Becca Balint (VT-AL)

Biography

Becca Balint, born on May 4, 1968, in Heidelberg, West Germany, is a Democratic politician representing Vermont's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to represent Vermont in Congress. Before her congressional tenure, Balint served in the Vermont State Senate from 2015 to 2023, holding positions as Majority Leader and later as President Pro Tempore. Her legislative efforts have focused on gun safety, housing investment, and reproductive rights. Balint resides in Brattleboro, Vermont, with her wife, Elizabeth Wohl, and their two children.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in History and Women's Studies from Smith College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
• Master of Education from Harvard University in 1995.
• Master of Arts in History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2001.

Political Experience

• Vermont State Senate :
  • Served on the Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs, Finance, and Rules committees.
  • Elected Majority Leader in 2017.
  • Elected President Pro Tempore in 2021, becoming the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the position.
• U.S. House of Representatives :
  • Serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the Budget Committee.
  • Vice Chair for New Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
  • Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.

Notable Achievements

• Led the passage of Vermont's first gun safety laws aimed at protecting children, communities, and survivors of abuse.
• Secured the largest housing investment in Vermont in decades to rebuild housing stock and expand middle-income housing.
• Worked to enshrine abortion rights in Vermont's constitution.