Attorney General of Vermont
Vermont Attorney General | |
General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $152,714 |
2025 FY Budget: | $16,470,545 |
Term limits: | None |
Structure | |
Length of term: | Two years |
Authority: | Vermont State Code, Title 3, Chapter 7, § 151 |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder | |
Attorney General of Vermont
Charity Clark | |
Elections | |
Next election: | 2026 |
Last election: | 2024 |
Other Vermont Executive Offices | |
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Board |
The Attorney General of Vermont is an elected executive position in the Vermont state government. The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer in the state and is responsible for representing the state in all matters in which the state is a party or has an interest. The attorney general also advises the elective and appointive state officers on questions of law relating to their official duties and can present opinions on legal matters.
Vermont has a divided government where neither party holds a triplex. The Republican Party controls the office of governor, while the Democratic Party controls the offices of attorney general and secretary of state.
Current officeholder
The current Attorney General of Vermont is Charity Clark (D). Clark assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The office of Vermont Attorney General is established in Title 3, Chapter 7, § 151 of the Vermont State Code.
§ 151:
An attorney general shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as provided for the election of other state officers. He or she shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties. His or her term of office shall commence when his or her election is declared by the committee appointed by the senate and house of representatives to canvass the votes, agreeably with 17 V.S.A. { 2592, or when elected by the general assembly pursuant to said section, and continue for a term of two years. |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Attorney General of Vermont has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Elections
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and auditor are elected every two years, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
2024
- See also: Vermont Attorney General election, 2024
General election
General election for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent Charity Clark defeated Ture Nelson and Kevin Gustafson in the general election for Attorney General of Vermont on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Charity Clark (D) | 57.8 | 200,711 | |
Ture Nelson (R) | 37.1 | 128,798 | ||
Kevin Gustafson (Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party of Vermont) | 4.9 | 17,159 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 490 |
Total votes: 347,158 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- H. Brooke Paige (R)
- Elijah Bergman (Vermont Progressive Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent Charity Clark advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Charity Clark | 99.0 | 43,275 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 416 |
Total votes: 43,691 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont
H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | H. Brooke Paige | 97.1 | 18,081 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 2.9 | 548 |
Total votes: 18,629 | ||||
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election
Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Elijah Bergman advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 13, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Elijah Bergman | 87.9 | 270 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 12.1 | 37 |
Total votes: 307 | ||||
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2022
- See also: Vermont Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Vermont
Charity Clark defeated Michael Tagliavia in the general election for Attorney General of Vermont on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Charity Clark (D) | 65.1 | 179,098 | |
Michael Tagliavia (R) | 34.8 | 95,661 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 467 |
Total votes: 275,226 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Elijah Bergman (Vermont Progressive Party)
- H. Brooke Paige (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Charity Clark defeated Rory Thibault in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Charity Clark | 67.1 | 58,589 | |
Rory Thibault | 32.5 | 28,391 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 378 |
Total votes: 87,358 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont
H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | H. Brooke Paige | 95.7 | 20,668 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 4.3 | 919 |
Total votes: 21,587 | ||||
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election
Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Elijah Bergman advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 9, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Elijah Bergman | 92.6 | 477 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 7.4 | 38 |
Total votes: 515 | ||||
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2020
- See also: Vermont Attorney General election, 2020
General election
General election for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent T.J. Donovan defeated H. Brooke Paige and Cris Ericson in the general election for Attorney General of Vermont on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | T.J. Donovan (D) | 67.7 | 234,081 | |
H. Brooke Paige (R) | 27.5 | 94,892 | ||
Cris Ericson (Vermont Progressive Party) | 4.6 | 15,846 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 696 |
Total votes: 345,515 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent T.J. Donovan advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | T.J. Donovan | 99.1 | 94,739 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 823 |
Total votes: 95,562 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont
H. Brooke Paige defeated Emily Peyton in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | H. Brooke Paige | 49.4 | 21,574 | |
Emily Peyton | 46.7 | 20,376 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 3.9 | 1,705 |
Total votes: 43,655 | ||||
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Vermont Progressive Party primary election
Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Cris Ericson advanced from the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Cris Ericson | 58.1 | 414 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 41.9 | 299 |
Total votes: 713 | ||||
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2018
- See also: Vermont Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent T.J. Donovan defeated Janssen Willhoit and Rosemarie Jackowski in the general election for Attorney General of Vermont on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | T.J. Donovan (D) | 70.1 | 187,093 | |
Janssen Willhoit (R) | 26.3 | 70,226 | ||
Rosemarie Jackowski (Liberty Union Party) | 3.6 | 9,536 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 166 |
Total votes: 267,021 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- H. Brooke Paige (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont
Incumbent T.J. Donovan advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | T.J. Donovan | 100.0 | 58,714 |
Total votes: 58,714 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont
H. Brooke Paige advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Vermont on August 14, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | H. Brooke Paige | 100.0 | 16,853 |
Total votes: 16,853 | ||||
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Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of Attorney General of Vermont, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2016
The general election for attorney general was held on November 8, 2016. T.J. Donovan defeated Deborah Bucknam and Rosemarie Jackowski in the Vermont attorney general election.
2014
Democratic incumbent Bill Sorrell won re-election on November 4, 2014.
2012
2010
On November 2, 2010, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Aaron Michael Toscano (R) and 3 minor-party candidates in the general election.
2008On November 4, 2008, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Karen Kerin (R/L) and two minor-party candidates in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Dennis Carver (R) and Rosemarie Jackowski (Liberty Union) in the general election.
2004 On November 2, 2004, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Dennis Carver (R) and 4 minor-party candidates in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Larry Drown (R) and 4 minor-party candidates in the general election.
2000 On November 7, 2000, William H. Sorrell won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Vermont. He defeated Sandy "Wells" Ward (Vermont Grassroots) in the general election.
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Vacancies
Section 20 of the Vermont Constitution, grants the governor the power to fill a vacancy in the office by appointment. The appointee shall serve until the next regularly scheduled election.
Duties
The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Title 3, Chapter 7 of the Vermont State Code:[1]
- may represent the state in all civil and criminal matters as at common law and as allowed by statute
- shall also have the same authority throughout the state as a state's attorney
- have the general supervision of criminal prosecutions
- consult with and advise the state's attorneys in matters relating to the duties of their office, and shall assist them by attending the grand jury in the examination of any cause or in the preparation of indictments and informations when, in his judgment, the interests of the state require it
- may appoint a deputy attorney general with the approval of the governor, remove him or her at pleasure and be responsible for his or her acts
- may appoint such assistant attorneys general and special assistant attorneys general as may be necessary for the proper and efficient performance of his department, and with the approval of the governor, fix their pay, remove them at pleasure and be responsible for their acts
Additionally, the attorney general, "shall advise the elective and appointive state officers on questions of law relating to their official duties and shall furnish a written opinion of such matters, when so requested. He shall have general supervision of matters and actions in favor of the state and of those instituted by or against state officers wherein interests of the state are involved and may settle such matters and actions as the interests of the state require."[2]
Divisions
As of January 11, 2021, divisions within the Attorney General's Office included:[3]
- Civil
- Civil Rights
- Community Justice
- Consumer Resources
- Criminal Justice
- Environmental Protection
- General Counsel and Administrative Law
- Human Services
- Medicaid Fraud & Residential Abuse Unit
- Public Protection
State budget
- See also: Vermont state budget and finances
The budget for the attorney general's office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $16,470,545.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The attorney general, along with the rest of Vermont's elected executives, is legally entitled to an annual salary in accordance with Title 32, Chapter 15 of the Vermont Statutes (32 V.S.A. § 1003). Taking into account value adjustments, the statute contains real compensation figures for the previous and current year only.[5]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $152,714, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $145,579, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $139,755, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $139,755 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $131,019 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $131,019 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $126,048 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $118,581 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $116,917 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general received a salary of $113,901 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $113,901. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.[16]
2010
In 2010, the attorney general was paid an estimated $108,202 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
There have been 24 attorneys general of Vermont since 1904.[18]
List of officeholders from 1904-Present | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
1 | Clarke C. Fitts | 1904-1908 | |||
2 | John G. Sargent | 1908-1912 | |||
3 | Rufus E. Brown | 1912-1915 | |||
4 | Herbert G. Barber | 1915-1919 | |||
5 | Frank C. Archibald | 1919-1925 | |||
6 | J. Ward Carver | 1925-1931 | |||
7 | Lawrence C. Jones | 1931-1941 | |||
8 | Alban J. Parker | 1941-1947 | |||
9 | Clifton G. Parker | 1947-1953 | |||
10 | F. Elliott Barber, Jr. | 1953-1955 | |||
11 | Robert T. Stafford | 1955-1957 | |||
12 | Frederick M. Reed | 1957-1960 | |||
13 | Thomas M. Debevoise | 1960-1962 | |||
14 | Charles J. Adams | 1962-1963 | |||
15 | Charles E. Gibson, Jr. | 1963-1965 | |||
16 | John P. Connarn | 1965-1967 | |||
17 | James L. Oakes | 1967-1969 | |||
18 | James M. Jeffords | 1969-1973 | |||
19 | Kimberly B. Cheney | 1973-1975 | |||
20 | M. Jerome Diamond | 1975-1981 | |||
21 | John J. Easton, Jr. | 1981-1985 | |||
22 | Jeffrey L. Amestoy | 1985-1997 | |||
23 | William H. Sorrell | 1997-2017 | |||
24 | T.J. Donovan | 2017-2022 | |||
25 | Susanne Young | 2022-2023 | |||
26 | Charity Clark | 2022-Present |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Vermont Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Vermont Attorney General's Office
109 State Street
Montpelier VT 05609
Phone: 802-828-3171
See also
Vermont | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "Title 3, Chapter 7," accessed January 11, 2021
- ↑ Vermont Attorney General, "Office organization information," accessed November 22, 2011
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office, "Act 113," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ Vermont General Assembly, "The Vermont Statutes Online Title 32 : Taxation And Finance Chapter 015 : Salaries And Fees, Subchapter 001 : State Officers," accessed February 11, 2015
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 5, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
- ↑ National Association of Attorneys General, "Vermont Former Attorneys General," accessed January 11, 2021
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