Brenda Siegel

Brenda Lynn Siegel is an American activist and politician who was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 Vermont gubernatorial election.[1] She previously ran in the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2020 and for governor of Vermont in 2018.[2]

Brenda Siegel
Personal details
Born
Brenda Lynn Siegel

Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
EducationHampshire College (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Activism

Siegel is an activist for housing and drug policy. Siegel and fellow activists slept on the steps leading to the Vermont State House for 27 nights to protest homelessness and advocate for the reinstatement of a Vermont program to provide housing in motels during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] She left when the Department for Children and Families updated their "adverse weather conditions" emergency housing policy for the upcoming winter.[4] Siegel has also advocated for the decriminalization of small amounts of the narcotic buprenorphine.[5]

2022 gubernatorial campaign
Main article: 2022 Vermont gubernatorial election

Democratic primary

Siegel announced her candidacy on May 2, 2022.[2] Siegel was the only gubernatorial candidate in the Democratic primary.[6] NBC News projected her primary win just after the polls closed.[7] Siegel was endorsed by former governor Howard Dean, state Rep. Kevin "Coach" Christie D-Windsor 4-2, state Rep. Tristan Toleno D-Windham 2-3, Rutland Alderman Anna Tadio, and youth advocate Addie Lentzner.[8][9] She was also endorsed by Sierra Club Vermont, Vermont Conservation Voters, VPIRG, and Rights and Democracy.[10]

General election

The general election took place on November 8, 2022; she lost by a wide margin.[11] Siegel ran against the Republican nominee, incumbent governor Phil Scott.[7]

Personal life

Siegel grew up in Brattleboro, Vermont and currently lives in Newfane.[9] Her brother died of a drug overdose when Siegel was 19, and her nephew died of the same cause in 2018.[5] Siegel is a single mother to her son Ajna, and the two experienced various financial hardships, including some as a result of tropical storm Irene.[5]

Siegel was an intern for then-Rep. Bernie Sanders' office in 2001.[5]

References
  1. "Live Vermont Governor Election Results 2022". NBC News. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  2. McCallum, Kevin (2022-05-02). "Brenda Siegel Announces She'll Run for Governor of Vermont". Seven Days. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  3. Mearhoff, Sarah (2022-05-02). "Vermont activist Brenda Siegel launches Democratic bid for governor". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  4. Duffort, Lola (2021-11-10). "This winter, the state will house homeless Vermonters - regardless of the forecast". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  5. Elletson, Grace (2020-07-15). "Brenda Siegel runs for lieutenant governor to amplify the unheard". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  6. "Vermont Election Night Results". Secretary of State of Vermont. 2022-08-10. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  7. Mearhoff, Sarah (2022-08-09). "Phil Scott and Brenda Siegel to face off in November gubernatorial election". VTDigger. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  8. "Governor Howard Dean endorses Brenda Siegel for governor". Vermont Business Magazine. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  9. "Siegel enters Vermont governor's race". The Brattleboro Reformer. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  10. "Brenda Siegel wins Democratic nomination for Governor". Vermont Business Magazine. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  11. "Election Information and Resources". Secretary of State of Vermont. 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
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