2008 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont

2008 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont's at-large district

←  2006 November 4, 2008 2010  →

Nominee Peter Welch Mike Bethel Party Democratic Independent Alliance Republican Popular vote 248,203 14,349 Percentage 83.25% 4.81%

County results Municipality results Welch:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. Representative before election Peter Welch Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Peter Welch Democratic

The 2008 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 4, 2008, and determined who represents the state of Vermont in the United States House of Representatives. Democratic Congressman Peter Welch decided to run for a second term in Congress. In an aberration for a freshman member of Congress, Welch encountered no major-party opposition and received the Republican nomination based on write-in votes in their primary. ^[1] Welch defeated a series of independent candidates with ease and represented Vermont in the 111th Congress.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Peter Welch, incumbent United States Congressman
• Craig Hill, perennial candidate and advocate of Vermont secession

Results

Democratic primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peter Welch (incumbent)	19,566	87.74
	Democratic	Craig Hill	2,635	11.82
	Democratic	Write-ins	98	0.44
Total votes			22,299	100.00

Independent candidates

• Mike Bethel
• Cris Ericson, marijuana activist, perennial candidate
• Jerry Trudell, renewable energy activist, pilot, independent candidate for U.S. House in 2006 ^[3]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [4]	Safe D	November 6, 2008
Rothenberg [5]	Safe D	November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball [6]	Safe D	November 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics [7]	Safe D	November 7, 2008
CQ Politics [8]	Safe D	November 6, 2008

Results

Vermont's at-large congressional district election, 2008 ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Peter Welch (incumbent)	248,203	83.25
	Independent	Mike Bethel	14,349	4.81
	Independent	Jerry Trudell	10,818	3.63
	Progressive	Thomas James Hermann	9,081	3.05
	Independent	Cris Ericson	7,841	2.63
	Liberty Union	Jane Newton	5,307	1.78
	Write-ins		2,552	0.86
Total votes			298,151	100.00
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Rutland (largest municipality: Rutland)
• Grand Isle (largest municipality: Alburgh)
• Caledonia (largest municipality: St. Johnsbury)
• Orleans (largest municipality: Derby)
• Essex (Largest city: Lunenburg)
• Franklin (Largest city: St. Albans)

References

1. Caygle, Heather (October 7, 2016). "Sanders-loving Vermont lawmaker snags GOP nomination". POLITICO. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
2. "For representative to Congress - 2008 Democratic Primary" (PDF). vermont-elections.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2010.
3. "Trudell blows green energy whistle". October 24, 2008.
4. "2008 Competitive House Race Chart". House: Race Ratings. The Cook Political Report. November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
5. "2008 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
6. "2008 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
7. "Battle for the House of Representatives". realclearpolitics.com. Real Clear Politics. November 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
8. "Race Ratings Chart: House". cqpolitics.com. Congressional Quarterly Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
9. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".