I live in Essex Junction with my husband Jon and son Sam. We own and operate a third-generation family business in Essex Junction. I recently left a 20-year career with global research company LexisNexis to focus my time on serving as Chair of the House Health Care Committee to which I was appointed in January 2023.

As Chair of the House Health Care committee, I make sure every committee member is involved and has a voice in all legislation we pass out of committee regardless of their overall support. As a team we've passed legislation protecting women's reproductive health, reduced burdensome paperwork for health care providers, gave the Green Mountain Care Board resources to tackle and regulate prescription drug prices, strengthened oversight of pharmacy benefit managers, ensured reimbursement parity to audio only telemedicine and expanded the Medicare Savings Program helping low income Vermonters put real money back in their pockets.

Over the past four terms I've focused efforts on ensuring Vermonters can take care of their families by supporting paid family leave and increasing minimum wage, ensuring strong schools and childcare, addressing climate change, and protecting youth by raising the smoking age to 21. I have helped pass legislation expanding telehealth, codifying into state law consumer protections found in the Affordable Care Act including pre-existing conditions bans, the pandemic emergency healthcare legislation and ensured the coronavirus relief funds were allocated strategically and equitably. 
 
​As a community volunteer for many years I've worked to foster a foundation to ensure Essex Junction is a vibrant, healthy place to live and do business.  Some of my work involved grassroots efforts leading to community partnerships created to nurture downtown revitalization and foster communication and planning between the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction. Other work involved establishing municipal organizations that ensure the safety of our residents while focusing on the policy and infrastructure that will allow our community to prosper. I worked with a team to create, launch and lead the Five Corners Farmers Market, was instrumental in creating the Village Bike Walk committee and was a member of the Gather At The Table planning committee.  

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​Experience:

• University of Vermont Children's Hospital Advisory Committee
• Health Reform Oversight Committee
• Task Force for Affordable and Accessible Healthcare, former member
• Village Trustee, 2011 to 2019
• Gather At The Table planning committee member
• Heart and Soul of Essex, former Board Member
• Five Corners Farmers Market former President, Treasurer 
• Essex Junction Parks and Recreation Governance Committee, former member
• Essex Junction Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, former member
• Essex Junction Capital Committee, former member
• Building Healthy Communities Grant Committee, former member
• Vermont Leadership Institute Graduate 2016

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H.766 Press Conference

Why Lori? In your neighbor's words
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"Neither Lori nor I knew that we’d be called upon to serve Vermont during a global pandemic. Through the spring and summer, Lori has risen to the challenge and worked tirelessly to provide support to neighbors. She has been a central figure who has guided Vermont’s health care response to the pandemic. Her work has garnered acclaim from her colleagues and from health care professionals who count on steady, strong leadership. Most importantly for Essex residents, it has benefited our community and provided aid to those in need."
​Rep. Dylan Giambatista, Essex Junction

"Lori has been a phenomenal representative for Essex Junction.  She has quickly mastered the complexities of our very complicated health care system in her committee work and is dedicated to quality health care for all. As a businessperson and a concerned mom, she is listened to on pandemic-related issues by her colleagues. Her dedicated public service locally is known to everyone who calls Essex Junction their home. We are very fortunate that Lori chooses to juggle the many responsibilities of a parent, worker, and representative. I wholeheartedly endorse her well-earned re-election and hope she continues for many more years in Montpelier."
Former Rep. Tim Jerman Essex Junction

"Lori has established herself in the State House as fair, smart, and reasonable. She is trusted and true to the needs of her community, above all else. I believe that we need more working mothers, in particular, under the Golden Dome to hear how the state’s decisions are playing out in our community. Lori will continue to take what she learns as a community volunteer and business owner and push Montpelier to serve our community better."
Maura Collins, VHFA Executive Director and Essex Junction Community Member

"Hardly a passive bystander, Lori meticulously digs into the details and makes informed decisions based on logic and analysis rather than questionable partisan objectives. Her aim is consistently focused on long-term public benefit illustrated by her 8 year tenure as an Essex Junction Trustee, her work with Heart and Soul of Essex; founding and working for years on Five Corners Farmers Market; publishing a community services brochure for Essex; organizing the fabulous Gather at The Table event and more. All of this on top of serving working full time and raising a child!" Bridget Meyer, Essex Junction Community Activist

"As an independent contractor I saw my income fall to zero in the span of a few days during this pandemic. Lori Houghton has been instrumental in helping me navigate the stressful, frustrating, complex system(s) of the Vermont DOL and PUA Unemployment.
Lori is 1 of 4 local, state and federal legislators that responded to my initial outreach (out of 16 total). Her response was prompt and personal – not a pre-written template. I cannot thank Lori enough. She continued to check in with me and offer help when she certainly didn’t have to. She is approachable, kind, knowledgeable and made me feel like my situation mattered. Lori has my support for re-election to the Vermont House. We need more people like her!"
Karen Tucker, Native Vermonter and Essex Junction Community Member

​"Lori Houghton’s representation at the Statehouse and her current candidacy for reelection are prime reasons that I have confidence in the leadership of our state. Lori is very knowledgeable about local issues but she also recognizes the power of listening and learning. The words and thoughts of constituents matter to her and Lori actively seeks out input from those whom she represents. In stark contrast to the ego-driven politicians we are used to hearing about, in Vermont, we have people like Lori who are putting their heads down and doing the hard work that it takes to lead."
Stephanie Teleen, Teacher and Essex Junction Community Member
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"I first met Lori Houghton in 2011, when we both were active volunteers in the community. We were part of the Heart & Soul of Essex project. Lori and I were part of a core team that worked hard to engage over 1,000 diverse residents from throughout the town to listen and learn together about what matters most about our community and its future. Her commitment to an inclusive and vibrant Essex, together with her family and their business, is at the heart of what makes Lori so effective as our State Representative. I know Lori’s honesty, integrity, and compassion firsthand. I would say that the sometimes seemingly endless well of energy and work she dedicates to what matters most to her surprises me; it does not. It is entirely consistent with her values and with her heart. That is what integrity means. That is what gets Essex results from her service as our legislator."
Gabrielle Smith, Heart and Soul Board Member and Essex Junction Community Member

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​​An inspirational 10 month journey with some of the best in our state.