Mike Rice

Mike Rice is a Democrat and former state representative who served Bennington-Rutland District from 2023 to 2025 and is seeking to return to the Vermont House of Representatives in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] A nonprofit director who has worked in farm operations and food and agriculture policy, he said in a Ballotpedia survey that his priorities include housing, health care, energy, child care and education.[1][3]

Mike Rice was born in New York and has lived in Dorset, Vermont.[1] He earned a B.A. in English from the State University of New York at Albany in 2012 and a master's degree in food and agriculture law and policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School in 2020.[1] His career includes operations work for a dairy farm and creamery and work with the Northeast Organic Farming Association on regional policy and funding.[1]

Rice served in the Vermont House of Representatives from January 4, 2023, to January 8, 2025, succeeding Linda Sullivan.[1] He lost the November 2024 general election to Republican Sandy Pinsonault, 54.5 percent to 45.3 percent.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, Rice said he moved to Vermont in 2017 to work as a farm apprentice, and that during his term he worked on education, child care legislation, housing, prior authorization requirements and programs for small farms.[3]

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