2000 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont explained

Election Name:2000 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont
Country:Vermont
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1998 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont
Previous Year:1998
Next Election:2002 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont
Next Year:2002
Election Date:November 7, 2000
Image1:File:Bernie Sanders 2005.jpg
Nominee1:Bernie Sanders
Party1:Independent (United States)
Popular Vote1:196,118
Percentage1:69.2%
Nominee2:Karen Ann Kerin
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:51,977
Percentage2:18.3%
Image3:File:Diamondstone (cropped).png
Nominee3:Peter Diamondstone
Party3:Democratic Party (United States)
Alliance3:Liberty Union
Popular Vote3:14,918
Percentage3:5.3%
Representative
At-large
Before Election:Bernie Sanders
Before Party:Independent (politician)
After Election:Bernie Sanders
After Party:Independent (politician)

The 2000 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2000, to elect the U.S. representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Results

General election

Candidates

Campaign

Kerin, a transgender woman, received national media attention for being the first openly transgender candidate for congress.[7] She expressed frustration with the media focus on her transgender status rather than her political positions, stating to Newsweek that she wanted reporters to "ask me more about what's in my head and less about what's between my legs".[7] There was some surprise at Kerin's decision to run as a Republican, due to that party's opposition to LGBT rights at the time; Kerin stated to The Advocate that she believed that Republicans were stauncher defenders of civil rights than Democrats.[8] Kerin's campaign was primarily based around economic issues.[8]

There was substantial confusion surrounding the reason that Kerin had decided to undergo a sex change; Kerin herself claimed that it was for medical reasons after she was diagnosed with prostate cancer in order to avoid a Colostomy, but an investigation by several newspapers revealed that whether Kerin had ever been diagnosed with prostate cancer was in question, with Kerin's ex-wife claiming that Kerin had simply wanted to change her sex, and Kerin having given an interview to a Delaware newspaper a decade prior where she discussed her reasons for changing sex, not mentioning cancer.[2] When questioned by the Barre Montpelier Times Argus Kerin was unable to explain how getting a sex change would have prevented her from needing a Colostomy.[2]

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Race for Congress features unusual mix, as usual. Rutland Herald. Eckel. Mike. July 21, 2000. January 1, 2022. Associated Press.
  2. Web site: GOP congressional candidate's change of sex questioned. Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus. Associated Press. June 6, 2000. December 30, 2021.
  3. Web site: Obituary: Karen Ann Kerin. January 2014. December 30, 2021. Vermont World.
  4. Web site: Sanders gets workout from opponent at VPR. King. Wilson. The Brattleboro Reformer. November 1, 2000. January 13, 2021.
  5. Web site: Candidate for representative to Congress. Rutland Daily Herald. October 29, 2000. January 13, 2022.
  6. Web site: Stewart Skrill. The Herald. December 14, 2017. December 30, 2021.
  7. News: On the trail. The Economist. July 15, 2000. December 30, 2021.
  8. Web site: GOP's trans candidate. Dahir. Mubarak. The Advocate. July 18, 2000. December 30, 2021.