Hello everybody, I'm Stephanie Mack and I am running for Chittenden-24, the rural town of Essex. I'm also treasurer for the Vermont Federation of Republican Women, and I chaired the Kentucky Derby event this year, which is the best derby in the state!

Tonight, I follow along with all of our conservative values, but tonight I really wanted to do a bit of a recruitment speech. We're two weeks away—two weeks away—from that Vermont filing deadline for Republicans, and it drives me insane that we don't have a name on every single ballot. So there's not a lot of time, and I want to reserve those Republican seats. However, I don't want to leave any seat blank. This is not just somebody else's job, right? This is our job. I've been spending the last two weeks—actually, the last six weeks—going through names, making my husband read the list because he's a long-time Essex resident, finding friends who will read the list, highlighting names, calling people, and trying to find those people who will stand up and say, "Yeah, I'm sick of it," just like I did. So if you're breathing and you're a conservative...

Republican candidates, ask your county chairs for the strong GOP list in your county. Pick the districts missing a candidate, sit down with your friends over coffee, and go through the list of strong GOP voters. Analyze that data. Find out who you know, and ask your friends who they know. Then pick up the phone and make the calls. I know not everybody is as salesy as others, but call those people on your list and ask that direct question: "Will you run?" Then ask again. Then ask who they know who might be willing to run.

We need those state representatives and senators. Every single office needs to be on the ballot in November. Vermont Republicans have been leaving seats empty far too long, and that needs to end now. Every uncontested race is a seat we surrender before the first vote is even cast. Every empty line on that ballot tells the other side we've already given up—and we are not giving up. We are stronger than ever this year.

You don't need permission. You don't need to be a perfect candidate. You just need someone willing to stand up and carry our values. Find them. They are out there. Encourage them, and walk them through filing the papers if you have to. We will help train them, support them, and stand with them because this is our year. Two weeks from now, the filing window closes. I know you can get your name on that ballot, but it's a lot nicer to have that "Republican" next to your name in those parentheses. Two weeks from now, the filing window closes. Let's make sure when it does, there's not a single Republican seat left blank in the state of Vermont.

The calls need to start tonight. Text your friends—I know it's late, but hey, ask them, "Do you want to run for office?" The conversations with friends are going to need to start. There are no excuses, no waiting for someone else to do it. We recruit, we find those folks, and we take Vermont one seat at a time. So let's go to work, everybody. Thank you, and let's fill every ballot!

Stephanie Mack

Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 | Javen Sears’ Campaign Launch Party