Nikhil Goyal, an assistant adjunct professor of sociology at the University of Vermont and author of three books, announced on Monday that he will run for a state Senate seat in Chittenden County’s Central District.
The 30-year-old Burlington resident will seek both the Democratic and Progressive nominations and plans to caucus with Democrats, if elected.
At a press conference on Church Street, Goyal positioned himself as a fresh voice focused on implementing an “affordability agenda.” He said he would work to bring property tax relief, lower housing costs and address Vermont’s nation-leading health care premiums. He passed out campaign signs bearing the slogan “No Vermonter Priced Out” and said he would do everything in his power to support immigrants and public schools.
“It is the responsibility of our legislature to alleviate the economic pain afflicting our people and restore faith in government to improve our lives,” Goyal said. “We have some senators who, instead, are taking us backwards.”
Without specifically naming anyone, Goyal called out elected officials who supported the confirmation of Zoie Saunders — Gov. Phil Scott’s controversial pick to lead the Agency of Education — and those who voted last year in favor of Act 73, which calls for transforming school governance and financing.
“The reality is, there is not a shred of evidence these reforms will reduce property taxes,” Goyal said.
The district is currently represented by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth (D/P), who helped shepherd through Act 73, as well as Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky (P/D) and Sen. Martine Gulick (D), both of whom voted against the education measure. None has publicly declared plans to run again.
A first-generation son of Indian immigrants, Goyal promised to accompany people to their immigration check-ins and citizenship interviews should he be elected. He called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of last week’s fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
“It’s time to dismantle this fascist machine,” he said.
Goyal, who grew up on Long Island, holds a bachelor’s degree from Goddard College and a master’s and PhD from the University of Cambridge in England. He worked for two years as a senior policy adviser to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Goyal’s most recent book, Live to See the Day: Coming of Age in American Poverty, was named one of the best in 2023 by the New Yorker. He now works as an adjunct assistant professor at UVM, where he’s also conducting research on juvenile justice for his next book.
His campaign announcement kicks off what is likely to be a heavily contested race for the three seats in the Chittenden-Central district, which includes most of Burlington, as well as Winooski, Essex Junction, and parts of Essex and Colchester.
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