Irene Wrenner

Irene Wrenner

Democratic Party

Prior offices

Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Phillipsburg High School

Bachelor's

Cornell University, 1986

Personal

Birthplace

New Brunswick, N.J.

Religion

Lutheran

Profession

Public service

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Irene Wrenner (Democratic Party) was a member of the Vermont State Senate, representing Chittenden North District. She assumed office on January 4, 2023. She left office on January 8, 2025.

Wrenner (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Vermont State Senate to represent Chittenden North District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Wrenner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Irene Wrenner earned a B.S. in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University. Her career experience includes working in the fields of communication, human resources, and information technology. She also began her own business. Wrenner served on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and on the Essex Selectboard.

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2023-2024

Wrenner was assigned to the following committees:

• Canvassing Committee
• Agriculture Committee
• Institutions Committee
• Information Technology Oversight Committee
• Agricultural Worker Labor and Employment Laws Study Committee
• Justice Oversight Committee

Elections

2024

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Chris Mattos defeated incumbent Irene Wrenner in the general election for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Mattos (R)	56.0	7,383
		Irene Wrenner (D)	43.8	5,768
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	24

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,175
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Incumbent Irene Wrenner advanced from the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Irene Wrenner	96.9	1,271
		Other/Write-in votes	3.1	40

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,311
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Chris Mattos advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Mattos	99.2	1,042
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	8

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,050
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Wrenner in this election.

2022

See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Irene Wrenner defeated Leland Morgan in the general election for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Irene Wrenner (D)	51.3	5,173
		Leland Morgan (R)	48.2	4,858
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	51

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,082
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Irene Wrenner defeated Brian Shelden in the Democratic primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Irene Wrenner	58.5	1,621
		Brian Shelden	41.0	1,136
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	15

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,772
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

Leland Morgan advanced from the Republican primary for Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District on August 9, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leland Morgan	98.5	1,127
		Other/Write-in votes	1.5	17

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 1,144
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Irene Wrenner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Wrenner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Irene Wrenner is an advocate for affordable, transparent, accountable government. She’s known for seeking out voters’ opinions and incorporating their points of view into her policy making and floor votes.

All the senate bills she introduced came from constituents, and none came with a price tag. She is a fiscally conservative, common-sense lawmaker who identifies as a Democrat and votes as an Independent.

Irene was elected 4 times to the Town of Essex Selectboard, serving as clerk, vice chair and chair. During those 12 years, she never missed a meeting. She asked probing questions, called out inconsistencies and spoke up for marginalized populations.

This 27-year Essex resident has been a community leader on many issues. The public voted 9 times to support the causes Irene espoused and worked toward on their behalf.

Irene has a business background, having worked in technology, communication and human resources.

She ran a small newspaper before the legislative map was redistricted, prompting her run for State Senate.

Irene has a B.S. from Cornell in Industrial & Labor Relations, the study of the workplace.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Affordability is job one. Too many people are now leaving the state due to rising tax burdens. If we spent more wisely on large technology projects, for example, we could tax people less and provide more services. More capable oversight is needed. I am leading that charge. I have discussed with leadership how we might alter our committee structure to do so. In the meantime, I haven't hesitated to vote No on bills that are projected to cost taxpayers fortune and make no common sense, such as the Clean Heat Act and the Renewable Energy Standard.
• I vote as an Independent (although I run as a Democrat), so that I can authentically carry the voices of my constituents in this "purple" district into the State House, where they haven't always felt heard.
• I am fiscally responsible and a stickler for proper process, including transparency and accountability. I have not taken campaign donations from special interest groups so that lobbyists don't have the foothold with me that they might otherwise.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Vermont needs common sense laws and legislators who understand and speak up for constituents. Voters are aghast at some bills passed this biennium. I understand why and want to continue to fight for their interests.

I work to gather and digest information, then communicate complex issues in a way that all constituents can grasp.

I've demonstrated critical thinking, insisted that statutes be followed, and called out wasteful spending on technology.

When I learned that child car seat laws were lax, causing serious injury or death to infants, I introduced language to save lives. It passed as part of the Miscellaneous Transportation Bill, S.309. I also introduced a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday and it, too, passed into law.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, Curiosity, Listening, Life experience, Acting boldly on behalf of constituents

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am "the real deal," as one of my supporters likes to say. I call 'em as I see them. There are no sacred cows.

I seek out my constituents in different contexts and listen deeply to their concerns. Then I bring their voices into the halls of power. The bills I draft come from people in my district. None of them cost anything to implement.

For nearly 20 years I have fought for transparency, accountability, and fairness in taxation and representation. I am a fiscal conservative in a time when everyone seems feel challenged to make ends meet. I research issues deeply, and politely call out misinformation.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To think critically, ask hard questions, listen well to constituents and return calls so they know they were heard.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Someone who raised the bar for what it means to serve the public. Someone who could talk with anyone, no matter what their political background or their frustration with government. That I had no agenda of my own. That I voted the will of my constituents. That I successfully fought to save the state money by uncovering and shutting down projects which wasted money. That I helped enact measures that would save money and save lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Richard M. Nixon resigning from office on TV. It felt momentous. Also, I had voted for him in our 3rd grade "election". During his administration, our school began serving hot lunches, and he signed laws to conserve the environment.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Babysitter for $3 per hour. I watched other people's kids for years, after growing up watching over younger siblings. I also helped with my sister's paper route. She had some three-story apartment buildings that made delivering a lot of papers at once fairly easy.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I usually read and love non-fiction, but one of the most haunting books I know is a fictional story introduced to me in high school, called "Address Unknown". Its author Kathrine Kressmann Taylor is a woman my mother had as her professor in college in the 1950s. I have read a lot of books, starting in 3rd grade, about the plight of Jews in World War II, but Taylor's story is the one that sticks with me.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

When I was young, my parents didn't have a lot of money, so I learned the value of a dollar, of hard work, of appreciating "things" that were not material. It was a struggle for me when IBM moved my husband to Vermont. I followed and later, I fell in love with this state.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Working together to solve the daunting, complex and expensive problems we face, in addition to climate change-related challenges.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Keeping Vermont affordable for all who want to live here.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I have found it helpful to have nearly two decades of local government experience as I serve in the Senate. That said, I appreciate the diversity of thought and opinion in our legislature, resulting from people having a wide variety of upbringings and livelihoods.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It's very important to be able to work with other legislators!. We should be talking to each other, not demonizing others because of their party or district location. Finding something in common with every other legislator helps broker consensus instead of division and better bills result.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Sally Fox is a former State Senator, who cared deeply about people. She bicycled up to my door 26 years ago. I had recently moved to Vermont and was feeling stuck at home with a small child. She introduced herself and I was smitten. I knew that I had moved to a good place, if a politician cared enough to reach out in that way to me. I knock on doors in her memory now every year, election or no election!

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I was wedded to local government until this new district was drawn two years ago. Hard to predict another big move, when I'm focused on learning the ropes here in the State Senate.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A statewide official was making small talk at a 2023 holiday party, “So, what bills are you working on?”

I replied, “Well, you know, dead babies don’t have a lobby. But I’m trying to change VT law to match the manufacturers’ recommendations for child care seat use. Right now, babies are allowed to face forward too soon. Everyone else in the car walks away from a head-on collision but each year babies die or break their backs because our rules don’t protect them.

My friend replied, “that happened to my daughter,” as their eyes welled with tears. “She’s okay now, but we weren’t sure at first if she’d make it after her neck broke in the accident.”

The language in my bill was incorporated into a larger, miscellaneous transportation bill within weeks, and it passed both houses this spring and the Governor signed it!

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The legislature itself could be compromised and unable to do the granting. I would leave the statute as is.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

An exception to the 3-day waiting period for firearm purchases, so that cops or others who already own a gun can purchase another without the wait. A gun shop owner proposed this change and it makes sense to me.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I do not solicit, award, nor accept personal endorsements.

I also do not accept campaign contributions from special interests.

Endorsements for candidates without a primary (which I am) have yet to be decided by most of the organizations who endorsed me in 2022. The exception: Let's Grow Kids Action Network has endorsed me for 2024 because I voted for Act 76 to address the state’s child care crisis last year.

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, Information Technology, Judiciary

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Transparency and accountability are frequently sacrificed by those in power, often for expediency's sake. Without them, democracy is compromised in a big way.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

I think it would be good for people to have another way to pass legislation. The downside is that most bills sound okay on their face; its only after digging into the issue that committee members find the flaws in some arguments. Also, without the advice of legislative counsel, a bill that breaks existing law might be proposed.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Irene Wrenner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Irene Wrenner campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District	Lost general	$21,870	$17,305
2022	Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District	Won general	$19,157	$18,882
Grand total			$41,027	$36,186
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Vermont

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Vermont scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2024

In 2024, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 3 to May 10.

• National Federation of Independent Business

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.

• Vermont Conservation Voters

Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues.

• Vermont Public Interest Research Group: Senate and House

Legislators are scored by VPIRG on bills related to public interest issues.

2023

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show].
In 2023, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 4 to May 12. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Vermont Conservation Voters Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues.

2022

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show].
In 2022, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 4 to May 12. Vermont Conservation Voters Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues. Vermont Public Interest Research Group: Senate and House Legislators are scored by VPIRG on bills related to public interest issues.

2021

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show].

In 2021, the Vermont State Legislature was in session from January 6 to May 21. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues. Vermont Conservation Voters Legislators are scored based on their voting records on environmental issues. Vermont Public Interest Research Group: Senate and House Legislators are scored by VPIRG on bills related to public interest issues.

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Candidate

Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by -	Vermont State Senate Chittenden North District 2023-2025	Succeeded by -

[show]

Current members of the Vermont State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Senators

Addison District

Ruth Hardy (D)

Steven Heffernan (R)

Bennington District

Seth Bongartz (D)

Robert Plunkett (D)

Caledonia District

Scott Beck (R)

Chittenden Central District

Philip Baruth (D)

Martine Gulick (D)

Tanya Vyhovsky (V)

Chittenden North District

Chris Mattos (R)

Chittenden Southeast District

Thomas Chittenden (D)

Virginia Lyons (D)

Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D)

Essex District

Russ Ingalls (R)

Franklin District

Randy Brock (R)

Robert Norris (R)

Grand Isle District

Patrick Brennan (R)

Lamoille District

Richard Westman (R)

Orange District

Larry Hart (R)

Orleans District

Samuel Douglass (R)

Rutland District

Brian Collamore (R)

David Weeks (R)

Terry Williams (R)

Washington District

Ann Cummings (D)

Andrew Perchlik (D)

Anne Watson (D)

Windham District

Wendy Harrison (D)

Nader Hashim (D)

Windsor District

Alison Clarkson (D)

Joe Major (D)

Rebecca White (D)

Democratic Party (16)

Republican Party (13)

Vermont Progressive Party (1)