Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch simply defeated a little-known Republican challenger to win the Senate seat being vacated by Patrick Leahy, the longest-serving member of the higher chamber.
Welch, who was elected to the House in 2006 and received reelection with lopsided votes each two years since, defeated Republican Gerald Malloy, a retired U.S. Army officer endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
In a yr wherein the events are grappling for management of the Senate, Welch’s election retains the seat from the deep blue state safely within the Democratic column.
Welch, 75, drew some criticism earlier than the vote for giving up his House seniority to begin as a freshman Senator. But he stated his expertise was wanted within the Senate at a time when he feels the inspiration of American democracy is below menace.
Welch pitched himself as somebody in a position to work throughout the aisle and discover widespread floor with Republican colleagues in a hyper-partisan period.
Leahy, who was first elected to the Senate in 1974, was the final of the so-called “Watergate babies” elected to Congress after the resignation that yr of former President Richard Nixon.
In the House, Welch labored for power effectivity, chopping the costs of pharmaceuticals, investing in infrastructure, and increasing broadband into rural areas. He served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Welch was a chief deputy whip of the House Democratic Caucus, and a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
In his bid for the Senate, Welch spent almost $2.5 million this election cycle, and as of Sept. 30 nonetheless had almost $2.7 million within the financial institution.
Malloy, a political newcomer who moved to Vermont in 2020, defeated a extra mainstream Republican in Vermont’s August major. He spent about $165,000 through the major and basic election, and had about $61,000 within the financial institution.
Malloy stated he was a standard pro-life conservative who believes that regulating abortion needs to be left to the states.
Welch was born in Massachusetts and moved to Vermont in 1974, the place he first labored as a public defender. He was a longtime member of the Vermont Senate, and was its first Democratic Senate president professional tempore. In 2006, he received the U.S. House seat, which turned vacant when Bernie Sanders moved from the House to the Senate.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”