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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Campaign 2018: A Debate With The Democratic Candidates For U.S. House

Challengers Dan Freilich, left, and Ben Mitchell, center, will debate incumbent Rep. Peter Welch in the Democratic primary for Vermont's sole seat in the U.S. House.
Freilich campaign / DEBORAHANNE MAYER courtesy Mitchell campaign / Liam Elder Conners, VPR file
Challengers Dan Freilich, left, and Ben Mitchell, center, will debate incumbent Rep. Peter Welch in the Democratic primary for Vermont's sole seat in the U.S. House.

Three candidates are running to be the Democratic nominee for Vermont's only seat in the U.S. House. As part of VPR's coverage of contested statewide and federal races, Vermont Edition hosts a debate between Dan Freilich, Ben Mitchell and incumbent Rep. Peter Welch.

Watch The Debate On Facebook Live

Dr. Dan Freilich, a medical doctor and Navy captain from Brownsville, calls himself a Progressive Democrat. He told Vermont Edition in June that those progressive values, as well as campaign finance reform and a rejection of corporate or Political Action Committee donations, are the focus of his campaign.

Ben Mitchell, an education professional from Westminster, identifies as a Democratic Socialist. He told Vermont Edition in June he supports a "Medicare For All" health care system and that he'd advocate for impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Incumbent Peter Welch on Vermont Edition last monthsaid, if re-elected, he'd support boosting federal oversight of prescription drugs and gradually implementing "Medicare For All." He also defended accepting corporate donations as necessary in the age of Political Action Committees.

We won't be taking calls during the debate, but you can submit your questions beforehand or record yourself asking a question with your smartphone's "voice memo" app and email it to vermontedition@vpr.net.

Broadcast live on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 — longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. With his wealth of institutional knowledge, he answers your questions on our series, "Ask Bob."
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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