Sen. Chris Pearson, P/D-Chittenden, said he is not running for reelection this year.
The Burlington Progressive has been in Vermont politics since 1998, working for then-U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, and in 2000 worked on Anthony Pollina’s gubernatorial run. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Vermont House in 2006, and has been on the ballot every two years since.
“It’s time for a new chapter,” Pearson said. “I’ve spent most of my 30s and all of my 40s in the Legislature. I’m turning 50 in January and I need to do something different.”
Had he run for reelection this year and won, Pearson would have represented the three-seat Chittenden-Central district, which includes Winooski, Essex Junction and parts of Burlington.
With Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden, ceding her seat to run for Congress, Sen. Philip Baruth, D/P-Burlington, is the only incumbent in the district running for re-election.
Vermont House Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Essex, has already thrown her hat in the ring.