Democrat · Incumbent
Becca Balint
Former teacher and state Senate president pro tem from Brattleboro. Won the House seat Peter Welch vacated in 2022. Serves on the Judiciary Committee.
Her case is seniority and a hard line against the Trump administration. Her weakness, critics say, is that her agenda leans further left than many Vermonters.
Pros
- Experience and seniorityTwo terms in Congress after leading the Vermont Senate. A third term builds clout for a state with only one House seat.
- Housing pushSponsors a bill proposing a $500 billion investment in housing, Vermont's biggest affordability problem.
- Check on the White HouseOn Judiciary, she'd help investigate alleged administration wrongdoing if Democrats win the House, which she frames as restoring the rule of law.
- Costs at the pumpCalls the Iran war illegal and backs a war powers resolution, tying it to fuel costs that hurt trucking, manufacturing and farms.
- Health care costsSupports federal drug price negotiation and limits on pharmacy benefit managers.
Cons
- Focused on fighting TrumpMalloy says she spends too much time on "angry rhetoric" against the administration and not enough on Vermont issues.
- Further-left positionsSupports Medicare for All and dismantling ICE, positions some moderates see as unrealistic or too far.
- Big price tagsProposals like a $500 billion housing bill and single-payer health care raise questions about cost and passage.
- Limited leverageAs a member of the minority party, her ability to pass bills depends on which party controls the House.