Sarah L. Copeland Hanzas is a Democratic politician serving as Vermont's Secretary of State, elected in November 2022. She previously represented Orange County's 2nd district in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2005 to 2023, where she served 18 years, including as House Majority Leader and Chair of the Government Operations Committee. Notable achievements include leading Vermont's Global Warming Solutions Act, pioneering the nation's strongest sexual harassment legislation in 2018, advancing racial justice and cannabis reform, securing PTSD treatment parity for first responders, making universal vote-by-mail permanent, and stabilizing teacher and state employee pensions via the 2021 Pension Task Force. As Secretary of State, she has improved office operations, expanded civic learning programs, and modernized the Safe at Home address confidentiality program.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Born in Lake Forest, Illinois, her family moved to Vermont in 1971; grew up in Corinth and graduated from Oxbow High School ; earned BA in history and BA in geology from the University of Vermont; completed teaching certification at Upper Valley Educators Institute.
• Early Career: Stay-at-home mom for eight years; secondary science teacher; owner of The Local Buzz Cafe in Bradford; youth coach.
• Political Experience: Elected to Vermont House in 2004, reelected through 2020; served on Health Care Committee for a decade; Co-Chair of Climate Solutions Caucus; Executive Committee of National Conference of State Legislatures; Vice Chair of Health Insurance Committee there; graduate of Vermont Leadership Institute. Sworn in as 39th Secretary of State in January 2023 after defeating Republican H. Brooke Paige 61-33%.