This story was updated at 12:12 a.m. on November 5, 2025.
Sen. Larry Hart’s (R-Orange) decision to leave the Vermont Senate late last month has been largely attributed the reasons he outlined in his resignation letter to Senate Secretary John Bloomer. Hart wrote that he had entered politics to honor his daughter, who died of a fentanyl overdose while pregnant nine years ago, by working on substance-addiction legislation, among other goals. But he ultimately concluded that “the time and commitment became too great for my health and emotional well-being.”
In an interview with Seven Days on Monday, Hart explained that while his choice was driven largely by grief, the frustrations of Statehouse politics added so much stress to his life that he decided to step down.
As a member of the minority party, Hart felt his perspective and policy concerns were often dismissed by the Democrats and Progressives who held a 3-to-2 advantage in his committees, Senate Government Operations and Health and Welfare.
“Every day, when I tried to ask a question, I got shut down or I was quieted down,” Hart said.
Hart also said he grew frustrated by measures advanced by the Democratic majority. He said many of the policies he objected to appeared to be driven by Democratic members who were not born in Vermont. Hart said he anticipates that Republican legislators will introduce a bill in January that would bar anyone not born in the state from running for public office.
Nativism, favoring people belonging to a certain place by birth, has become more common within the GOP nationally in recent years, according to a 2024 poll conducted by CNN.
When asked, Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck (R-Caledonia) said he had never heard about a bill to ban people born out of state from running for office being discussed, ever, among any GOP legislators. Such a measure, he said, would have no chance of passing and would serve as a distraction from the caucus’ main policy priorities of affordability and local control.
Hart said his decision to leave was also driven in part by feeling that he was targeted early on by Democrats, who wanted to reclaim the seat the party had held for decades. Hart recalled once overhearing Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden-Central) telling Rep. Monique Priestly (D-Bradford) to run for Hart’s Senate seat in 2026. Last week, two days after Hart submitted his letter of resignation, Priestly announced she intended to campaign for the Orange County seat.
Wednesday evening, after this story was published, Baruth responded to Seven Days’ inquiry about Hart’s statement.
“The conversation Senator Hart describes never happened, and frankly I’m puzzled as to why he would feel the need to tell tall tales on his way out the door,” Baruth wrote. “But I wish him well — he’s a nice man with a kind heart.”
Despite serving less than half of his two-year term, Hart said he was proud to have contributed to several successful measures such as exempting military pensions from state income tax and designating November as the Month of the Veteran.
Hart’s retirement announcement came two weeks after another first-year Senate Republican, Sam Douglass, stepped down from his Orleans County seat over his participation in a racist group chat of Young Republican leaders. Gov. Phil Scott, Beck and other prominent Vermont GOP figures called for Douglass to relinquish his seat after the chats came to light.
Both Hart and Douglass were part of a Republican wave in the November 2024 election that flipped six seats in the state Senate and ended the veto-proof supermajority previously held by Democrats and Progressives.
Five members of the legislature, three Republicans and two Democrats, have resigned for a variety of reasons since last fall’s election.
Scott will appoint individuals to fill the two vacancies left by Hart and Douglass once he receives lists of potential successors from the senators’ respective local Republican parties.
Hart said Rep. Joshua Dobrovich (R-Williamstown) will be Scott’s appointee to fill his vacant seat in January. But Amanda Wheeler, press secretary for the governor’s office, said no such decision has been made.
“In terms of filling the vacancy, the Senator is entitled to his opinion and can certainly make recommendations, but we have not begun the process to appoint someone to serve at this point,” Wheeler said in a written statement.
Hart also said Scott is considering appointing him to the Vermont Governor’s Veterans Advisory Council. When asked, Wheeler said only that Hart, a veteran, could be a good fit and Scott is aware of Hart’s interest.
The only thing Hart said he has left to do at the Statehouse is clean out his desk in the Senate chamber before next Friday.
After that, he said he looks forward to spending more time with his family, providing guidance to others as a life coach, and working as an ordained minister at weddings and funerals. He just officiated his 80th wedding, he said. He expects to be busy, but leaving the Statehouse behind feels like a burden lifted.
“I don’t need the stress from over there,” Hart said.
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