Why Vermont Democratic Senators picked Ram Hinsdale as majority leader

Vermont's surviving 17 Democratic state senators — whose numbers are far fewer this session thanks to a surprise "red wave" in the November general election — picked a new leader this weekend.

On Saturday morning, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D-Burlington-Southeast) narrowly ousted two-time incumbent Majority Leader Alison Clarkson (D-Windsor) via a secret ballot vote.

Prior to the vote, Ram Hinsdale pitched herself in an email to colleagues as the Democrats' best choice for weathering a new, more politically diverse legislative era.

Sen. Andrew Perchlik (D/P-Washington), who nominated Ram Hinsdale for majority leader, told the Free Press in a phone interview that he concurs.

Perchlik, who worked closely for the last two years with Clarkson as the senate's whip, said he "didn't have anything negative to say" about Clarkson and that she had "a lot to be proud of" regarding her accomplishments on the job, but that "times are different."

Perchlik said the senate needs a majority leader who is "good at messaging and communications," and he believes Ram Hinsdale fits that bill. She is skilled at both long-term strategy and communicating on the fly to constituents and the press, he said.

"She's good at reading the room," he said.

Perhaps most importantly, however, Ram Hinsdale had identified and pointed out Democratic lawmakers' political missteps — such as their messaging behind the Clean Heat Standard — well before the November election results revealed voters' dissatisfaction with the caucus, Perchlik said.

"We want someone who thinks about how what we're doing today is going to affect how people are going to vote in the future," he said.

Who else made the senate leadership list?

Senate Democrats also picked their next whip (also known as the assistant majority leader) and nominated candidates for president pro tempore and the third member on the powerful committee on committees.

Democrats tapped Sen. Becca White (D-Windsor) for the whip, replacing Perchlik who chose not to run again.

The caucus also re-nominated Sen. Phil Baruth (D/P-Burlington) for president pro tem, and nominated Sen. Ginny Lyons (D-Chittenden-Southeast) for third member on the Committee on Committees. Sen. Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia), who served briefly in the powerful committee role after the retirement of the now-deceased Sen. Dick Mazza (D-Grand Isle), is retiring herself at the end of the year.

The entire senate, including the newly elected Republicans, will vote on whether to confirm Baruth and Lyons in their respective positions when the legislature reconvenes in January.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at [email protected].