Veteran Gerald Malloy Wins Vermont GOP Primary, Targets Progressive Policies

In the 2026 contest for Vermont’s single U.S. House seat, Republican Gerald Malloy, an Army veteran and former Senate candidate, secured a decisive 76% victory in the GOP primary and is now opposing Democrat Becca Balint. Malloy contends that years of progressive governance have driven up living costs, citing a 60% rise in average property taxes over seven years and a proposed additional 14% increase, which he says is causing residents to relocate to states such as New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas and Florida.

He highlights his 40 years of government and business experience, an MBA, and worldwide military service, promising to work with Republican Governor Phil Scott to make Vermont more attractive to technology and innovation firms and to halt the outflow of 18-34-year-olds. Malloy also denounces the current congressional delegation for prioritizing criticism of the Trump administration over concrete state results, framing his campaign as a pragmatic alternative to what he describes as socialist policies. He notes growing openness among independents and Democrats to the GOP, pointing to recent Republican gains in the state senate and frequent overrides of Gov. Scott’s vetoes.