ST. ALBANS — Speaking from the bandstand in downtown St. Albans as Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch and state Sen. Becca Balint stood nearby, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders told a crowd how he thinks this year’s congressional races will turn out.
“We will have, I believe, the most progressive state delegation in the United States of America,” Sanders said, referring to Vermont. “And if there has ever been a time in American history when we need a progressive delegation, this is that moment.”
Sanders and about 100 others came out to Taylor Park in St. Albans Saturday morning from across the region to show their support for Welch and Balint, who are vying for seats in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, respectively.
The rally was something of a soft launch for the trio — including Sanders, who is not up for reelection until 2024 — that polls show is likely to fill Vermont’s three seats in Congress starting next year. Speaking after the rally Saturday, Sanders said he has not decided whether or not he will seek another term, and remains “focused on 2022.”
Sanders, Welch and Balint were also slated to rally Saturday in Barre and Hartland.
In St. Albans, rally-goers included many of this year’s Democratic candidates for the Legislature from Franklin County, as well as those who said they just wanted to get a photo with Sanders. The rally drew over a number of people from the nearby farmers market in a park lined with campaign signs and fallen leaves.
In her remarks, Balint, who is president pro tempore of the state Senate, urged the crowd not to let up on get-out-the vote efforts as Election Day inches closer and reminded them that early voting is well underway. “We’re not taking anything for granted,” she said.
Balint’s chief rival for Vermont’s House seat is GOP nominee Liam Madden; on the Senate side, Welch is competing against Republican Gerald Malloy.
Jayesh Shukla said he came to the rally from South Burlington for two reasons: so his 12-year-old son, Om, could meet Sanders, and so he could show his support for Balint and Welch. The older Shukla said he’s voting for Democrats because he thinks they will protect access to reproductive healthcare and help fight climate change.
He added that he initially supported Democratic state Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale’s bid for Vermont’s House seat, but ultimately voted for Balint in the Democratic primary after Ram Hinsdale dropped out. He’s now excited to vote for Balint again on Nov. 8.
St. Albans Town resident Chris Davis, who was standing nearby, said she didn’t know Balint’s name until reading the news ahead of the primaries earlier this year. Davis also identified access to reproductive healthcare nationwide as a key issue, and said she believes Balint — who she voted for this fall — has the right qualifications for the job.
“I thought that Becca’s experience was suitable for a congressional representative,” Davis said. “She’s been in (the Statehouse), working in the trenches for a while.”
As she spoke, a crowd was forming around the bandstand before Sanders got up to speak. Davis gestured toward a person walking by with produce from the farmers market: “Holy crap, that’s a big stalk of brussels sprouts,” she said with a laugh.
Some attendees also said that while they were disappointed Democratic U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy will no longer be a part of Vermont’s congressional delegation when he retires early next year, they were looking forward to sending at least one new face to Washington, D.C. (Vermont has not had an open congressional race since 2006).
“It’s great to see a little bit of change,” said Kris Lukens, another St. Albans Town resident. “I’d be really pleased if we’re sending a woman.”
Jill and Felix Mullican of St. Albans City came out to the rally with their 8-year-old son, Bentley (“we live like, really close to here,” the youngest Mullican said). Felix Mullican works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and said he’s seen firsthand how federal dollars secured by Leahy have had a positive impact on farmers in the state.
With Leahy no longer at his powerful perch as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Vermont institutions may not be able to count on the levels of funding he has historically secured. Members of the appropriations committee tend to take home the most cash — and the committee’s most senior members take home the most of all.
Mullican said he was confident that Welch would be a strong advocate for Vermont’s interests in the Senate if elected to serve there. “Peter has great experience,” Mullican said, “and he’s been working hand-in-hand with Pat ever since he got into Congress.”
Speaking after the rally, Welch acknowledged that “we’re gonna miss” Leahy’s stature in the Senate, but then sounded an optimistic note.
“I’ll be working along with Bernie and Becca to do everything we can to continue bringing needed funds to provide for Vermont,” he said.
