David Glidden was unanimously elected the new chair of the Vermont Democratic Party on Saturday.
An LGBTQ youth advocate for Outright Vermont and a resident of St. Albans, Glidden, 28, is now one of the youngest state party chairs in the country. He’s expected to fill the remainder of former chair Anne Lezak’s term, which expires with the next state committee election in November.
“I’ve always been interested in public policy and improving communities,” said Glidden, who joined the party as an intern in 2015.
The Vermont Democratic Party has been plagued by turnover in recent years, at both the elected leadership and staff levels. Glidden himself said he was not sure whether he would run for a full two-year term in November. He noted that the volunteer role comes with a lot of work — factors that “make it really hard to last a long time.”
Glidden, who grew up in Underhill, began working in politics as a field organizer in Franklin and Grand Isle counties. He was elected state party assistant treasurer in 2017 and became vice chair in 2021. He was also the communications director for Christine Hallquist’s campaign for governor in 2018.
Glidden also serves on the Democratic National Committee, the regional planning commission and the St. Albans Downtown Board.
“David cares deeply about building the VDP and our impact in Vermont and brings with him the skills, experience, and temperament that are needed to ensure a bright future for Democrats and the Democratic Party in Vermont,” Lezak said in a press release announcing Glidden’s election.
Glidden said his priorities as chair are fundraising and training candidates and committees, particularly in rural communities, so that they are ready for the 2024 election cycle.
Lezak is leaving the post to return to Uganda with her husband, Dr. Harry Chen, a former state health commissioner and, until this month, interim commissioner of the Department for Children and Families. They worked there as Peace Corps Response volunteers in 2017 and 2018.
Under her leadership, Vermont Democrats won most statewide races and increased their majorities in the Legislature.
Glidden said that, despite the challenges he is likely to face, he is excited for it.
“We have one of the best support systems of officers we’ve had in a while — young and energetic and diverse — and it’s really exciting to see we have probably the most stable leadership we’ve had in quite a while,” he said. “I actually think we’re in a good place even as we go through transition.”
