Sarah Copeland-Hanzas

Sarah L. Copeland Hanzas (born July 9, 1970) is an American Democratic Party politician who is serving as the Secretary of State of Vermont. She previously served in the Vermont House of Representatives from Orange County's 2nd district, having been first elected in 2004.

Copeland Hanzas was elected as the Secretary of State in 2022 and 2024, defeating Republican nominee and perennial candidate H. Brooke Paige both times.

Early life and career Sarah Louise Copeland Hanzas was born in Lake Forest, Illinois on July 9, 1970 and her family moved to Vermont in 1971. She grew up in Corinth and graduated from Bradford's Oxbow High School in 1988. She then attended the University of Vermont from which she received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1992 and a Bachelor of Arts in geology in 1993.

Political career In 2004, Copeland Hanzas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. While in the house, she also served on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. In the November general election, she defeated perennial Republican candidate H. Brooke Paige by a vote of 61 to 33 percent. She was sworn in for the beginning of her term in January 2023.

Personal life Copeland is married to John P. Hanzas Jr.