Ali Dieng

Ali Dieng
Member-elect of the Vermont House of Representatives
from the Chittenden-18 district
Assuming office
January 2027
SucceedingRobert Hooper
Personal details
PartyDemocratic

Ali Dieng is an American politician. He is the Democratic member-elect of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-18 district. He is of Senegalese origin.

Biography

Dieng was born in 1981/1982 in Mauritania and grew up in Senegal. Returning to Mauritania, Dieng taught at an elementary school, and was involved in grassroots organizing.

In 2007, Dieng emigrated to the United States to join his wife, who was studying the School for International Training.

Burlington City Council

In 2017, Dieng ran as an independent candidate for the New North End seat in Burlington City Council in a special election, which had been triggered by the resignation of Tom Ayres. Despite initially being an independent candidate, he became the Democratic and Progressive nominee for the seat. During canvassing, he met senator Bernie Sanders, whom he later recalled was "almost like a prophet sent by God to make the world a better place". Endorsed by Sanders and Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger, he won the seat, receiving 610 votes. At the time, he was the city's only non-White council member.

In November 2019, Dieng opposed a resolution for non-citizen voting, calling voting rights "the only aspect that will push them to become citizen[s]". In 2022, Dieng expressed interest in the council president position, on the grounds there should be a non-Democrat check on mayor Miro Weinberger, but did not formally seek it, admitting he did not have the necessary support. He also introduced a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza War (as well as supporting the victims of the 2023 Vermont shooting of Palestinian students), stating that support for the ceasefire was "because Muslims and Jews in this community are living in fear"; it failed on a 6-6 tie.

Dieng did not run for re-election in 2024. In 2026, he applied for consideration for appointment to Robert Hooper's vacated House seat, but was passed over by Governor Phil Scott.

Political campaigns

Dieng endorsed Bernie Sanders' campaign during the 2020 presidential election. During the primary, he showed New Yorker journalist Charles Bethea the trending switch of Pete Buttigieg supporters to Sanders, whom he saw as "our guy to beat Trump".

On November 10, 2020, Dieng announced that he was interested in running in the 2021 mayoral election, and announced his campaign on December 7. His campaign promises included promoting tiny homes as a solution to homelessness, as well as a new Public Health Emergency Manager position.

Vermont House of Representatives

Dieng ran in the 2026 Vermont House of Representatives election for the Chittenden-18 district. He won the general election in November, defeating independent candidate Dave Hartnett.

Personal life

Dieng lives in Burlington. In 2005, Dieng married Angela Smith-Dieng, a Peace Corps officer from northern New York she met.

Dieng is a keen soccer player, playing in the Elite 8 Soccer League.

References

  1. ↑ "Un Sénégalais bientôt député aux États-Unis ? Ali Dieng crée la sensation au Vermont". Senego.com : Actualité au Sénégal, toute l'actualité sénégalaise (in French). November 4, 2026. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 True, Morgan (April 21, 2017). "Dieng seeks to be second 'New American' on Burlington City Council". vtdigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Cumming, Lila (March 2, 2021). "Meet the candidates: Independent Ali Dieng". Vermont Cynic. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Picard, Ken (September 11, 2019). "Field Guide: Ali Dieng". Seven Days. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  5. 1 2 True, Morgan (June 28, 2017). "Dieng wins highly contested Burlington City Council seat". VTDigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Bethea, Charles (March 4, 2020). "Bernie Sanders's Unsettling, Unfinished Super Tuesday". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved November 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ Bradley, Pat (June 29, 2017). "Dieng First New American from Africa To Serve On Burlington Council". WAMC. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ Ketschke, Ross (November 5, 2019). "Immigrant lawmaker explains stance against noncitizen voting". WPTZ. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ Lyons, Jack (March 29, 2022). "Ward 6 Councilor Karen Paul poised to lead Burlington City Council". vtdigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ Crowley, Patrick (December 12, 2023). "Burlington City Council rejects Israel-Hamas War cease-fire resolution". VTDigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ Crowley, Patrick (February 16, 2024). "March elections to dramatically reshape Burlington City Council". VTDigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ McCallum, Kevin (April 17, 2026). "Democrats Miffed Over Scott's Appointments to Vacant Seats". Seven Days. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  13. ↑ Norton, Kit (March 4, 2020). "Thousands rally around Sanders at homecoming, as results favor Biden". VTDigger. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Pine, Tracy to Seek Progressive Nomination for Burlington Mayor". Seven Days. November 10, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ↑ "Dieng Outlines Campaign Promises in Announcing Burlington Mayoral Bid". Seven Days. December 7, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "Burlington Progressives — lots of them — eye mayor's office after council wins". Sun-Sentinel. March 6, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ McCallum, Kevin (November 4, 2026). "Democrats Regain Supermajority in Vermont Legislature". Seven Days Vermont.