Rep. Stevens: On not seeking re-election
April 21, 2026 | By Rep. Tom Stevens To the Community:
After 18 years of service in the Vermont House of Representatives — nine terms representing the people of Waterbury, Bolton, Huntington, and Buels Gore (and Duxbury, when it was part of the district!) — I am announcing that I will not seek reelection in 2026.
Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, has represented Waterbury in the Vermont House since 2009. Photo by Gordon Miller
It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this district. When I first took my seat in 2009, I came as someone who had spent years working in the community — as a husband and a father, with local nonprofit organizations, at the Waterbury Selectboard, with Downstreet Housing and Community Development, in the arts and arts education — the places where community matters.
I tried to carry that spirit into everything I did in Montpelier.
Over these years, I am proud of much that we have accomplished things in the State House I am genuinely proud of. We advanced equal pay for women, increased the minimum wage and supported other financial equity programs; developed a 10-year plan to address Vermont's housing crisis, covering affordable housing, middle-income homeownership, eviction protection, and housing for older and developmentally disabled Vermonters.
We passed the shield law to protect Vermonters seeking reproductive health care. and laws to protect gender affirming care, as well as job protection for victims of alleged crimes while they sought justice. We passed a public apology for the Eugenics Survey, which did so much damage to indigenous, disabled and persons of color in Vermont, and created as well the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to reckon with the outcome of our choices. We worked, and continue to work, to build a real and effective family and medical leave insurance program for every Vermont worker. And I had the privilege of supporting and voting for Civil Marriage.
And through it all, my goal was to listen — to constituents, to advocates, to people who don't usually get a seat at the table — in order to help me get things done for the benefit of all Vermonters.
Serving as Chair of the House General and Housing (and Military Affairs) Committee gave me the opportunity to work with stakeholders on the issues that matter most to working Vermonters: where they live, how they are treated at work and in life, and whether their community is a place they can afford to stay.
I didn’t take the decision to run lightly in 2008, and I do not take this decision to step away now lightly either. But I believe deeply in the renewal of public life, and in making space for new voices and new energy.
To my constituents in Waterbury, Huntington, Bolton (Duxbury) and Buel’s Gore: thank you for your trust, your honesty, and your patience.
To my district mates, Sue Minter, Rebecca Ellis and Theresa Wood: It was humbling to work alongside you as we represented our constituents through the Great Recession, Tropical Storm Irene and COVID.
To my colleagues: it has been a privilege to serve alongside you.
To my family: thank you for being the anchors keeping our lives together as I did this work.
I will finish this term with the same commitment I brought to the first, and I look forward to supporting those who serve our district in the future.
Rep. Tom Stevens
Washington Chittenden District
Waterbury