By Guy Page
The Vermont Republican Party is heading for a leadership showdown as Joe Gervais, an Arlington resident and party activist, announced he will challenge incumbent chair Paul Dame for the top job.
Gervais pledged he will take no salary if elected.
“For too long, top-down control has sidelined our grassroots strength, letting opportunity slip away in a state brimming with conservative values, hard work, independence, and unyielding opportunity,” Gervais said in a press release and email to party members yesterday. “As chair, I will return to our volunteer roots — I will serve without taking a salary. The party’s funds will go to party growth and candidate support.”
“As your next VTGOP Chairman, power will be the hands of county chairs, members, and everyday Republicans. We will foster participation at all levels to ensure every town has a GOP committee and every candidate has the tools to triumph.”
Dame, chair since 2021, says Gervais’ organizational record doesn’t back up his claim. He also says his record includes leading the Red Wave that made strong State House gains in 2024.
“My opponent Joe Gervais is talking about empowering the grassroots but in his own county he was able to organize only 6 of the 17 Towns in the county,” Dame said in a letter to VDC yesterday, following Gervais’ announcement.
“And according to initial reports, across the county those towns collectively lost a total of 15 members, and gained 12 new people. So under his leadership the local county organization has shrunk – not increased,” Dame said. “If he can’t improve the organization in his own county, how is he going to convince Vermont Republicans he can fulfill half of his grand promises at a statewide level which has significantly more challenges?
Dame noted that the neighboring counties of Rutland and Windham both saw net increases in the towns that have reorganized. “His own town of Arlington still has just the same three members it did during that last reorganization. He ran for the senate last cycle, why couldn’t he find a fourth person in town to join the committee?”
Gervais also said the state party leadership must take a more politically conservative approach. “Together we will work to earn back the trust of every-day hard working Vermont voters who deserve representation that reflects a unified, unapologetically conservative voice. Our state committee meetings will be positive, fun and engaging events focused on party growth, but more specifically, focused on working together to win elections at every level.”
Some attendees of recent state meetings say the events have been anything but fun, in part because of large amounts of time given to procedural questions raised by Dr. August Murray of Windsor County, with whom Gervais has allied in support of change at the state level.
Gervais hopes to build the party’s donor base. Building on the theme of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and Vermont’s important role in the nation’s founding, Gervais said he will build a network of 250 recurring donors to the VTGOP. “Republicans will again be encouraged to give time, talents, and financial support for clear conservative policies and priorities that will restore the values Vermont was founded upon,” he said. He set the goal of raising $250,000 dedicated to winning 2026 elections.
“Fueling our resurgence with robust fundraising approaches—from local drives to recurring contributions, to major donor partnerships—we’ll equip candidates with campaign kits, training, and tech. This isn’t just money; it’s momentum to flip the Senate majority, grow our House caucus, and counter Democratic stall tactics on climate and education reform,” Gervais said.
Dame pointed to his leadership that helped make possible the 2024 Red Wave that eliminated the Democrat supermajority in both the House and Senate.
“I hope Vermont Republicans will look at the results of the last election where we far surpassed Republicans in every state in terms of State Legislative pickups,” Dame said. “I have developed the best relationship between the party, the Governor and the legislative leaders that we have seen in a long time. That kind of proven teamwork and coordination is what we need to win again in 2026, and the party would take a great risk if it makes such a significant change to a solid winning team that has already produced measurable results.