Rep. Charlie Kimbell, D-Woodstock, has joined the group of lawmakers seeking to lead the Vermont House after House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, lost her reelection bid last week.
Rep. Cynthia Browning, a former member of the Democratic caucus who lost reelection, also said late last week that she is also considering a run for speaker, noting House rules do not prevent unelected members from holding the position.
House Majority Leader Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, and Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Bradford, have said they are interested in running—assuming Johnson loses her recount effort — bringing the total of likely candidates in the speaker’s race to four.
Kimbell is the ranking member of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and has served in the chamber for four years.
In an interview, Kimbell highlighted his focus on economic development and recovery in the wake of Covid-19. And he said that he’s “less partisan” than the other candidates in the race. Krowinski is the House’s current Democratic majority leader, while Copeland Hanzas is a former majority leader.
“I think with this election that just happened there’s a clear indication that the Legislature needs to really work at reaching out to people from all different parties, and also to work with the governor’s office, and to be pretty firm on what works for rural parts of Vermont and what doesn’t,” Kimbell said.
Democrats lost three seats in the House last Tuesday.
On some occasions, Kimbell has opposed party leaders. He voted against proposals to increase the minimum wage in 2018 and 2020 — though he ultimately joined Democrats in voting to override Scott’s veto of the bill this year.
Seven Days first reported he was joining the race on Monday.
Last week, Browning also indicated an interest in running for speaker, even though she lost her reelection bid.
“It might work quite well to have a Speaker dedicated to evidence based policy, committed to respectful proceedings, and without the obligations of direct constituent services,” Browning said in an email to House lawmakers.
“Representatives can elect the person that they believe will be the best Speaker for their purposes, without the artificial restriction that it is only possible to select from among their own members,” Browning said.
Browning has been a frequent critic of the House’s Democratic leaders, and drew ire from lawmakers last spring when she called for a quorum during a House chamber vote on whether to allow remote voting, just as the coronavirus pandemic was emerging in March. She lost in the primary as a Democrat and lost again in the general election as an independent.
Democrats had also discussed Rep. Tim Briglin, D-Thetford, the chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee, as a possible candidate for speaker. But on Monday, he said he wouldn’t seek the position.
