Ingalls announces candidacy, Dame releases list of endorsing legislators
by Guy Page
Businessman and Essex County State Sen. Russ Ingalls announced this morning he will run for chair of the Vermont Republican Party.
Incumbent Paul Dame of St. George already faced a challenge from Arlington resident and Bennington County chair Joe Gervais, who promised a more grassroots approach to candidate development and support. Ingalls’ announcement means there will be a three-way race in what is expected to be a challenging and possibly very fruitful 2026 election for the Vermont Republican Party, which hopes to add to its 2024 gains, when it came within two seats of controlling the Senate and also overcame the House Democrat supermajority.
Upon his father’s retirement from the U.S. Navy, Ingalls’ family settled back in his hometown of Irasburg where he attended 8th grade and went on to graduate from Lake Region Union High School in 1983. Russ is a top producer in real estate and owns several Northeast Kingdom radio stations.
The election will be held at the state party meeting on November 8.
Also, William Kolb of Northfield will challenge Greg Thayer of Rutland for the vice-chair position, now held by Samantha Atwood, who will not be seeking re-election.
In other GOP news, shortly after the Ingalls announcement, Dame released a ‘first round’ list of 20 legislators he says endorse him.
“Today I am happy to announce a list of 20 incumbent legislators from across six counties in my first round of endorsements. I am proud of the work I have done to begin to bridge the gap between legislators and the party that existed before I took office, and as evidence of that I have the support of many legislators that I built relationships with over the past year.
“Being State Party Chair is a balancing act and part of doing the job well is having one foot in the legislature and one foot in the grass roots, and as someone who has been involved with the State Party for over 10 years and a former legislator who served I believe I am still be best candidates to be the person who keeps everyone moving forward in the same direction closer to a majority starting in 2026.
“Our legislators are so busy when they are in session, it takes all of their focus to push forward on the policies that Vermonters need to accomplish our affordability agenda. During my time as chair I’ve made sure to keep an ear to the ground to know what they are dealing with, and help get their message out.
“There are several legislators that I have yet to connect with, but since four of our 14 counties have already selected their delegates and four more are coming this weekend, I wanted to publish an initial list today and add to that between now and the convention.
Below are the list of legislators who have offered their public support in this first round:
Allen ‘Penny’ Demar (R-Franklin-7)
Beth Quimby (R-Caledonia-3)
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland)
Debbie Powers (R-Caledonia-1)
James Gregoire (R-Franklin-6)
Jim Harrison (R-Rutland-11)
Joe Luneau (R-Franklin-3)
Kevin Winter (R-Rutland-Windsor)
Larry Labor (R-Essex-Orleans)
Mark Higley (R-Orleans-Lamoille)
Marty Feltus (R-Caledonia-3)
Michael Boutin (R-Washington-3)
Samuel Douglass (R-Orleans)
Terry Williams (R-Rutland)
Thomas Charlton (R-Windsor-Windham)
Todd Nielsen (R-Rutland-9)
Tom Burditt (R-Rutland-2)
Topper McFaun (R-Washington-Orange)
Wayne Laroche (R-Franklin-5)
Woodman Page (R-Orleans-2)