Balint makes history with Congressional win

In an historic election night for Vermont, Sen. Becca Balint became the first woman elected to represent the Green Mountain State in Congress. 

Balint, a Democrat who led the Senate as president pro tempore, surged into the lead early and never looked back, gaining 60% of the vote on Tuesday evening. Republican Liam Madden trailed with 27%.

Also on Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat, cruised to victory in the U.S. Senate race, leading his nearest opponent, Republican Gerald Malloy, 67% to 27%. 

As for county-wide elections, Democrat Ryan Palmer took the race for Windsor County Sheriff, topping Republican incumbent Michael Chamberlain, 57% to 36%.

In the race for Windsor County Assistant Judge, Alison Johannensen, of Woodstock, and incumbent David Singer, of Hartland, won with 27% and 21% of the vote, respectively. Independent candidate Michael Ricci, of Woodstock, garnered just over 17%.

In the Windsor County Senate election, State Rep. Becca White and incumbent Sens. Alison Clarkson and Dick McCormack won the county's three Senate seats. 

Woodstock resident Tesha Buss, a Democrat, was victorious in her bid for the local House seat representing Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth. She received over 67% of the vote, defeating independent candidate Keith Cappellini.

In elections for statewide office, Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, sailed to an easy reelection victory over Democrat Brenda Siegel, taking more than 68% of the final tally. Progressive David Zuckerman returned to his previous post of lieutenant governor, topping his nearest opponent, Sen. Joe Benning, by 51% to 40% in that race.

In the contest for treasurer, Democrat Mike Pieciak, the state’s finance commissioner, handily defeated Republican H. Brooke Paige, 62% to 32%.

— Gareth Henderson