A day after Sen. Patrick Leahy told Vermonters he’ll retire next year, after nearly half a century in Washington, he won a standing ovation from colleagues on the Senate floor. “It is a decision I do not come to lightly, but one in which Marcelle and I find great peace,” Leahy said. Leaders of both parties praised his service.”It’s one of the most extraordinary records any senator has compiled in the history of this country,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “It’s hard to imagine the Senate without Pat and his lovely wife, Marcelle,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added. The decision means Vermont’s political jockeying now begins for 2022. U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, also a Democrat who is widely assumed to be the party’s strongest candidate, issued a brief statement. “In the coming days, I will make a decision about my future plans and share that decision with Vermonters. Until then, I hope Vermonters will join me in celebrating the remarkable legacy of Patrick and Marcelle Leahy’s service to our state,” the statement said. But the website Axios reported Welch has already “indicated to colleagues” he will run for the Senate next year. Earlier this year, Welch hired a campaign aide anticipating this possibility and has $2.1 million in his campaign bank account. But Republicans also see an opportunity to compete for the seat which hasn’t been open since 1974. “We look forward to returning that seat back to Republican control,” said Vermont GOP chair Paul Dame. The strongest Republican, Gov. Phil Scott, has repeatedly said he has no interest in federal office and will not run. If Welch runs for the Senate, it will mean Vermont’s lone House seat will open and there is expected to be no shortage of applicants. “This is the beginning of what is probably going to be a shift in Vermont’s congressional representation,” Middlebury College Political Analyst Matt Dickinson said. “Pat Leahy’s just the first to step down from that Watergate-era but he won’t be the last.”
A day after Sen. Patrick Leahy told Vermonters he’ll retire next year, after nearly half a century in Washington, he won a standing ovation from colleagues on the Senate floor.
“It is a decision I do not come to lightly, but one in which Marcelle and I find great peace,” Leahy said.
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Leaders of both parties praised his service.
“It’s one of the most extraordinary records any senator has compiled in the history of this country,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
“It’s hard to imagine the Senate without Pat and his lovely wife, Marcelle,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell added.
The decision means Vermont’s political jockeying now begins for 2022.
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, also a Democrat who is widely assumed to be the party’s strongest candidate, issued a brief statement.
“In the coming days, I will make a decision about my future plans and share that decision with Vermonters. Until then, I hope Vermonters will join me in celebrating the remarkable legacy of Patrick and Marcelle Leahy’s service to our state,” the statement said.
But the website Axios reported Welch has already “indicated to colleagues” he will run for the Senate next year.
Earlier this year, Welch hired a campaign aide anticipating this possibility and has $2.1 million in his campaign bank account. But Republicans also see an opportunity to compete for the seat which hasn’t been open since 1974.
“We look forward to returning that seat back to Republican control,” said Vermont GOP chair Paul Dame.
The strongest Republican, Gov. Phil Scott, has repeatedly said he has no interest in federal office and will not run.
If Welch runs for the Senate, it will mean Vermont’s lone House seat will open and there is expected to be no shortage of applicants.
“This is the beginning of what is probably going to be a shift in Vermont’s congressional representation,” Middlebury College Political Analyst Matt Dickinson said. “Pat Leahy’s just the first to step down from that Watergate-era but he won’t be the last.”
