Rep. Peter Welch of us-regions on Monday announced his candidacy for thesenate” target=”_blank”> Senate<
“We are at a pivotal moment,” Welch said in video announcing his candidacy. “Vermont families are struggling through multiple crises: a global pandemic, the consequences of climate change, and a racial reckoning generations in the making.”
Democrats will be defending their razor thin Senate majority in the electionss and Welch suggested that the race in Vermont could be instrumental in deciding which party controls the chamber after next year’s contests.
“Powerful outside interests will come to Vermont to try to advance their interests, not ours. They know an open seat in Vermont could be the difference between passing our positive agenda and (longtime GOP Senate leader) Mitch McConnell controlling the Senate again,” Welch said. “The Senate hangs in the balance, and the whole country will be looking at Vermont,” he added.
But Democrats are favored to retain Leahy’s seat in the heavily blue state of Vermont, which now-joe-biden”>President Biden<
No GOP candidate has yet to jump into the race and popular Republican Gov. Phil Scott has indicated he will run for reelection in 2022 rather than make a bid to succeed Leahy.
Welch, 74, serves on the House Intelligence, Energy and Commerce, and Oversight and Reform committees. He’s also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Welch is considered the front runner in the race to succeed Leahy and he was quickly endorsed by Vermont’s other lawmaker in the Senate, independenbernie-sanders” target=”_blank”>t Sen. Bernie Sanders,<
Sanders said in a statement that Welch “has the knowledge and experience to fight for a government that works for all, not just the wealthy few.”
