Becca Balint has been elected as the first woman and first out LGBTQ+ person to represent Vermont in Congress.Balint, a lesbian Democrat, was declared the winner of Vermont’s sole U.S.
House seat with more than 60 percent of the vote. She defeated Republican Liam Madden, Libertarian Ericka Rudick, and three independents, Matt Druzba, Adam Ortiz, and Luke Talbot.
The seat was left open when incumbent Peter Welch, also a Democrat, decided to run instead for U.S. Senate to succeed Patrick Leahy, who’s retiring.
Welch won the Senate race easily.Balint has been a longtime Vermont legislator, serving as Senate majority leader and president pro tempore.