The recent article about Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s path to victory in Burlington picks up an insightful thread from the election by noting the incredibly close margin between Emma and Joan Shannon on the councilor’s home turf. Instead of pulling on that thread to unravel the increasingly progressive nature of Burlington’s body politic, it quotes a Joan supporter, unfortunately repeating the commonly repeated misleading meme that Emmas’ victory was driven primarily by student voting, even though the data flatly contradicts this meme.
Emma’s campaign improved progressive margins over the 2021 results in every single ward except Ward 8, which is possibly the highest student-ratio ward in the city. While turnout in Ward 8 was up by 4.5% over 2021, Emma underperformed Max Tracy’s results by about 50 votes, while Joan overperformed Mayor Weinberger’s 2021 results by about 100 votes.
What really stands out is Emma’s success across the city. Comparing the data to the 2021 election shows that Emma’s campaign made modest gains in younger wards: 1 (+123), 2 (+52), and 3 (+64) — but she made much larger gains in wards 4 (+290), 5 (+228), 6 (+262) and 7 (+176), which historically have been more challenging for Progressives.
These numbers indicate that the historical narrative Democrats and many in the media often repeat, that Progressives win primarily due to students, is inaccurate. Progressives do have large appeal among younger voters who are tired of the system leaving their future in peril. However, what the data really shows is that Progressive appeal is growing across a much wider spectrum of the electorate.
Another interesting part of the story is how a progressive vision animated 300 volunteers across all demographics. 40-year veterans of city politics linked arms with highly engaged college students and professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s who call Burlington home, own houses, and have families. Emma connected with voters in every ward and across every demographic, especially those who have been voting in city elections for 10 years and are ready for a change. People are tired of politics as usual.
Emma’s campaign was a testament to the power of community, a clear message that when people unite under a shared vision for progress, they can transcend traditional barriers and ignite a transformative movement. The victory in Burlington is a beacon of hope, showing that grassroots mobilization fueled by a collective desire for progress can reshape the political landscape in the most inspiring ways.
