Updated at 10:01 p.m.
Burlington Democrats swept contested races on Tuesday to cement the party’s majority on the city council for another two years.
Town Meeting Day victories in three of four districts up for election this year gave Democrats seven of 12 seats on the council, well positioning the party to carry out its priorities — and block those of their Progressive counterparts.
Democrat and first-time candidate Allie Schachter won the East District with 53.6 percent of the vote, tallying 775 votes to Progressive Kathy Olwell’s 670, according to unofficial results. In the South District, Democrat Ranjit “Buddy” Singh defeated Progressive Jennifer Monroe Zakaras with 73 percent of the vote, or 2,227 votes to 823.
Dems also held on to the North District, where incumbent Councilor Mark Barlow won reelection against Ali Dieng, a former councilor and political independent who mounted a last-minute write-in campaign. Barlow earned 2,760 votes to 260 write-ins, though it’s unclear if they all belonged to Dieng.
The Progs, meantime, won the uncontested Central District race to give incumbent Councilor Melo Grant another term.
“This is the best day I’ve had in a long time,” party chair Andy Vota said to applause. “We stuck to our values, we stuck to what was important, and at the end of the day, I think the results tell the story that Burlingtonians really wanted that.”
The Dems’ success could be construed as a desire to provide balance to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s Progressive agenda. During her first year in office, council Dems have criticized the pace at which she’s addressed public safety challenges and the worsening homelessness crisis. In response, the caucus has introduced various resolutions, including one in January that removed the controversial “cap” on the number of officers in the police department over objections from Progressives and the mayor, who argued that the move would not actually accelerate hiring.
With the exception of losing last year’s mayoral race, Democrats have gained political power in recent elections. They’ve held the council presidency since 2022 and a majority since 2023. This year, Councilor Barlow, an independent who caucuses with the Dems, officially ran with the Democratic party label.
The party’s victory in the South District, a Democratic stronghold, was all but certain. Singh will take over the seat held by party stalwart Councilor Joan Shannon, who’s stepping down after more than 20 years.
Singh, a loan officer with Spruce Mortgage, didn’t enter the race with many policy ideas, instead promising to collaborate and let “the best ideas rise to the top.” Zakaras, his competitor, had also promised to work across the aisle.
“I’m extremely humbled by this experience,” Singh said on election night. “I love Burlington. I don’t care if people think it’s a cliché, but that’s where my passion is.”
Schachter’s victory was less predictable in the East District, which has ping-ponged between Dems and Progs in recent years. The seat was most recently filled by Democrat Tim Doherty, who resigned in November after being appointed a superior court judge.
She also had a tough opponent in Olwell, a longtime former school board member with more name recognition than Schachter, a first-time candidate who has lived in Burlington for just four years. The development director for the Flynn, Schachter has pledged to increase affordable housing stock in the city and to support efforts to rebuild the police department. Living in the student-heavy East District, she wants the University of Vermont to agree to house more undergraduates on campus.
At Hotel Vermont, Dems showered praise on Schachter for running a rigorous campaign. Singh said he shouted with joy when he heard Schachter had won. The candidate was similarly overwhelmed, telling the crowd that she’d already lost her voice.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this incredible team, this incredible community,” Schachter said.
The Progs’ gathering at Radio Bean was slow to start, but by 9 p.m., about 30 people gathered in the downtown club — about half as many as the Dems. A deejay spun a techno song set to a compilation of speeches by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). At one point, former lieutenant governor David Zuckerman, a fellow Prog, showed up with a massive bag of carrots from his farm.
Josh Wronski, executive director of the Vermont Progressive Party, said the election results won’t change the party’s focus.
“We’re going to continue to prioritize making Burlington a more affordable city and more welcoming for everyone,” he said. “There’s a true split in the balance of power between Progressives and Democrats, and we’re just going to continue to work through that.”
Mulvaney-Stanak urged Progs not to dwell on the results.
“If we despair, we leave so many people behind, and that’s not what Progressives are about,” she said. “No matter how much partisanship there is in the city, we are on a new path. We are just getting started.”
Meantime, the Dems were already looking to 2026, when the council’s eight ward seats are up for reelection.
“We’re going to have seats to defend,” Council President Ben Traverse (D-Ward 5) told the crowd. “I hope to see all of you again here for another night like tonight one year from now.”
The new members will be sworn in on April 7, the council’s organization day.
Colin Flanders and Rachel Hellman contributed reporting.