The 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the U.S. representative from . The election coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the U.S. Senate, as well as various other state and local elections.

Incumbent Democrat Peter Welch was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote in 2020. After eight-term U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy announced he would retire on November 15, some speculated that Welch might decline to seek re-election and instead seek election to the Senate. On November 22, 2021, Welch announced his candidacy for Leahy's seat, creating the first open U.S. House seat in Vermont since Bernie Sanders ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

Democratic nominee Becca Balint won the election in a landslide, becoming the first elected female member of the United States Congress in the state's history. Her main opponent in the general election, Liam Madden, won the Republican nomination but identifies as an independent who opposes the two-party system. Madden stated that he would not caucus with House Republicans if elected to Congress; the Vermont Republican Party later disavowed his campaign. Ericka Redic, who lost the Republican primary to Madden, ran in the general election as the nominee of the Libertarian Party.

Vermont was the last remaining state that had never elected a woman to the United States Congress after Mississippi elected its first woman, Cindy Hyde-Smith, in 2018. With Balint's victory, every U.S. state has now been represented in Congress by a woman at some point. Balint is also the first openly LGBTQ person to be elected to Congress from Vermont.

Democratic primary

A somewhat crowded initial primary field featuring Vermont Senate president pro tempore Becca Balint, Lieutenant Governor Molly Gray, state senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, former congressional staffer Sianay Chase Clifford, and physician Louis Meyers was eventually winnowed down to Balint, Gray, and Meyers following the withdrawals of Ram and Chase Clifford in mid-2022. Balint received the support of Senator Bernie Sanders, and national leaders of the progressive movement such as Elizabeth Warren and Pramila Jayapal, the latter of whom backed Balint after Ram withdrew. Ram herself also supported Balint following her withdrawal. Gray received backing from members of Vermont's Democratic establishment, such as Senator Patrick Leahy and former governors Madeleine Kunin and Howard Dean.

Candidates Nominee Becca Balint, state senator (2015–2023) and Vermont Senate president pro tempore (2021–2023)

Eliminated in primary Molly Gray, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (2021–2023) Louis Meyers, physician at Rutland Regional Medical Center

Withdrew Sianay Chase Clifford, former aide to U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley Kesha Ram Hinsdale, state senator (2021–present) and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2016 (endorsed Balint; successfully ran for re-election)

Declined T. J. Donovan, Vermont Attorney General (2017–2022) Jill Krowinski, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives (2021–present) Deborah Markowitz, former Vermont Secretary of State (1999–2011) Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative (2021–2023) (successfully ran for state senate) Peter Welch, incumbent U.S. Representative (2007–2023) (successfully ran for U.S. Senate)

Endorsements

Polling Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BeccaBalint Clifford MollyGray LouisMeyers KeshaRam Other UndecidedData for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)July 27 – August 1, 2022383 (LV)± 5.0%59%1%27%1%––12%University of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireJuly 21–25, 2022352 (LV)± 5.2%63%–21%2%–0%13% July 19, 2022 Sianay Chase Clifford drops out of the race May 27, 2022 Kesha Ram drops out of the raceUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022278 (LV)± 5.9%28%0%21%–19%1%31%VPR/Vermont PBSVPR/Vermont PBSJanuary 3–9, 2022418 (LV)± 4.8%11%–31%–0%12%47%

Debate + 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont democratic primary debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Democratic Democratic DemocraticKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Becca Balint Sianay Chase Clifford Molly Gray Louis Meyers1 Jul. 6, 2022 WPTZ Brian ColleranAlice KangStewart LedbetterYouTube

Results

Republican primary

Candidates Nominee Liam Madden, former leader of About Face: Veterans Against the War

Eliminated in primary Ericka Redic, businesswoman and community activist Anya Tynio, sales representative, nominee for this district in 2018 and candidate in 2020

Declined Felisha Leffler, state representative (2019–present) Heidi Scheuermann, state representative (2007–present) Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont (2017–present) (running for re-election)

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LiamMadden ErickaRedic Anya<br/ >Tynio UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJuly 21–25, 2022196 (LV)± 7.0%14%15%9%61%

Results Liam Madden won the primary in a surprise victory, as Redic was considered the frontrunner. The Vermont Republican Party disavowed Madden's campaign following a meeting with him on August 15, less than a week after his victory in the primary, citing his refusal to commit to caucusing with the Republican Party if he won the election. Redic announced that she would continue her campaign into the general election as the candidate of the Libertarian Party of Vermont.

Progressive primary

Candidates Withdrew after winning primary Barbara Nolfi, clinic co-founder

Declined Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative (2021–present) (running for state senate)

Results

Independents and other parties

Candidates Declared Matt Druzba (independent) Adam Ortiz Ericka Redic (Libertarian), businesswoman and community activist (previously Republican) Luke Talbot

Withdrawn Bryan Braga (Communist)

General election Debate + 2022 Vermont U.S. House of Representatives debate Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Not invited  Invited Withdrawn Becca Balint Liam Madden1 Oct. 11, 2022 Vermont Public Connor CyrusYouTube

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report October 5, 2021 Inside Elections October 11, 2021 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 5, 2021Politico April 5, 2022RCPJune 9, 2022Fox News July 11, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BeccaBalint (D) LiamMadden (R) ErickaRedic (L) Other UndecidedData for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)October 21–26, 20221,039 (LV)± 3.0%54%29%5%3%9%University of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireSeptember 29 – October 3, 2022765 (LV)± 3.5%57%19%9%11%12%

Becca Balint vs. Marcia Horne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BeccaBalint (D) MarciaHorne (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022583 (LV)± 4.1%48%25%0%26% Sianay Chase Clifford vs. Marcia Horne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Clifford (D) MarciaHorne (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022583 (LV)± 4.1%42%25%0%33% Molly Gray vs. Marcia Horne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MollyGray (D) MarciaHorne (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022583 (LV)± 4.1%49%27%1%23% Kesha Ram vs. Marcia Horne Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KeshaRam (D) MarciaHorne (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022583 (LV)± 4.1%47%26%0%27%

Results

By county CountyBecca BalintDemocraticLiam MaddenRepublicanVarious candidatesOther parties#%#%#%Addison11,47164.5%4,68326.3%1,6329.2%Bennington9,27659.4%4,92731.6%1,4099.0%Caledonia6,64652.9%4,42035.2%1,49111.9%Chittenden53,86471.7%14,55619.4%6,6778.9%Essex88937.6%1,05744.7%42117.8%Franklin9,30048.1%7,59439.3%2,42612.5%Grand Isle2,18956.0%1,26432.3%45511.6%Lamoille7,24564.4%2,93226.1%1,0659.4%Orange7,85557.4%4,53933.2%1,2909.4%Orleans5,09148.3%4,09838.8%1,36112.8%Rutland12,47648.2%10,05038.8%3,36413.0%Washington18,71668.0%6,57723.9%2,2448.1%Windham14,29971.9%4,44527.3%1,1565.9%Windsor17,17764.6%7,25527.3%2,1448.0% Totals176,49462.6%78,39727.8%27,1359.6% Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Essex (largest city: Lunenburg)

Notes

References

External links Campaign websites Becca Balint (D) for Congress Matt Druzba (I) for Congress Liam Madden (R) for Congress Ericka Redic (L) for Congress