Biography
Becca is a mom, teacher, and progressive leader who has fought for people on the margins her entire life. Growing up gay, Becca knows what it is like to be on the outside, and has always looked to help those who do not feel like they belong, first as a middle school teacher, and then as a state senator and the first woman President Pro Tem of the Vermont Senate.
Becca was a middle school teacher for 14 years, teaching history and social studies in four rural Vermont schools. In 2014, Becca ran for the state senate and was elected to represent Windham County. Becca served in the Vermont senate for 9 years.
As majority leader of the Senate and then as Senate President Pro Tem, Becca passed the strongest reproductive rights law in the nation, secured major wins for Labor, and passed the first gun safety legislation in Vermont history.
As Vermont’s first Congresswoman, Becca has continued her track record of fighting for people on the margins and working across differences. She is a member of the House Judiciary and Budget Committees, and a leader in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Becca has focused on increasing access to affordable housing, mental health care for all, and protecting our democracy.
She received her BA from Smith College in Northampton, MA, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Becca earned her masters in education from Harvard University in 1995 and her MA in history from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 2001.
She is married to attorney and opera singer, Elizabeth Wohl. Together, they have two children – Abe, 16, and Sarah, 13 – and an adorable dog named Wheelie. They live in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Candidate occupation
Congresswoman
Why are you running for office?
I’m running because I believe politics is about making a difference in the lives of regular people. It’s about having courage, and leading with kindness. It’s about doing the work to address the burdens on working families. Over the last two years, I’ve been so honored to be Vermont’s voice in the House of Representatives. I’ve been laser focused on fighting for issues Vermonters care about: alleviating our housing and mental health crises, pushing for climate action and demanding gun violence prevention. I ran for Congress to serve people on the margins: working families trying to support their kids, rural farmers, and small businesses that hold our economy together.
And this year we know the stakes of this election couldn’t been higher. We’re witnessing overt attacks on our civil rights and our democracy from MAGA Republicans, the former president, and the Supreme Court. The fight for this democracy is the fight of our lives but I believe together we can pull our democracy back from the brink and make government work for the people again.
Issues in depth
What is the single most important issue for Congress to address next term?
Codifying reproductive and abortion rights.
What steps, if any, would you take to strengthen American democracy?
At a young age, I learned from my family’s history with the Holocaust, what can happen when marginalized communities are not protected from repressive and authoritarian governments. Norms are eroded, civil rights are stripped away, and laws are passed that oppress and people. I ran for Congress because I believe our nation is at a pivotal moment where democracy is at risk of slipping away.
During my time in Congress, I have been focused on multiple ways to protect and strengthen democracy, including stronger ethics requirements for Supreme Court Justices and members of the federal judiciary and expanding the Supreme Court. With the Supreme Court’s willingness to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the future of other essential rights is at risk – gay marriage, access to contraception, interracial marriage. It is time for a serious conversation about reforming the Supreme Court, including term limits and stricter ethics regulations. I am an original cosponsor of the Judiciary Act to expand the court.
Protecting voting rights is also essential.As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am an original cosponsor of the Freedom to Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and other legislation to make voting more accessible for everyone.
How would you seek to work with members of the opposite party, if at all?
I’m always looking for ways to make government work for working people. And sometimes that means finding partners across the aisle who are willing to do the work to address some of the challenges facing Americans in every Congressional district. My work to tackle the mental health crisis has garnered bipartisan support and I look forward to continuing to find ways to get work done on behalf of Vermonters. I will work with anyone, regardless of party, who is interested in helping Vermonters and working people across the country.
What changes to federal tax policy, if any, would you seek to make?
Congress must make our tax code work for working families, not just the ultra-wealthy. This years enhancements to the Child Tax Credit will lift nearly half a million children out of poverty in the first year, delivering relief to 16 million children nationwide, including an estimated 15,000 in Vermont. When we make bold, permanent investments in the child tax credit and low income housing tax credit, we are alleviating the burdens of high cost housing, education and more. Common sense changes to our tax code are so impactful for Vermonters who are struggling to make ends meet.
What, if anything, should Congress do to make it more affordable to live in the U.S.?
The most immediate and pressing need to make life more affordable in the U.S. is housing. Congress needs to act to build more affordable housing across the country. And by more I mean we need a massive investment and millions of units. I introduced the Community Housing Act, which invests $500 billion in federal programs that fund the construction of affordable and deeply affordable housing. The CHA embraces perpetually affordable housing through a community land trust which means a nonprofit organization of residents that jointly stewards community assets, guaranteeing that housing on that land stays affordable and inclusive. The bill includes a suite of creative policy solutions to address root causes of the housing crisis and alleviate long term affordability challenges.
What steps, if any, should Congress take to address climate change?
We need immediate and expansive action to address climate change. Climate action in Vermont and the nation must build on our strengths, which means transforming our economy into a climate economy. But while Vermont has led the way with electric vehicles, adopting renewable energy, and land preservation, we can’t attack the impending climate crisis with a piecemeal approach.We need a united, 50-state solution to fighting the climate crisis – and that’s what the Green New Deal will give us.
In Congress, I am an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal to provide Vermont and states across the country with the funding needed to create and sustain good-paying green jobs, combat the climate crisis, fight environmental injustice, and transition our state and our country to a clean energy economy.
What steps, if any, should Congress take to reform the American health care system?
I support expanding Medicare to all Americans, to create a national single payer health care system. No one should go bankrupt because of medical bills in the richest country in the world. Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.
What role, if any, should the U.S. play in the war in Gaza?
The US must exert its influence to bring about an immediate end to this horrific violence, suffering, death and destruction. Hamas must be brought to justice for the horror of October 7 but that the Israeli offensive has caused unspeakable devastation and death in Gaza. Only a negotiated ceasefire will bring about an end to the war, bring home hostages, and end the suffering of civilians. Standing idly by while children are dying, is an unconscionable decision – and one that we cannot accept.
What role, if any, should the U.S. play in the war in Ukraine?
Sustaining Ukraine’s effort to maintain its independence is so critical to the health of our global democracy. This year I was proud to vote to send over $60 billion in aid to support Ukraine in its fight to defeat Putin.
Disclaimer
We emailed a questionnaire to every candidate with a valid email address. The responses provided by candidates are in their own words. VTDigger has not edited or fact-checked information provided.
If this is your candidacy and you’d like to fill out the questionnaire or report an error, please contact us at voterguide@vtdigger.org.
