy Berbeco, Chittenden-21
Matt Gile, Chittenden-21
Karen Dolan, Chittenden-22
Lori Houghton, Chittenden-22
Erik Post, Chittenden-23
Rey Garofano, Chittenden-23
Alyssa Black, Chittenden-24
Julia Andrews, Chittenden-25
Henry Bonges, Chittenden-Franklin
Caroline Bright, Franklin-1
Julie Filiberti, Franklin-1
Pam McCarthy, Franklin-2
Suzanne Kenyon, Franklin-3
Carmela Ann Mayette, Franklin-4
James Gregoire, Franklin-6
Sylvia Jensen, Grand Isle-Chittenden
Jed Lipsky, Lamoille-1
Dan Noyes, Lamoille-2
Jim Lipinski, Lamoille-2
Dave Yacovone, Lamoille-Washington
Saudia Lamont, Lamoille-Washington
Lance Mills, Orange-2
Larry Satcowitz, Orange-Washington-Addison
Xavier Stevens, Orleans-2
Leanne Harple, Orleans-4
Marsha Cassel, Rutland-2
Phoebe Tucker, Rutland-Windsor
Lucas Herring, Washington-1
Candice White, Washington-2
Dara Torre, Washington-2
Teddy Waszazak, Washington-3
Sonya Spaulding, Washington-3
Kate McCann, Washington-4
Ela Chapin, Washington-5
Marc Mihaly, Washington-6
Theresa Wood, Washington-Chittenden
Katarina Lisaius, Washington-Chittenden
Emily Wheeler-Reynolds, Washington-Orange
Melissa Battah, Washington-Orange
Gina Galfetti, Washington-Orange
Zon Eastes, Windham-1
Michelle Bos-Lun, Windham-3
Mike Mrowicki, Windham-4
Emily Long, Windham-5
Emilie Kornheiser, Windham-7
Ian Goodnow, Windham-9
Chris Morrow, Windham-Windsor-Bennington
Dylan Morse, Windsor-1
John Tansey, Windsor-1
Rich Thomas, Windsor-1
Mark Yuengling, Windsor-2
Alice Emmons, Windsor-3
Kristi Morris, Windsor-3
Kyle Hansen, Windsor-4
Justin Schoville, Windsor-4
Alanna Ojibway, Windsor-6
Jimmy Coleman, Windsor-6
Kirk White, Windsor-Addison
John O'Brien, Windsor-Orange-1
Dee Gish, Windsor-Orange-2