Election Platform 2026 State Election | Queen City Vermont Indivisible

2026 Vermont State Election Platform

As a group of concerned and engaged citizens, the Steering Committee of Queen City Indivisible reflected on this moment and the upcoming midterms and came to the decision not to endorse individual candidates, but rather to share with our community the issues we see as most critical to our mission.

Along with the issues we present below, we seriously considered a handful of other issues for the platform. Through our consensus model of decision making, we decided not to include these in the platform because they don't sit exactly in the center of our core mission of defending democracy and resisting autocracy.

It is only in a well functioning democracy that environmental issues, economic disparity, healthcare, housing, affordability, worker protections, and data center development can be addressed in ways that best protect the public and our communities.

We are in this for the long haul and want to work with, and influence, all elected and non-elected leaders locally and at the state and national level positioned not only to uphold the constitution but strengthen every level of democratic institutions and citizen engagement in our society.

In the upcoming midterms, we encourage you to vote for candidates who have a track record of values and actions that align with the issues below, and who show maturity, systems thinking, an ability to negotiate and collaborate, and a commitment to work on behalf of future generations and not simply toward short-cycle sound bites.

For all candidates, take the time to visit their campaign websites, learn about their records, meet them in person, and follow the coverage they receive in the local press.

A good resource for state legislative voting records: VPIRG’S Legislative Scorecard

We encourage you to choose candidates at all levels who will best advocate for and act decisively on your own priorities and values.

1. Defend Democracy And Resist Federal Overreach

Our position: Federal authority is not unlimited. We support leaders who will oppose unconstitutional or unlawful federal actions through litigation, legislation, and other appropriate means, such as speaking publicly and forcefully when federal actions threaten Vermont communities and families.

2. Protect Immigrant Rights And Dignity

Our position: Every person in Vermont deserves dignity, due process and protection from unlawful discrimination and intimidation, including undocumented residents, refugees, and asylum seekers. The criminalization of immigrants is inhumane.

We support candidates who will strengthen and enforce our state laws to restrict federal overreach and lawlessness, who will forcefully speak out on behalf of and alongside our immigrant community, who will monitor and publicly report the conditions of any immigrants held in prisons or other detention centers in Vermont, and who will champion Vermont as a state that welcomes immigrants and honors the contributions they make to our communities, culture, and economy.

Our position: Vermont leaders must ensure strict adherence to Vermont's Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. They must support prohibiting face coverings and full identification for our state and local police.

They must insist on and lead an independent investigation and public reporting when police actions are possibly in violation of this policy.

They must prioritize de-escalation and community-oriented policing rather than unnecessarily militarized responses.

They must ensure better collection and public reporting of policing data so disparities in stops, searches, arrests, use of force, and complaints can be identified. Vermont can protect citizens from police misuse of power while still protecting and respecting police officers and their authority.

3. Advocate and Enforce Fair and Impartial Policing Rules and Citizen Rights During Police Actions

4. Protect The Civil Rights Of All Persons

Our position: Vermont should be a state where every person is treated equally under the law. Civil rights are not conditional. The rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the Vermont State Constitution, and Vermont law belong to everyone.

State officials should speak forcefully and act promptly when community or individual civil rights are threatened.

Queen City Indivisible strongly supports Proposal 4. This proposition would amend our Vermont State Constitution to expressly prohibit the denial of rights on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin.

5. Protect Voting Rights And Fair Elections

Our position: Every eligible Vermonter should be able to vote freely, safely and conveniently—and have that vote counted, elections belong to voters—not political parties, wealthy donors or candidates seeking to manipulate the rules.

6. Make the Government Accountable to the People

Our position:

We oppose the current political system in which wealthy individuals, corporations, and special interests exercise disproportionate influence over state government.

We support candidates and leaders who will fight for campaign finance reform, greater transparency around lobbying and political spending, stronger ethics and conflict-of-interest laws, and tax policies that ask those with the greatest resources to contribute fairly.

7. Protect Vermonters’ Personal Freedom To Make Their Own Private Health Care Choices

Our position:

We support every Vermonter's right to make decisions about their own body, health and family. Personal medical decisions belong to individuals, families and their healthcare providers—not politicians.

8. Strong Data Privacy and Surveillance Protections for Citizens

Our Position:

Vermonters should have meaningful rights to know what data is collected, easily correct it, easily delete it, and know who receives it. Vermonters should be in control of their data, not corporations and other businesses. This should be a priority of all state leaders.