Emerge Vermont, the state’s premier organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, saw 48 alums and trainees officially file to run by Vermont’s May 30th petition deadline. The primary election will be held on August 13th with the general election being held on November 5th.
“In 2022, 92% of Emerge Vermont alums on the primary ballot won their races. We’re excited about the potential of the 48 women running in this year’s primary to meet or exceed that amazing win rate,” said Elaine Haney, executive director of Emerge Vermont. “These women are political activists, organizers, and community leaders with backgrounds, experiences, and identities from communities across the state. Their presence on the campaign trail will continue to improve representation and show the power Democratic women have in elections. We look forward to seeing their success on the ballot this August and their continued impact all across Vermont.”
At the top of the ticket this primary season are four alums running for federal or statewide office. Congresswoman Becca Balint (Class of 2014) is running for her second term representing Vermont in the US House. Incumbents Attorney General Charity Clark and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas (both ‘22) are each running for re-election to their second terms. Former Middlebury selectboard member Esther Charlestin (‘22) is running statewide for the first time as a candidate for Governor.
This year, 36 alum incumbents are running for re-election to the Legislature. In addition, there are seven alums running for the first time or challenging incumbents. Rep. Katherine Sims (ORL-4; ‘16) is running for higher office as she pursues the open Vermont Senate seat representing Orleans County.
The Emerge Vermont alums and trainees who declared their candidacy are:
| Candidate | Office | District | Emerge Year |
| Alyssa Black* | State Representative | Chittenden-24 | 2020 |
| Angela Arsenault* | State Representative | Chittenden-2 | 2022 |
| Anna Tadio | State Representative | Rutland-4 | 2022 |
| Anne Watson* | State Senator | Washington County | 2017 |
| Becca Balint* | U.S. Representative | 2014 | |
| Becca White* | State Senator | Windham | 2016 |
| Carol Ode* | State Representative | Chittenden-18 | 2015 |
| Charity Clark* | Attorney General | 2022 | |
| Chea Waters Evans* | State Representative | Chittenden-5 | 2022 |
| Daisy Berbeco* | State Representative | Chittenden-21 | 2022 |
| Dara Torre | State Representative | Washington-2 | 2022 |
| Edye Graning* | State Representative | Chittenden-3 | 2022 |
| Ela Chapin* | State Representative | Washington-5 | 2022 |
| Emilie Kornheiser* | State Representative | Windham-7 | 2018 |
| Emilie Krasnow* | State Representative | Chittenden-9 | 2022 |
| Esther Charlestin | Governor | 2022 | |
| Gayle Pezzo | State Representative | Chittenden-20 | 2024 |
| Jana Brown* | State Representative | Chittenden-1 | 2018 |
| Jill Krowinski* | State Representative | Chittenden-16 | Former ED |
| Josie Leavitt* | State Representative | Grand Isle-Chittenden | 2024 |
| Julia Andrews* | State Representative | Chittenden-25 | 2022 |
| Julie Hulburd | State Senator | Grand Isle-Chittenden | 2023 |
| Karen Dolan* | State Representative | Chittenden-22 | 2020 |
| Kate Lalley* | State Representative | Chittenden-6 | 2020 |
| Kate McCann* | State Representative | Washington-4 | 2022 |
| Katherine Sims* | State Senator | Orleans | 2016 |
| Kathleen James* | State Representative | Bennington-4 | 2018 |
| Kate Nugent* | State Representative | Chittenden-10 | 2021 |
| Kesha Ram Hinsdale* | State Senator | Chittenden-SE | Co-founder |
| Leanne Harple | State Representative | Orleans-4 | 2024 |
| Leonora Dodge* | State Representative | Chittenden-23 | 2022 |
| Leslie Goldman* | State Representative | Windham-3 | 2020 |
| Lonnie Poland | State Representative | Chittenden-Franklin | 2024 |
| Mari Cordes* | State Representative | Addison-4 | 2018 |
| Marsha Cassel | State Senator | Rutland | 2024 |
| Martine Gulick* | State Senator | Chittenden-Central | 2018 |
| Melissa Battah | State Representative | Washington-Orleans | 2020 |
| Michelle Bos-Lun* | State Representative | Windham-3 | 2020 |
| Monique Priestley* | State Representative | Orange-2 | 2022 |
| Rebecca Holcombe* | State Representative | Windsor-Orange-2 | 2022 |
| Rey Garofano* | State Representative | Chittenden-23 | 2022 |
| Ruth Hardy* | State Senator | Addison County | Former ED |
| Sarah Copeland Hanzas* | Secretary of State | 2022 | |
| Sarita Austin* | State Representative | Chittenden-19 | 2018 |
| Saudia LaMont* | State Representative | Lamoille-Washington | 2022 |
| Stephanie Jerome* | State Representative | Rutland-9 | 2020 |
| Tiff Bluemle* | State Representative | Chittenden-13 | 2020 |
| Wendy Harrison* | State Senator | Windham | 2022 |
| *Incumbent | |||
These candidates represent the unique diversity of Vermont, coming from the different communities, backgrounds, and identities that make up the state. In fact, 32% of alums on the ballot are members of the New American Majority: Black, Brown and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women.
While there are many Emerge women on the primary ballot, there are five who are retiring from the legislature: Rep. Jessica Brumsted (CHI-7), Rep. Tesha Buss (WDR-5), Rep. Sara Coffey (WDH-1), Rep. Kari Dolan (WAS-2), and Rep. Gabrielle Stebbins (CHI-13). “These five women departing the Legislature collectively served 26 years and their work had an enormous impact on Vermont. We’re extremely grateful for their service, both as legislators and as role models for Vermont women interested in serving in office,” said Haney.
Emerge Vermont has a proven track record for getting Democratic women elected. Since the organization launched in 2013, the program has equipped over 200 women with the skills needed to bring change to their communities. 54% of alums have gone on to run for political office or been appointed to local boards or commissions, and of those who have gone on to run for an elected position, 39% have won, including Congresswoman Balint, Attorney General Clark, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski.
Nationally, Emerge has trained more than 6,000 alums since 2002 and currently has more than 1,200 alums in elected office across the country. The organization is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority over the next 15 years, fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics, and repowering political structures. There are currently 27 state affiliates, and the organization has impacted a total of 45 states, Washington, D.C. and territories. Emerge is committed to reaching 100,000 women of the New American Majority, repowering political structures, and fostering a lift as you climb culture for women in politics during the next 15 years.