Rep. Johannah "Joey" Leddy Donovan (D-Burlington), an influential liberal who has served in Montpelier for 20 years, will not seek reelection in November.

The news follows last month’s announcement by fellow Rep. Mary Sullivan (D-Burlington) that she would step down after 16 years in the state legislature.
“I felt privileged to stand on the House floor to unequivocally support the rights of the LGBTQ community,” Donovan wrote in an announcement on Facebook.

She said she was also proud of her support for low-income residents and her work on the House Education Committee, including the expansion of pre-kindergarten programs in Vermont.

Legislating via Zoom isn't as satisfying as working beneath the golden dome, she said, though that's not why she is leaving.

"I think there's an awful lot that’s lost," Donovan said. "It sure isn't the same as having discussions in those small committee rooms with the public and different advocates sitting on the sides and just being able to have really thorough discussions."

Donovan's announcement came as Rep. Nader Hashim (D-Dummerston) announced Monday he, too, would not seek reelection. The former state trooper blamed “financial hardships” for forcing him to focus on finding employment.

“No matter how I look at the numbers, I’m faced with the decision of either running for reelection, or continuing to pay my bills on time and putting food on the table,” Hashim wrote in a Facebook post.