Our movement is a collective one, and all our victories and setbacks are shared by everyone who has joined our fight for justice over the years.
I am so proud that together over the past nine years our collective movement has:
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Elected the first Progressive to the office of Lt. Governor
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Rebuilt our Progressive base in Burlington and returned a Progressive to the office of Mayor
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Endorsed and elected dozens of candidates at the local and state level
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Doubled our fundraising and budget from 55k to 120k a year
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Updated antiquated data, communication, and finance systems
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Funded an additional year round staff position
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Created new and permanent member driven committees on Organizing, Elections, Fundraising, Communications, Data & Technology, Internal Polices, and a Local Elected Progressive network.
And… I am so proud that we have engaged hundreds of new people in our work who were not aware that we existed 10 years ago.
We have a lot to be proud of, but also a lot of work that still needs to be done as our state and nation heads towards crisis. Society is rapidly moving towards an oligarchic form of government, democratic norms are being undermined, working class people are under attack like never before, and austerity looms large over our communities.
If we are to successfully fight back we will need to use every tool at our disposal and double down on organizing across Vermont. We must grow our presence in the VT Legislature in 2026, strengthen our relationships with movement organizations, support issue organizing, strengthen our network of local elected Progressive leaders, continue to grow our party finances, and grow our base of active membership across our state.
We are well positioned to do this work. Vermonters are sick and tired of establishment politics and know that more of the same from Democratic and Republican leadership will only drive working people further off the cliff. People are looking for the alternative, and our work ahead must focus on delivering a clear, uncompromising, and winnable vision for economic, social, and environmental justice for all people in our state.
To do this, all of us will need to continue engaging in this work. Our movement’s power to make change has never been derived from one person, one election, or a specific elected official. Our power comes from all of us uniting in solidarity to fight for a better future for all people year after year no matter what.
Thank you for all you have done for our movement over the years. I look forward to continuing the fight with all of you for the long-haul.
In solidarity,
Josh Wronski
Director, Vermont Progressive Party
