MONTPELIER — Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, D-Bradford, has dropped out of the race for House speaker, giving House Majority Leader Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, an apparent edge in her bid to lead the Statehouse’s lower chamber.
Krowinski still faces Rep. Charlie Kimbell, D-Woodstock, in the race, which began after House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, lost her bid for reelection on Nov. 3. A recount in Johnson’s race will take place on Friday.
In an email to House Democrats last week, Copeland Hanzas said that her “conclusion” after speaking with members of her party is that the “strongest leader for the House in the coming biennium is Jill Krowinski.”
“Jill has demonstrated time and again her dedication to the success of our caucus, and she has put her head and heart into that work,” Copeland Hanzas wrote.
“I admire the keen, focused leadership she has shown in her four years as our Majority Leader. She shares my vision for uniting all of Vermont by staying connected to the rural communities who feel left behind, and by proactively seeking opportunities to talk about the priorities of the House throughout the state,” Copeland Hanzas continued.
Copeland Hanzas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When asked about the state of the race on Wednesday, Krowinski said she is prioritizing supporting the recount effort of Johnson, who fell 18 votes short in the Nov. 3 tally.
“All of us are really keeping focused on Mitzi’s recount and ensuring that she has everything that she needs for Friday, and then we can move on after we have the results of her recount,” Krowinski said.
She said that after the recount, Democrats will have “a unified candidate to run for speaker.”
Kimbell acknowledged that at this point, his competitor has more support than he does, but didn’t have an estimate of how far behind Krowinski he might be.
He said that in the coming days he will continue to have conversations with new and incumbent Democrats.
He noted that he was “late to the party” in announcing his run. He launched his bid for the speaker’s office a few days after Krowinski and Copeland Hanzas announced theirs.
“That really put me behind the eight ball in terms of just my ability to campaign and get the support of the caucus,” Kimbell said.
Democrats are expected to determine their nominee for speaker of the House by Friday, after Johnson’s recount takes place, and assuming she doesn’t prevail.
They will officially vote for their nominee in a virtual meeting Dec. 5.