Jessica Van Oort

Jessica Van Oort is a Democratic and Vermont Progressive Party candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives, Rutland-Bennington District, in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] In a Ballotpedia survey, she described herself as a small business owner who serves on the Pawlet Selectboard.[3]

Jessica Van Oort wrote in a Ballotpedia survey that she is involved with the community garden and the food pantry and that her first work as a public servant was on the Pawlet Planning Commission.[3] She said she became involved in local government during the pandemic and cited helping bring high-speed internet to every part of Pawlet, streamlining local zoning, and obtaining a grant for geothermal heating and cooling in town buildings.[3] She also said she taught for some years in the performing arts department of a small college.[3]

Van Oort listed fair taxes, a state law revoking corporations' right to make political donations, and regulation of data centers as key campaign messages.[3] She wrote that she supports sensible, balanced updates to Act 250 and named the environment, education and the arts among her policy interests.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.