Lesbian Candidate May Be Vermont's First Woman Representative
(CNN) — Vermont's designation as the only state to never send a woman to Congress is poised to be dashed in November, with state Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and Lt.
Gov. Molly Gray leading the Democratic primary for the state's at-large House seat.The winner of Tuesday's contest will be the overwhelming general election favorite to take the place of Rep.
Peter Welch, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy. That month, voters will also cast ballots on an amendment to the state constitution that would protect abortion rights.Balint, a former schoolteacher first elected to the state legislature in 2014, is widely viewed as the frontrunner heading into Tuesday's election, with Gray her closest rival.
What began as a crowded field has thinned over the last few months. Louis Meyers, a physician, is the only other candidate actively campaigning following Sianay Chase Clifford's withdrawal in July.A former Welch staffer and Vermont assistant attorney general, Gray's early momentum appears to have slowed over the summer as her rival solidified progressive support.
