Small was elected to the
Vermont House of Representatives in the
2020 general election after the incumbent Diana Gonzalez retired and is the state's first openly transgender legislator, and the fifth in the nation. Small ran on both the
Democratic ticket and
Vermont Progressive Party ticket and won with 41% of the vote. Small is the education manager (and former director of the Health and Wellness program) at Pride Center of Vermont and has worked with the
Vermont Department of Health. Prior to that, Small worked in mental health at
Howard Center and Northwestern Counseling and Support Services and supported homeless and runaway youth with
Spectrum Youth and Family Services. Through a drag persona, Nikki Champagne, along with colleague Emoji Nightmare, Small has promoted local libraries and youth literacy and hosted fundraisers to help support Vermont’s non-profit organizations. Small retired from the House in 2024 in order to focus on her work at the
University of Vermont Medical Center. ==Personal life==