Where Democrats lost ground in Vermont’s House – VTDigger

In Tuesday’s election, Vermonters voted to change the balance of power in the state’s House of Representatives during the next legislative biennium. Republicans picked up 17 seats, bringing their ranks to 55 in the 150-member chamber. 

Democrats held 105 seats alone by the end of the 2023-2024 session, but now will be left with just 88, meaning they’ve lost their supermajority. Their numbers are bolstered by alliances with Progressives and independents, who will occupy the same number of seats as they do now: 4 and 3, respectively. But even with full cooperation, their numbers would not allow them to pass bills into law over the veto of Republican Governor Phil Scott. That requires a two-thirds vote in the chamber, or at least 100 votes. 

Fourteen incumbent House Democrats lost their seats, though two of them will be replaced by fellow Democrats. Several lawmakers from districts in Bennington, Caledonia and Rutland counties were ousted, as were at least one from Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Washington and Windsor counties. 

Among them are several veteran lawmakers who hold leadership positions and other legislators who just started in 2023. Voters have left almost no House committee unchanged. 

• Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, first elected in 2008, was bested by Republican Rob North of Ferrisburgh. 
• Rep. Mike McCarthy, D-St. Albans City, chair of the House Government and Military Affairs Committee, fell to Republican Joe Luneau also from St. Albans City.
• Rep. Stephanie Zak Jerome of Brandon, a House member since 2019 and vice chair of the House commerce committee, fell to Republican Todd Nielson, also of Brandon.
• Robin Chesnut-Tangerman of Middletown Springs, vice-chair of the House Committee on General and Housing, was bested by Republican Chris Pritchard of Pawlet.
• Rep. Carl Demrow, D-Corinth, ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee, fell to Mike Tagliavia, also of Corinth.
• Rep. William Notte, D-Rutland City, an assistant majority leader, lost his seat to Republican Chris Keyser, also of Rutland City.
• Rep. Mike Rice, D-Dorset, elected in 2022, lost to Republican Sandra Pinsonault, also of Dorset.
• Rep. Bobby Farlice-Rubio, D-Barnet, elected in 2022, fell to Republican Debra Lynn Powers, a Waterford Republican.
• Rep. Dennis LaBounty, D-Lyndon, also elected in 2022, lost to Republican Martha “Marty” Feltus, a former lawmaker, also of Lyndon.
• Rep. Julie Andrews, D-Westford also elected in 2022, was bested by Republican Brenda Steady of Milton.
• Rep. Josie Leavitt of Grand Isle, also elected in 2022, lost a race to Republican Leland Morgan, a former state lawmaker from Milton.
• Rep. Heather Chase, D-Chester, elected in 2022, fell short in her race against Republican Thomas Charleston, also of Chester.
• Rep. Jonathon Williams, D-Barre City, elected in 2022, landed third in a four-person race. Republican Mike Boutin of Barre City came out on top, and a different Democrat, Edward “Teddy” Waszazak, was second. 
• Rep. Jim Carroll of Bennington, came in third to both Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington, and fellow Democrat Michael Nigro. The two seatmates were both in the spotlight over the past session, Carroll for a drunken driving arrest in Montpelier and Morrissey for her behavior towards Caroll, which included repeatedly soaking his personal belongings. 

Elsewhere, Democrats lost ground when newcomers were unsuccessful in filling a seat vacated by an incumbent. 

• Republican Mike Southworth of Walden bested Sabrina Morrison of Hardwick.
• Republican Greg Burtt of Cabot prevailed over Thomas Ziobrowski of Danville.
• Democrat Jim Ryan of Wolcott was unable to overcome a challenge from Richard Bailey of Hyde Park. 
• Republican Kevin Winter of Ludlow outlasted Adrienne Raymond of Shrewsbury.
• Republican VL Coffin of Cavendish bested Mark Yeungling of Weathersfield. 

Republicans Jim Casey of Hubbardton and Ken Wells of Brownington won without a fight when Democrats did not field a candidate for one stepping down.

The highlight for Democrats was in a Chittenden County district, where incumbent Rep. Sarita Austin and newcomer Wendy Critchlow, both of Colchester, were able to overcome Republican challengers to swing one seat the other direction. 

The overall balance of power is complicated by party shifts in two other districts. Northfield’s Anne Donahue, a long-time Republican, won reelection as an independent, while Democrat Chris Morrow of Weston was able to win a seat for his party previously held by independent Kelly Pajala who did not run.