For Immediate Release
August 31st, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

VTGOP Appoints Candidate for State’s Attorney as Referendum on Sarah George

The Vermont Republican Party announced today that Jace Laquerre has accepted the Party’s nomination for Chittenden County State’s Attorney for the 2026 general election.

Laquerre is entering the race as a placeholder candidate to give Chittenden County voters a choice for State’s Attorney. This comes with a specific commitment: if elected, Laquerre will resign from the position, creating a vacancy that Governor Phil Scott would fill.

“I am running because I believe the voters of Chittenden County deserve a choice in this election,” said Laquerre. “I am willing to put my name on the ballot and allow voters to decide whether they want a change in leadership. If elected, I will resign from the office after taking the necessary steps to ensure an orderly transition. I trust Governor Scott to appoint someone who will lead the office effectively and restore a focus on public safety and accountability.”

Giving Voters a Choice

The Republican Party said the campaign is intended to provide voters with an alternative to the incumbent and ensure that the State’s Attorney’s race offers a meaningful choice.

George has never been challenged in a general election, and recently only narrowly won a democratic primary with low voter turnout, where she lost in the city of Burlington.

Laquerre said the decision to resign would not be tied to any particular individual being appointed to the position.

“I am not asking voters to elect a particular successor,” said Laquerre. “The appointment process following a vacancy is established by law. My commitment is simply to allow voters to decide whether they want a change.”

If Laquerre is elected and subsequently resigns, Vermont law provides that the resulting vacancy may be filled by appointment by the Governor for the remainder of the term.

This is not without precedent. Governor Scott recently appointed Bram Kranichfeld in Franklin County after a vacancy. In 2022, Jennifer Barrett won the election in Orleans County but immediately resigned, and Governor Scott also made an appointment for the full four-year term.

Sarah George’s Failures

“I do not believe we can afford four more years of Sarah George’s overly lenient, catch-and-release prosecutorial policies,” said Laquerre. “I believe, as do many others, that these policies have made our communities less safe, and the recent issues in Burlington are evidence of that. As a new father, it is important to me that we elect a State’s Attorney who takes public safety seriously, holds repeat offenders accountable, and works closely with law enforcement and our communities to keep people safe.”

George has repeatedly exercised prosecutorial discretion in ways that have frustrated law enforcement and community members, including her decision this year not to prosecute several people arrested during a confrontation with law enforcement.

Her approach to bail has similarly prioritized reducing incarceration, with her office generally declining to request cash bail—even as communities across Chittenden County have continued to grapple with repeat offending and public disorder.

A Different Kind of Campaign

Laquerre and the VTGOP acknowledged that the approach is unusual but said the objective is straightforward: to allow voters in the general election - not just the Democratic primary - to express their preference regarding the direction of the State’s Attorney’s Office.

For Immediate Release
August 26th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

CORRECTION/UPDATE: VTGOP Fills Slate of Statewide Offices

(CORRECTION: Yesterday’s press release incorrectly identified one of Treasurer candidate Lynn LaFleur’s qualifications. A corrected and updated profile is given for Lynn below, along with the same information for the other candidates)

Last week H. Brooke Paige withdrew from several statewide offices to make room on the ballot for the Vermont Republican Party to appoint three new names to the November ballot.

State Treasurer candidate:

Lynn LaFleur currently serves as controller of a small business in Lamoille County. She has owned her own accounting firm since 2010, fulfilling small businesses accounting needs and tax preparation for individuals and businesses. She has a history of finding additional sources of revenue and lowering expenses for her clients. Lynn will take this experience to the Treasurer’s office at the state level and will work with fresh eyes on Vermont’s pension and healthcare under funding problem which has resulted in increased liabilities for Vermont taxpayers over the last two decades. Lynn will provide better transparency over grants funded by the treasurers office. “Taxpayers should know where their money is going and how it is being invested. They should be informed of the financial legislative decisions that impact their everyday lives.”

State Auditor candidate:

Ivar Kronick lives in Poultney and has a broad range of business experience including running his own company for nearly 15 years. Kronick now works in the accounting department of a large international manufacturer based in Vermont and has experience as the point person for the company’s financial audits and the only auditor candidate with this kind of experience.

Attorney General candidate:

Ed Kemon has extensive experience in the private sector with many business start ups. He supervised legal teams in negotiations with a Canadian company to provide encryption technology for military use. After his tenure as adjunct faculty at George Mason University, he served as an elections supervisor in Fairfaix County, VA where he adjudicated disputes between lawyers of both parties to ensure that newly sworn-in citizens who provided proper documentation were not prevented from casting their first ballot.

Secretary of State candidate:

H. Brooke Paige will continue as the Republican candidate for Secretary of State and fight for important reforms related to ballot access and ensuring that Vermont’s election are run in accordance with our constitution and best practices.

For Immediate Release
August 25th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

VTGOP Fills Slate of Statewide Offices

Last week H. Brooke Paige withdrew from several statewide offices to make room on the ballot for the Vermont Republican Party to appoint three new names to the November ballot.

State Treasurer candidate:

Lynn LaFleur currently serves as controller of a small business in Lamoille County. She has owned her own accounting firm since 2010, fulfilling small businesses accounting needs and tax preparation for individuals and businesses. She has a history of finding additional sources of revenue and lowering expenses for her clients. Lynn will take this experience to the Treasurer’s office at the state level and will work with fresh eyes on Vermont’s pension and healthcare under funding problem which has resulted in increased liabilities for Vermont taxpayers over the last two decades. Lynn will provide better transparency over grants funded by the treasurers office. “Taxpayers should know where their money is going and how it is being invested. They should be informed of the financial legislative decisions that impact their everyday lives.”

State Auditor candidate:

Ivar Kronick lives in Poultney and has a broad range of business experience including running his own company for nearly 15 years. Kronick now works in the accounting department of a large international manufacturer based in Vermont and has experience as the point person for the company’s financial audits and the only auditor candidate with this kind of experience.

Attorney General candidate:

Ed Kemon has extensive experience in the private sector with many business start ups. He supervised legal teams in negotiations with a Canadian company to provide encryption technology for military use. After his tenure as adjunct faculty at George Mason University, he served as an elections supervisor in Fairfaix County, VA where he adjudicated disputes between lawyers of both parties to ensure that newly sworn-in citizens who provided proper documentation were not prevented from casting their first ballot.

Secretary of State candidate:

H. Brooke Paige will continue as the Republican candidate for Secretary of State and fight for important reforms related to ballot access and ensuring that Vermont’s election are run in accordance with our constitution and best practices.

For Immediate Release
August 4th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

VTGOP Chairman issued the following statement today:

This morning I became aware of a video reaction to a fundraising mail piece that someone had received which was attributed to the Vermont Republican Party. Based on the initial characterizations made, I assumed that it was likely something that had come from the national party, because I would not have approved the kind of message for the Vermont Republican Party. This voter was upset about the national focus and avoidance of Vermont issues - and I would have been too. Over my 5 years as chairman I have worked very hard to keep the Vermont Republican Party brand focused on Vermont.

I was able to determine that an unapproved draft of a different fundraising letter went out without my consent, and the proof that had been approved never made it to our prospective donors.

I have included a copy of the draft that had been approved. As you can read, our focus is on having a positive and upbeat tone, and there are no accusations that Democrats are being anti-patriotic. Perhaps some Democrats have a sensitive conscience on that issue, but I know that patriotism shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

For any patriotic Vermonter who did not get the fundraising letter, but would like to contribute you can go to our website at www.vtgop.org and make a donation to show your support for Vermont Republicans who are working to make this state more affordable. Democrats are making it clear the only issue they want to talk about is President Trump, but Vermont Republicans remained laser focused on the issues within our state that we can address. To get more details on the depth of which Republican are thinking about the issues facing our state, I would invite everyone to go to www.vermontpromise.com which highlights 7 specific policy proposals Republicans will pass if given a Senate majority.

1) Provide Tax Relief for Vermonters

2) Affordable Healthcare and Insurance

3) Make Housing More Affordable

4) Revitalize Rural Vermont

5) Fully Fund Roads and Bridges

6) Eliminate Costly Energy Mandates and Reduce Carbon Emissions

7) Make Communities Safe and Increase Accountability

Video Message Shared on Social Media:

For Immediate Release
June 10th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

Yesterday Seven Days reported on a story involving U.S. House Candidate Mark Coester and what appears to be an AI-generated campaign video. VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame had the following response:

“Mark Coester’s comments to the press were coarse and vulgar, and he should issue an immediate apology to the voters he claims he wants to represent. Vermonters expect their candidates to act professionally and with self-control. One of Rep. Becca Balint’s greatest weaknesses is her own unprofessional language. Balint was captured on video almost one year ago using the same vulgarity attributed to Coester when Balint was speaking publicly about immigrants. For Vermonters who want a return to the civility our state is known for, both Balint and Coester have disqualified themselves from representing our state at the federal level. While Washington, DC might be out of control, Vermonters need someone to represent us that can demonstrate basic self-control in their public speaking.”

For Immediate Release
June 8th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

Tomorrow VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame will join the weekly rotation of hosts on WDEV’s “Vermont Viewpoint” program from 9am to 11am. The station has already given a platform to Vermont Democrat Chair Lachlan Francis for several weeks, and Dame is being added to the weekly rotation for the foreseeable future.

“This is a great opportunity for Vermonters to listen in to the same station and hear different perspectives, right from the top two party leaders directly,” Dame says. “There are a lot of misconceptions out there about Vermont’s Republican Party. Having this weekly show will give me and my guests an opportunity to speak directly to listeners in a longer format that allows us to move beyond cheap soundbites or social media slander, and actually show the depth of thought that Vermont Republicans have on many of the challenges facing our state.”

Dame’s first guest on Tuesday, June 9th will be Senate Republican Leader Scott Beck during the 9 o’clock hour, as they discuss a wrap-up of the legislative session, and the influence Republicans had on the final outcome, despite being in the minority.

Over the weekend, the VTGOP made the following facebook post announcing the new weekly radio opportunity:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2440918349665345

“I’m excited to work out a format that people are interested in and can get them move involved,” Dame concluded. “I remember what it was like when I first got involved in Vermont politics over a decade ago, and I want to bring that sense of novelty to the show that makes it approachable for newly interested people. I want to share some things I’ve learned along the way - and things I am still learning - but I also want this program to be an opportunity for me and other Republicans to get feedback from the general audience. I want this show to be as much an opportunity for us to listen to broader perspectives as it is for us to share our own.”

For Immediate Release
April 23rd, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

Yesterday Chairman Dame testified in the House Government Operations Committee on bill S.298 which contained provisions to suspend the enforcement of financial disclosures. Here is his statement in response to yesterday’s testimony:

“When I first saw that there was a proposal to suspend the financial disclosure provision of state law for just this election, my first question was whether Aly Richards had some lobbying income she was tying to avoid reporting, or Molly Gray had some USAID income that might be politically damaging. But based on yesterday’s testimony it seems like there is a more severe dysfunction at work.

There seems to be a turf battle between the Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State’s office about the financial disclosure document that candidates are required to complete upon filing. This is an issue that should have been settled months ago, and yet here we are with some candidates ready to file and Monday, and there is no publicly available document for them to even review, let alone complete and submit.

Statute seems pretty clear that the Ethics Commission is responsible for creating the form and making it available to candidates. Unless something changes in the next few days, the State Ethics Commission, ironically, will be in violation of state law. If the Ethics Commission can not follow a simple state statute with the staff they have, then they should fire their executive director and hire someone who can meet simple deadlines like this. The Secretary of State’s office seems willing to help direct candidates to the financial disclosure form, but the Ethics Commission has not produced a publicly consumable version of it yet.

While both the Ethics Commission and the Secretary of State’s office both indicate that they do not have the staff or resources to answer questions about the financial form, there is no excuse for not making the form available before candidates start filing on Monday. Yesterday’s testimony from the Ethics Commission indicated they see their primary purpose as education to prevent ethics violations. It seems like answering questions before candidates even complete the form is the most “upstream” kind of education they could provide, and they either need to take responsibility for it - or make the form so simple and clear that the average person will be able to understand it.

Finally it is alarming and irresponsible for the Ethics Commission to have testified publicly yesterday that they do not have staff to enforce this provision of law. If there is not going to be enforcement, it does beg the question what is the purpose of the law, and why should anyone follow it. If the Ethics Commission isn’t going to provide upfront guidance about the form, and they are not going to enforce it, why are they demanding that every-day Vermonters who want to serve in the legislature make public details of their private financial positions?”

House Government Operations will continue taking testimony on this bill Thursday morning.

For Immediate Release
April 9th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

Earlier this week lobbyist and activist Aly Richards announced her run for Governor. VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame had the following response:

“With Aly Richards entering the race for Governor, Democrats have found the perfect figure head for their party to demonstrate that Democrats want to expand government programs that benefit the few while taxing the many. The work Richards did to add a first-ever payroll tax during the dreaded 2023-2024 session helps to re-attach to Democrats all the problems that a zealous supermajority have already created and foreshadow how expensive a Democrat trifecta could be to Vermont taxpayers. While Vermonters are feeling the pain and regret of veto overrides of Act 181, and the Clean Heat Standard, Richard’s campaign reminds every tax payer that they are taking home less in their paycheck because of the Democrat supermajority, and are reminded of what else may be in store if Democrats regain control.

Richards said in her announcement that many Vermonters find the state unaffordable, but she advocated for the kind of broad-based tax increase that her former boss Gov. Shumlin proudly avoided during his administration. Worse yet, Richard fought to tax every working Vermont in order to provide a limited benefit for a shrinking number of Vermonters for a limited time. Many Vermonters will now be paying payroll taxes for the rest of their life for a benefit they will never get to take advantage of.

Governor Scott and Vermont Republicans had provided a plan to put $50 Million towards child care without a new payroll tax, by using organic economic growth which would have made it one of the most generous offerings in the country. But Democrats like Aly burdened Vermonters with new taxes instead. And once a new tax is created, it’s only a matter of time before Democrats will try to raise it. This legislation did nothing to reduce the cost of care - it just created more government subsidies to prevent the cost from ever coming down.

The Richards campaign will demonstrate to voters that Vermont Democrats plan to continue to talk about affordability, but govern in a way that raises taxes on working Vermonter making it harder for them to afford staying here.”

For Immediate Release
March 26th, 2026
Contact: Paul@vtgop.org

On Wednesday the Vermont House passed a new yield bill in a vote of 78-61. VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame had the following response.

“It’s clear that the Democrats in the majority did not get the message voters tried to send in the last election. Governor Scott put forward a reasonable plan to provide immediate property tax relief to Vermonters and Democrats once again rejected that plan.

The fact that that the yield bill passed with only 78 votes indicates it is the most unpopular yield bill in a decade. It was just three votes over the bare minimum of a majority in the House. Last year when Democrats followed Governor Scott’s lead to reduce rates, there was overwhelming support from Republicans.

While on the floor Democrats reiterated that they are required to pass a yield bill - they are not required to pass THIS yield bill. The current version forces Vermonters to pay higher property taxes this year than they did last year. Today House Democrats should consider sending the yield bill back to committee for further work so they can give taxpayers the relief that Governor Scott proposed in his budget. And taxpayers should call the State House and demand that their representatives vote NO on third reading, so we can pass a better bill.

House Democrats have shown that they refuse to listen to reason, Republicans, most taxpayers or America’s Most Popular Governor, and will likely continue to maintain the status quo. But Republicans are optimistic that this narrow passage sends a strong message to the Senate that there is support for greater tax relief if the other chamber is willing to provide it.”

Earlier this week, Morning Consult released its quarterly approval ratings of the Governors of all 50 States. And for the 14th consecutive time, Vermont’s own Governor Phil Scott was named the most popular Governor in the country.

https://pro.morningconsult.com/trackers/governor-approval-ratings

The poll shows Governor Scott enjoys an incredible 74% approval rating, while being the only Governor in the country with less than 20% disapproving of his work. Gov. Scott has the greatest upside, the lowest downside and the biggest margin of any of his peers.

“Vermonters know and trust Governor Scott because he thinks for himself and does what he believes is in the best interest for Vermont,” said VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame. “Governor Scott has the most authentic mandate in the country, and any Democrat thinking about challenging has to know they are in danger of swimming against the tide. The people trust Phil Scott.”

Lately Democrats have been trying to unsuccessfully tie Governor Scott to the Trump administration with baseless DC-style tactics that represent a break from Vermont traditions. But Governor Scott has weathered the storm, and his support is just as strong if not stronger than ever.

“Lately Democrats have demonstrated their plan for 2026 is to malign Governor Scott and blame him for the problems their legislative majorities have caused,” continued Chairman Dame. “This poll proves that if they continue with that approach they are bigger fools than we thought. Earlier this week many Senate Democrats took Governor Scott’s moderate nominations for the Supreme Court and went out of their way to apply unyielding and bitter partisan lens to their work, instead of demonstrating the level-headed approach Governor Scott himself takes, which has earned him his popularity.”

“This is great news for Republicans," Chairman Dame said. “The Governor’s popularity gives our legislators the political capital needed to achieve some of our legislative objectives around affordability, education reform, public safety - all of which align with the Governor’s efforts. If Democrats balk, stall or obstruct they may need to pay the price again in November’s elections.”

Since then bill sponsor Sen. Mullin has called the Vermont Senator the “Grinch” for opposing this bill days before Christmas.

Here is a clip from CNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/20/politics/video/mikaela-naylon-sanders-vote-vrtc

VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame added the following comments:

“This is just another example of Sen. Sanders being Warped by Washington. He used to be known for fighting for the underdog, the little guy. But after nearly twenty years in DC he has become so out of touch that he is preventing kids from getting access to potentially life-saving cancer treatment – just days before Christmas – because he wants to use it as “leverage” for his own agenda.

Just like the Grinch, Senator Sanders is upset that other people are getting what they want, while he can’t get what he wants – and he is doing whatever he can to put his interests ahead of pediatric cancer patients. It’s a sad departure from the kind of representation Vermonters want to see.

Americans want congress to pass single-issue bills with broad bipartisan support that everyone can agree on. Senator Sanders is obstructing a rare care where we have that. He used to fight against dysfunction, and this year he has been among the chief causes of unnecessary gridlock.

So today the Vermont Republican Party is starting an online petition to ask Bernie Sanders to end his opposition to this act, let kids with cancer get access to life saving treatment BEFORE Christmas – and before it’s too late.”

The petition can be found here:
https://secure.winred.com/vermontgop/sanderspetitionforcancerkids

November 20th, 2025

Democrats Spin Further Out of Touch, VTGOP Chair Says

Last night, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter Welch, and Rep. Becca Balint held an emergency telephone town hall following the end of the Schumer Shutdown in Congress. VTGOP Chair Paul Dame offered the following response:

“After listening to the call, it was clear that our Democrat-only delegation is increasingly out of touch with the everyday realities facing Vermonters. Once paychecks resumed for federal workers and families received their SNAP benefits, they seemed to realize their shutdown strategy had backfired—and last night’s call looked like an attempt to change the subject.”

Chair Dame noted that the rhetoric on the call was “overheated and unhelpful,” especially as Sen. Sanders warned that healthcare premiums could “double, triple or even quadruple.”

“Vermonters don’t need fearmongering — they need clear, straightforward information,” Dame said. “Insurance companies aren’t suddenly tripling their rates. The real issue is that the Affordable Care Act never delivered on its promise to control costs. Instead it relied on temporary subsidies—approved by Democrats—that are now expiring as planned. That’s a problem of their own making.”

Dame also expressed concern that all three members of the delegation used the call to again push for universal government-run healthcare.

“Vermont already tried that,” he said. “Democrats in Montpelier—working with a progressive governor they admired—determined that single payer was too expensive and simply didn’t work. It’s surprising to see our federal delegation ignore that clear lesson.”

On Social Security, Dame pointed out that both Rep. Balint and Sen. Welch said the program’s challenges were “solvable” and depended on “choices being made,” but neither addressed why Democrats chose not to act when they controlled the House, Senate, and White House just a few years ago.

“That was their opportunity to lead,” Dame said. “Instead, they waited until they were back in the minority to complain about the problem.”

Dame concluded that the town hall “felt more like an hour-long performance than a serious conversation about affordability.”

“Vermonters are struggling with the cost of living. They want practical solutions—not exaggerations, not finger-pointing, and not a return to ideas that already failed. If you looked at the comments coming in on Facebook before they were removed, you could see that many everyday Vermonters are frustrated with our federal representation. They are looking for leadership that listens, stays grounded, and works towards bipartisan solutions that can help all Americans – not the political posturing and grandstanding we saw last night. Some of our members used to have that kind of reputation, but it’s clear after last night they have been warped by Washington. Vermonters deserve something better.”

November 12th, 2025

Photos were provided to the VTGOP from the facebook page of Rep. Leonora Dodge(D-Essex) that indicated she attended the annual Migrant Justice party, which featured a Trump-themed pinata. VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame is calling for Rep. Dodge to apologize for promoting this on social media.

“In a time when tensions are high and threats of political violence are on the rise, it is incredibly disappointing to see a Vermont State Legislator not only participating in, but actively promoting through social media, a party where young children are encouraged to “take a whack” at an effigy of the President,” said Chairman Paul Dame. “You can’t always control what other people are doing at an event you attend, but you can control what you take pictures of and what you promote on social media when you are a sitting legislator.”

“Rep. Dodge should issue a public apology and state clearly whether she condones this kind of behavior, especially because it was modeled in front of young children.”

For Immediate Release

November 11th, 2025

On Veterans Day, the VTGOP posted on their facebook & X page a reminder that Essex Rep. Alyssa Black was one of only TWO legislators to vote AGAINST a bill that gave substantial tax relief to Vermont Veterans, along with help to retirees and some families with children.

Despite Black’s opposition, the bill passed with overwhelming tri-partisan support with 142 legislators supporting it. The only other legislator to vote “NO” was Democrat Amy Sheldon of Middlebury.

“This was an issue that was overwhelmingly supported by legislators from all parties,” said VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame. “And it was something Republicans had been working on for several years. For Rep. Black to turn her back on the veterans in her community and around the state was incredibly disappointing. We think this makes her very vulnerable because there are many honorable veterans in her community that she failed to support when she cast this vote in her own interests - instead of the interests of the people of Essex”

The post can be found here:
https://x.com/VTGOP/status/1988333248511201505

https://www.facebook.com/vtgop/posts/pfbid02v3Eknu9fDdARCFwcdy2iovpm1oAaiWsfQNo3DtvzDfHyS1EH4c9PTdESNdvKj2Qgl

After 31 days of this Democrat Schumer Shutdown, VTGOP Chair Paul Dame issued the following video statement in which he called on Vermont Senators Welch & Sanders to join their Democrat colleague Senator John Fetterman in apologizing for the shutdown:

“There is no doubt, no question that this is totally obstructionism from Democrats,” said Dame. “Republicans passed it in the House where they have a majority. In the Senate Republicans have a majority, and if Republicans had done what Democrats wanted to do, which was get rid of the filibuster, Republicans would have funded the government a month ago.

If every Democrat in the senate went home, Republicans could fund the government TODAY… Democrats have taken an extra step to stop a bill that has majority support from passing.

I’m calling on Senator Sanders and Senator Welch to apologize for all of the chaos that has been caused over the last month and concern that so many Vermonters have.”

Earlier today Axios reported (https://www.axios.com/2025/10/21/graham-platner-maine-senate-candidate-tattoo) that U.S. Senate candidate in Maine, Graham Planter’s Nazi tattoo is adding additional heat to a candidate who was already in hot water for Reddit comments he had made. Some Democrats, like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders have continued to support Graham, while others have called for him to withdraw from the race. VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame issued the following statement:

“Senator Sanders owes his followers an apology, an explanation or a retraction of his public endorsement of Graham Planter for U.S. Senate in Maine. While Mr. Planter claims that he is “not a secret Nazi” many questions remain about why Planter did not remove the Nazi tattoo that he has worn for 19 years. This new revelation in addition to Planter’s troubling comments on Reddit were characterized by fellow Democrat and EMILY’S List President Jessica Mackler as “unacceptable and disqualifying.”

Senator Sanders must address these several issues and state publicly whether he will continue to support the problematic Planter, or whether he will join other Democrats in calling for him to step out of the race.”

October 15, 2025
For Immediate Release

The Vermont Republican Party (“VTGOP”) Executive Committee stands united with Governor Phil Scott and the Republican Senate and House leadership and calls for the immediate resignation of Senator Sam Douglass. The VTGOP Executive Committee condemns the hateful, racist, and antisemitic messages revealed in a national Young Republican group chat.

Vermont Republicans believe in personal responsibility, respect for others, and the dignity of every individual. Those values are not negotiable. We will meet this moment with action to ensure that our Party always reflects the decency, fairness, and respect that Vermonters expect, and our Party was founded.

The VTGOP Executive Committee unanimously supports this statement and issues a full, complete retraction of the previously issued statement by Chairman Paul Dame.

Adopted by the Vermont Republican Party Executive Committee

October 15, 2025

VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame issued the following statement:

“Yesterday’s story in Politico which included some of the language allegedly used in a private group chat among a group of Young Republicans was shocking and grotesque to all Republicans. Although the remarks attributed to Sen. Douglass themselves were not bigoted or racist, because of his participation in the group, it has reflected poorly on himself, our party and Young Republicans everywhere.

Sen. Douglass owes it to his colleagues and his constituents to address the issue publicly. Included in that statement should be a categorical condemnation of the vile remarks made by the other members and a clarification of whether he had seen these remarks at the time they were made and why he didn’t condemn the other participants at the time.

Last week I applauded VA Delegate Carrie Coyner for confronting AG candidate Jay Jones for his awful private remarks at the time they were made, and I hold Sen. Douglass to the same standard. Republicans everywhere need to be vigilant and oppose these kinds of remarks, even when they are made in private.

I am removing Sen. Douglass from duties he has at the state party effective immediately until this matter is resolved.

If Sen. Douglass can not meet the minimum standard for informing the public about issues he is involved in, then I will also join the Governor and legislative colleagues in calling on him to resign.”

This morning all 20 living hostages held prisoner by Hamas were released unharmed to Israeli officials as President Trump flew to Israel to oversee the first stage of the Peace Deal he negotiated.

VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame made the following statement in response:

“For many Vermonters who have been concerned about this conflict, we can all thank President Trump for bringing peace to one of the most difficult places on earth. There are several phases of this peace deal that still need to happen, but we can all remain optimistic that the first phase has been completed successfully with the safe return of 20 Israeli civilians and over 250 Palestinians.

I encourage all Vermonters to join the bipartisan praise given to President Trump that came from Republican Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Democrat Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for this historic peace deal.

With a prisoner exchange completed successfully, now the important work of rebuilding war-damaged area can begin according to the 20-point plan President Trump put together and that both sides have agreed on.”

Thursday night the VTGOP recognized the following four legislators from across the state for their exceptional work:

Rep. Rob North of Ferrisburg
Rookie of the Year
This award is given to a freshmen legislator who has made significant contributions to the caucus

Rep. Pattie McCoy of Poultney
George Schiavone Legislator of the Year
This legislator is acknowledged by peers for significant legislative achievement

Rep. Chris Taylor of Milton
Don Turner “Local Leader” of the Year
This award is given to an individual at the local town, city or municipal level who has demonstrated leadership in their community.

Rep. Mike Tagliavia of Corinth
People’s Choice Award
This award goes to a current legislator who receives the most votes from Republicans across the state

From Left to Right, Rep. Mike Tagliavia, Rep. Rop North, Rep. Pattie McCoy, Rep. Chris Taylor and VTGOP Chairman Paul Dame