Steve Dolgin, a St. Johnsbury landlord and business owner, is running for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives, hoping to join his wife, incumbent Rep. Debbie Dolgin (R-St. Johnsbury), in representing the Caledonia-Essex district. Both are Republicans.
The Dolgins, who co-own about three dozen rental units in the region, a boat dock company, and a used car dealership, say they are not campaigning as a team but share a focus on affordability. Steve Dolgin has called for a temporary freeze on non-emergency state spending until the budget is balanced without new taxes.
“It’s Business 101, you either raise prices or cut expenses,” he said. “In the private world, if you just raise your prices, you’re probably going to be out of business. That’s where we are in Vermont. We’re really out of business.”
Steve Dolgin previously testified before a House committee on housing, calling for faster eviction processes. Rep. Dolgin later introduced a bill to shorten eviction timelines, though it did not advance. The couple were the subject of a Vermont Public/VTDigger investigation in April 2026, which found they have persistently pursued unpaid rent and damages from tenants, including seeking arrest warrants through an assistant judge who later resigned following allegations of unlawful warrant issuance. The Dolgins have also faced lawsuits over deposit retention and tenant habitability complaints. They maintain their units are in good condition and that debt collection protects their investments.
If elected, Steve Dolgin said he would advocate for landlords but that eviction policy would not be his primary focus. He argued that making it easier to evict tenants who fall behind on rent or break leases would encourage private investment in housing.
The Dolgins face no primary challengers. They will face Democrats Heather Young and Amanda Cochrane, and independent Brandolyn Bradley in the general election. Vermont’s primary is Aug. 11.
Originally reported by VTDigger.
Photo: Jacob McGowin via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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