Becca Balint to Be Vermont's First Woman, First LGBTQ+ Rep in Congress

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. She was the first woman and first member of the LGBTQ+ community in the latter position. In the Senate, she led efforts to pass reproductive freedom legislation, a climate change bill, and minimum wage increases.

In her run for Congress, she was endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund, LPAC, the Human Rights Campaign, and many women's, labor, and environmental groups. Victory Fund President and CEO Annise Parker issued this statement on Balint's win: "The future of LGBTQ equality and women's rights were on the ballot -- and Vermonters delivered tonight. For nearly a decade, Becca led efforts to pass meaningful legislation to increase fairness and equity within Vermont. Now she is ready to do the same in Congress. We are confident Becca will be a fierce pro-equality, pro-choice champion in the House of Representatives. We are also confident her historic victory tonight will inspire countless other LGBTQ and women leaders to pursue public service."

Balint is a former teacher in the public schools. She is married to attorney and opera singer Elizabeth Wohl, and they have two children.

Vermont is the only state that has never sent a woman to Congress.