Harvey wins vice-chair post
By Guy Page
In a narrow victory, incumbent Paul Dame turned back challenger Russ Ingalls for the state chair position of the Vermont Republican Party by a vote of 50 to 47 Saturday afternoon at the biennial State Convention of the Vermont Republican Party.
Rep. Zachary Harvey (R-Castleton) won a three-way race against William Kolb and Greg Thayer with a majority vote: 52-23-22.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be elected as the Vice Chairman of the Vermont GOP. The work begins now and I look forward to helping recruit candidates, raise funds, and do the work necessary to position us for success in 2026. I am humbled, and grateful, by the faith placed in me by my fellow delegates and look forward to expanding our movement,” Harvey told VDC after the election.
This will be Dame’s third term. He was first elected in 2021. Other winners – Secretary: Rachel Stringer, Treasurer Lynn Lafleur, Assistant Treasurer Tom Koch, and At-Large Delegates to the State Executive Committee Wendy Wilton and Mike Tagliavia.
Before the vote, supporters of Ingalls were fairly confident that their ground game had picked up enough supporters. However following a strong speech to the voting delegates, Dame narrowly reclaimed the position to lead the party for the next two years.
“Well deserved,” observer and former U.S. Senate candidate Gerald Malloy of Perkinsville said after the vote.
“I think Russ would have been a good chair, but Paul earned this one, particularly with the performance last year.”
Dylan Magwire of Orange County, who voted for Dame, said the vote “shows it’s still pretty split and there is still work to do. I wasn’t surprised by the winner. I was more surprised about how close it was.”
“We got a energized group of people in there,” Scott Milne, former candidate for governor, said. “We just saw, what was it, 50 to 47 vote for chair, so there’s people with opinions but I think everybody’s going to come together and we’re all going to pull on the same oar in the same direction. It’s going to give us some momentum going into a 2026.”
in other GOP news, Lt. Gov. John Rodgers said he plans to seek re-election in 2026.
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Categories: politics
Let the powers to be deal with the loss of the SNAP program. The shi. is about to hit the fan, so stay out of the way. Comment from Richard Day.
Regarding the “success “ of 2024:
As pharma knows, 2 is 100% greater than 1.
Sad to see that rotten argument prevail.
Condolences, VTGOP.
In 2024 – the GOP in Vermont picked up 17 seats in the House and six senate seats – the biggest gains by any party in at least the last three decades.
Oookaaay. I agree that the close margin should relay a big message. I need to see better organization and team work before I rejoin.
Congratulations to Mr. Dame !
If this actually made a difference in this liberal state, then I might even care.
Exactly !!
It does make a difference. Any little thing that people can do to support their town, county, state GOP can be huge. Just attending a gathering to celebrate our Veterans or giving $10 to a candidate or saying “thank you ” to our representatives in the State House, like Russ Ingalls, who are working on reducing our taxes. It all makes a difference and the people, like Paul Dame, are doing a great job and they are working on doing a better job!
If they are doing such a great job, why should they have to do better? Maybe I missed something, but I don’t think so.
Uniparty 1 Vermont Republic 0
A lot of credit was given to Paul Dame for his bringing forth candidates that won in the last election. Whether or not it would or would not have happened without him could be debated. One thing that is not questionable is the fact that the Vermont GOP is in serious financial trouble or appears to be. Money does matter in elections.
Third term, eh? Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results?
Is 50-47 a vote of confidence or an agreement made at the lodge supper held prior? Now that the ceremonious ritual is out of the way, down to business of show business. Which lodge brothers, in-laws or outlaws are ready to show up and show out? Will the next campaign season be funded with stablecoins? Is the digital ID required to verify documents and signatures filed with SOS? Agenda 2030 is a done deal – just waiting on that final shoe to drop upon our heads.
I WILL NOT COMPLY…
Now, if the section eight housing payments stop from the federal government, which one of these great leaders will solve that problem????? Looks like there is still a hold on the SNAP payments. Comment from Richard Day.
So, this is very interesting.
Who was not present at the most important leadership decision in the VTGOP?
Gov Scott
The vote was done in secret.
Why? So you can’t see who was voting for what and who flipped.
It was a slim margin.
Wonder who was doing all the phone calls behind the scenes?
huh….
Who has actually been building the party over the past decades?
Nobody. Yet we know have the same players.
Why would the Gov, not be at this event? Why would he NOT pull everyone together? Why would he not take the leading charge of his own party and his own people inside? Why, why, why??????
Things are not as they might appear to be at first blush.
yes – why wasn’t Gov Scott there?
Looks like the woodpeckers on this website are still pecking inside that empty steel drum while the SNAP drama and also the possible cutbacks on the section eight vouchers payments could lead to more hardships for the seniors persons in this state. Bur never fear, the taxpayers in this state will have the pleasure of funding this increasing problem. Comment from Richard Day.
There is no business like show business. The Apricot Messiah is looking to offer 50 year mortgages – a clear signal things are going to get so much better. Perhaps financing a vehicle for 30 years is next? 40 year bond notes in Japan. Even children yet to be born are saddled with a debt from 30 years ago. It’s all good say the gaslighters holding lit matches over the gas can.
50 year mortgages, that is insane, utterly insane, agreed.
The vtgop is more divided than ever, as witnessed by the vote. The Holy Spirit works with unity. God asks us to submit. While others are chanting, resisit, resist,resist, Jesus wants us to submit,submit,submit. What spirit is controlling you?
For the person who has promoted civility to be absent. Who has spoken about coming together to be absent. At a meeting where everyone is to becoming together, is not present? He’s just not that into you, sadly he’s probably about himself, which makes you miserable. This is why God hates pride.
Hopefully the people will remember this election in two years, will review the results in the next coming two years and make a wiser decision next time.
Know that we are not in control, despite what we might like or think, and there is a plan, his ways are higher than our own. Just think if Trump had not had the election stolen in 2020. Just think if he had not escaped two assassination attempts. As much as he would like to think he’s in control of anything, he clearly is not.
Relax, Jesus is in complete control, he’s already won.
TGBTG
Regarding the topic migrating to talk about mortgages, there should be a better way to assist homeowners. I’m sure it gets extremely hard when both a Vermont mortgage payment is due the same month a quarterly property tax is due. It takes budgeting and planning and maybe a second or third job.
“Back in the day” the Vermont Housing Finance Agency had the best mortgage available. I think my first home in 1982, was 3% down, 5% interest. The monthly $435. payment seemed like alot back then, but we were so excited when we were approved for the loan. I only wish the same type opportunities were available today.
17 years spent in VTGOP politics, have the State Party coffers ever been flush?
No. We’ve always had to make do with less. I with Paul & team well in raising $ now that there’s Rs in power nationally.
I didn’t support Dame but it is time to rally around the flag, so all need to pull together to find and elect more candidate’s instead of nitpicking the party into smithereens.
Work with what we have and make best out of it.
The RNC will not be able to help much until it is revamped. It is in relative shambles right now.
Congratulations Mr. Dame, perhaps you can find a golden angel that will fund the cost of engaging a professional fundraiser, to fill the states GOP’s coffers, and then spend your time finding good candidates, and target the most troublesome progressives to take out, and you can start Young Republicans Groups at colleges across the state, and utilize them for opposition research, and task them to help set up town committees, in weak areas…use them or lose them.
Set a goal to unseat at least one of the big three leftist dems VT sent to DC…be a good start ,just a few ideas from an old hand.
Shoot for the stars.
Good luck!
Just remember you have a choice about where you put your money! If you want to donate interview the candidate then decide. Do NOT give your money to an organization so obviously divided. Give to the candidate that most closely mirrors your beliefs. Then hold them accountable.
Okay. Now I have a few questions for all you people who sat on the sidelines, did nothing, and now have spent your weekend sniping at Paul Dame and his supporters: What are YOU going to contribute to the Republican effort in 2026? How will YOU participate? Will YOU even vote, or will you sit on your butts next November, mumbling about RINOs, while our socialist friends execute a complete takeover of what was once a beautiful state?
If a restaurant cooks something nobody likes, is it the customers fault they are not successful?
Nice try, that Dog don’t hunt.
He didn’t even bother to come to the meeting for God’s sake. 50% of the party should be able to fund and run a great campaign.
If he’s got 80% support of Vermonters, you can’t blame 20% for the failure. Your reasoning is why the VTGOP is bankrupt, rudderless and ineffective, but of course blame me for not sending in money.
Money is not the problem. Leadership is the problem.
May sound silly, but it sure is nice to see some well dressed men in shirts and ties at appropriate occasions!
How many well dressed men bought their clothes with taxpayer money or with donations from their political parties?????? Inquiring minds would like to know.