Political Campaigns
When Vermont's lone U.S. House member, Bernie Sanders decided to run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, Welch chose to run for Sanders' seat. He defeated Republican Martha Rainville in the November 7, 2006 general election 53% to 45% in a race where both candidates pledged to be entirely positive. Welch was technically the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1961, and only the second since 1853 (though Sanders caucused with the Democrats).
Welch was reelected in 2008 with no major-party opposition, becoming the first Democrat to be reelected to the House from Vermont in 158 years. He was in the unusual position of being both the Democratic and Republican nominee for the seat, due to Republican voters writing his name in on the blank primary ballot. He easily defeated nominal Republican challengers in 2010 and 2012.
Read more about this topic: Peter Welch
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