Monique Priestley

Monique Priestley
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
from the Orange-2 district
Assumed office
January 4, 2023
Preceded bySarah Copeland Hanzas
Personal details
PartyDemocratic
EducationOxbow High School
Alma materNorthern Vermont University
University of Washington

Monique Priestley is an American politician from Vermont. She has been a Democratic member of the Vermont House of Representatives for the Orange-2 District since 2023.[1] Priestley is executive director of a non-profit community workspace called The Space On Main which she founded in 2017.[2]

Early life and education

Priestly was born in Piermont, New Hampshire and moved to Bradford, Vermont as a teenager.[3] She graduated from Northern Vermont University in Lyndon with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media and an Associate of Science in Graphic Design, and received a Master of Communication in Digital Media from the University of Washington.[3][4]

Career

Priestley worked as the Vermont COVID Business Recovery Project Manager for the Center for Women & Enterprise from 2020 through 2022.[4] She was elected to the Vermont legislature in 2022 and re-elected in 2024.[1][5]

Priestley was selected for the Future Caucus Innovation Fellowship as part of the 2024 Strengthening Democracy cohort for young state lawmakers committed to improving civic engagement and democratic processes.[6][7] She also serves as Co-Chair of the National Task Force on State AI Policy, convened through Future Caucus.[8]

On October 29, 2025, Priestly announced her intention to run for the Orange County seat in the Vermont Senate in 2026, following the resignation of Senator Larry Hart.[9] She says her campaign will focus on "housing, climate resilience, affordability, economic fairness, and government transparency."[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Monique Priestley". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rep. Monique Priestley". Vermont Democrats. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "CAP Connection - Vermonter of the Month: Monique Priestley". UVM Consumer Assistance Program. March 25, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Representative Monique Priestley". Vermont Legislature. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  5. ^ "Knight First Amendment Institute". Knight First Amendment Institute. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Three legislators chosen for inaugural class of innovation fellows". Vermont Business Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  7. ^ "VT Rep. Monique Priestley". Future Caucus. January 17, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  8. ^ "National Task Force on State AI Policy". Future Caucus. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  9. ^ Weinstein, Ethan (October 29, 2025). "Orange County GOP senator resigns, local Democratic rep says she's running". VTDigger. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
  10. ^ "Rep. Monique Priestley to run for Vermont State Senate". Vermont Business Magazine. October 29, 2025. Retrieved October 29, 2025.