Sarah George Wins Reelection as Chittenden County State’s Attorney

Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George secured a third four-year term in the general election, defeating Republican challenger Jace Laquerre. According to unofficial results from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, George received 50,635 votes to Laquerre’s 27,591.

The Challenge to George’s Incumbency

Laquerre, a software engineer with no legal background, ran an unconventional campaign by explicitly stating he did not want the position. He pledged that if elected, he would resign immediately to trigger a gubernatorial appointment for the remainder of the term. This strategy was driven by critics of George’s approach to criminal justice reform. Before reaching the general election, George faced a competitive Democratic primary in August against Bram Kranichfeld, the Franklin County state’s attorney who resides in Chittenden County and ran for the office there. George is set to begin her new term in February.

Prosecution Results in Franklin and Grand Isle Counties

In Franklin County, voters elected Zach Weight as the new state’s attorney. Weight, who held both Democratic and Republican nominations, defeated independent John Lavoie with 11,615 votes to 7,843. Lavoie previously served as the county’s top prosecutor but resigned in 2023 following a legislative impeachment investigation regarding allegations of harassment and discrimination against employees.

In Grand Isle County, incumbent State’s Attorney Douglas DiSabito won a fourth term. Despite facing a drunken driving charge earlier this spring that was eventually diverted to a court program, DiSabito defeated independent challenger Joshua Martin with 2,981 votes to 1,019.

Sheriff Elections Across Vermont

Vermont’s contested sheriff races saw significant turnover and shifts in leadership:

• Windsor County: Claude Weyant, a Democrat and the department’s chief deputy, defeated Republican Richard King. Weyant had been overseeing daily operations since Sheriff Ryan Palmer stepped back following his arrest on charges including lewd and lascivious conduct.
• Franklin County: Republican Chad Miles won his first term, narrowly defeating Democrat Andre LaBier by a margin of 10,397 to 9,929. Miles replaces former Sheriff John Grismore, who did not seek reelection after having his law enforcement certification revoked in 2023. Grismore had faced criminal charges following a use-of-force incident, though a prosecutor eventually dropped the case after two mistrials.
• Orange County: Democrat Sean McRae won the seat with 8,609 votes, finishing ahead of Republican Jacob Held, who received 5,316. The incumbent, George Contois, did not seek reelection.

Questions About Future Appointments

Why did Jace Laquerre run for office if he intended to resign?
Laquerre and other critics of Sarah George sought to remove her from office by creating a vacancy that the governor would then fill by appointment. He campaigned on the premise that he was not seeking the role for himself but to facilitate a change in leadership.