The 2022 United States Senate election in Vermont was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Vermont. It was held concurrently with U.S. Senate elections in other states, along with elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections across the country. The incumbent senator, Democrat Patrick Leahy, announced on November 15, 2021, that he would not seek re-election to a ninth term, leaving the seat open for the first time since 1974, when Leahy was first elected.

Primary elections were held on August 9, 2022, with Peter Welch, the incumbent U.S. Representative from the state's at-large congressional district, winning the Democratic primary, while U.S. Army veteran Gerald Malloy won the Republican primary. In heavily Democratic Vermont, the Democratic nomination is tantamount to election, and on election day, Welch defeated Malloy in a landslide. He won all but one county in the state, garnering 68.5% of the vote statewide to Malloy's 28.0%. The race was called for Welch shortly after polls closed.

At 75 years old, Welch became the oldest person ever elected to a first term in the Senate, a record previously held by Frederick H. Gillett at age 73 in 1924 and the oldest person ever elected to a first term in the Senate during the 21st Century a record previously held by John Hickenlooper at age 68 in 2020. He also became only the second Democrat ever elected to the Senate from Vermont, after Leahy.

Democratic primary Following Leahy's announcement that he would retire, speculation arose as to which Democrats could run to succeed him; Newsweek cited two of the leading possible contenders for the nomination as Peter Welch, who had served as U.S. Representative for Vermont's at-large congressional district since 2006, and President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate Becca Balint. Also considering a run was state representative Tanya Vyhovsky. However, candidates were reluctant to enter the race due to speculation that Bernie Sanders, Vermont's popular junior senator, would endorse Welch for the open seat. It was widely considered that an endorsement from Sanders would essentially lock up the race for Welch. While both men were both considered to be associated with the left wing of the Democratic Party, Welch was noted by The Intercept to be rather more moderate than Sanders was, especially when compared to Vyhovsky.

Welch announced his campaign for the seat on November 22, 2021, pledging in a campaign video to support Medicare for All and the Green New Deal; he was immediately endorsed by Sanders.

Candidates Nominee Peter Welch, U.S. Representative for

Eliminated in primary Isaac Evans-Frantz, peace activist Niki Thran, physician

Declined Becca Balint, President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate (ran for and elected to U.S. House) Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, state representative T. J. Donovan, Vermont Attorney General Molly Gray, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (ran for U.S. House) Christine Hallquist, businesswoman and nominee for Governor of Vermont in 2018 Jill Krowinski, Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives Patrick Leahy, incumbent U.S. senator and president pro tempore Kesha Ram Hinsdale, state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2016 (endorsed Welch; ran for and won re-election) Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative (ran for and elected to state senate) David Zuckerman, former lieutenant governor of Vermont and Democratic and Progressive nominee for governor in 2020 (ran for and elected lieutenant governor)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Isaac NikiThran Peter<br/ >Welch Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireJuly 21–25, 2022352 (LV)± 5.2%6%1%82%0%10%

Results

Republican primary

Candidates Nominee Gerald Malloy, businessman and retired U.S. Army officer

Eliminated in primary Myers Mermel, commercial real estate banker Christina Nolan, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont

Declined Jim Douglas, former governor of Vermont and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1992 Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont (endorsed Nolan; running for re-election)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GeraldMalloy MyersMermel Christina<br/ >Nolan UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireJuly 21–25, 2022196 (LV)± 7.0%30%3%24%43%

Results

Progressive primary Candidates Withdrew after winning primary Martha Abbott, former chair of the Vermont Progressive Party and candidate for governor in 1974

Declined Tanya Vyhovsky, state representative (running for state senate)

Results

Minor-parties and independents Candidates Declared Mark Coester, truck driver Natasha Diamondstone-Kohout (Green Mountain) Stephen Duke Dawn Marie Ellis Cris Ericson, perennial candidate Kerry Patrick Raheb, former stockbroker

Declined Christopher Helali (Party of Communists USA), farmer and teacher Brock Pierce, cryptocurrency investor, former actor, and candidate for president of the United States in 2020

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 19, 2021 Inside Elections January 7, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2021PoliticoAugust 12, 2022RCPNovember 1, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538June 30, 2022The EconomistSeptember 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeterWelch (D) GeraldMalloy (R) Other UndecidedData for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)October 21–26, 20221,039 (LV)± 3.0%63%32%–4%University of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireSeptember 29 – October 3, 2022765 (LV)± 3.5%62%28%2%8%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)September 3–7, 20221,072 (LV)± 2.9%50%43%2%5%

Peter Welch vs. Christina Nolan Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PeterWelch (D) ChristinaNolan (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireUniversity of New HampshireApril 14–18, 2022583 (LV)± 4.1%62%27%1%10% Patrick Leahy vs. Phil Scott Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error PatrickLeahy (D) PhilScott (R) Other UndecidedVPR/Vermont PBSVPR/Vermont PBSSeptember 3–15, 2020582 (LV)± 4.0%38%41%7%15%

Debates + 2022 United States Senate general election in Vermont debates Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee Withdrawn Peter Welch Gerard Malloy 1 Oct. 13, 2022 Vermont Public Radio Mikaela Lefrak Youtube

Results

By county

CountyPeter WelchDemocraticGerald MalloyRepublicanVarious candidatesOther parties#%#%#%Addison12,72070.33%4,84326.78%5222.89%Bennington10,07563.33%4,93731.03%8965.64%Caledonia7,78960.94%4,54435.55%4483.51%Chittenden58,53476.65%15,58920.41%2,2382.94%Essex1,15047.72%1,15647.97%1044.31%Franklin11,47857.98%7,71238.96%6063.06%Grand Isle2,53363.85%1,34133.8%932.35%Lamoille8,25971.5%2,95325.56%3392.94%Orange8,94764.17%4,50132.28%4953.55%Orleans6,04156.35%4,29340.05%3863.6%Rutland14,84856.31%10,71840.64%8043.05%Washington20,67673.54%6,37122.66%1,0673.8%Windham14,58172.76%4,24821.2%1,2106.04%Windsor18,94470.02%7,26226.84%8493.14% Totals196,57568.47%80,46828.03%10,0573.5%

See also 2022 United States Senate elections

Notes

References

External links Campaign sites Gerald Malloy (R) for Senate Brock Pierce (I) for Senate Kerry Raheb (I) for Senate Peter Welch (D) for Senate