Brandolyn Bradley, a St. Johnsbury resident, has entered the race for a Caledonia-Essex House seat as an independent candidate. The district includes Concord, Kirby, and St. Johnsbury. Bradley is one of five candidates vying for two seats in the November 2026 election.
"I've always been an independent," Bradley said. "I have never been a fan of the two-party system." She cited the founding fathers' warnings about factionalism and argued that consolidation of power is dangerous.
Bradley works for the University of Vermont Medical Center's Frederick C. Winter Center for Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders. She previously worked in public health and served as an Americorps volunteer. She moved to St. Johnsbury about four years ago from Chittenden County, seeking a quieter rural setting for her family. She was elected to the Caledonia Food Co-op board roughly two years ago.
Bradley said her campaign focuses on representing working parents, who she calls "the backbone of the state." She argues that Vermont's citizen legislature is not designed for full-time workers with children. She also expressed support for a regional single-payer healthcare system and said Vermont's lower population is an advantage for self-sufficiency.
On education finance, Bradley called the situation a "debacle" but said school consolidation is not the solution. She believes rising health insurance costs drive up education budgets and that systemic issues are interconnected.
The candidate said she is not concerned about her lack of major-party affiliation, noting dissatisfaction among voters with both parties.
Originally reported by Caledonian Record.
Photo: Fernando @cferdophotography via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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