The Vermont Democratic Party, which has been beset by turnover and turmoil in recent years, is once again looking for new leadership.
VDP executive director Claire Cummings has resigned from her post, exactly one year after taking the reins. A statement released Tuesday evening by state party chair Anne Lezak said that the party was “strong and energized a year after Claire Cummings took on the role of executive director. Her hard work, acumen, and enthusiasm have contributed to advancing the values and goals of the Party.”
Reached by phone, Lezak would not elaborate on the reasons for Cummings’ departure, other than to say that she had ended things with Cummings on “good terms.” The executive director delivered her resignation yesterday, and it was effective immediately, Lezak said.
“I gave her a big hug when she left,” Lezak said.
Cummings did not respond to a call and text message seeking comment.
She took over in 2021 from Scott McNeil, who stepped down from his post after another staffer, Kevin Burgess, resigned and lambasted the party as “the most unorganized and poorly managed institution I have ever seen” in a public resignation letter. McNeil held the position for less than two years. His predecessor, Josh Massey, was there for roughly nine months.
The party is entering the busiest election cycle in well over a decade without an executive director, a finance director, a communications director or, so far, a single declared Democratic gubernatorial candidate. The only other staffers listed on the party’s website — data director Madison Thomas and Senate caucus aide Sally Short — were all hired in 2022. Lezak, too, is new — she was elected the party’s chair in the fall of 2021.
But Lezak sounded an optimistic note, saying she was “so grateful” to Cummings for helping to bring on a “small but mighty cadre of just incredible staff.” The party announced earlier this month it had hired Cameron McClimans, who previously worked on campaigns in Vermont, Virginia, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Maryland, as its House campaign director.
Lezak added the party has also found its new coordinated campaign director: Elliot Kauffman, who previously served as the regional organizing director for Fulton County in the Georgia run-off elections for now-Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
