The Representatives:
- Jim Jeffords (1975-1989)
- Peter Plympton Smith (1989-1991)
- Bernie Sanders (1991-2007)
- Peter Welch (2007-)
The Senators:
- Robert Stafford (1971-1989)
- Jim Jeffords (1989-2007)
- Bernie Sanders (2007-)
- Pat Leahy (1975-)
By years in office during the last 45:
- Leahy: 45
- Jeffords: 32
- Sanders: 29
- Stafford: 14
- Welch: 13
- Plympton-Smith: 2
... so 3 men have provided the vast majority of the representation for the entire state of Vermont at the national level since 1975.
Because it's nearly impossible to unseat an incumbent**, these are essentially lifetime appointments, and over the decades many potential candidates for these positions are left waiting for "their turn". Welch, the current Rep, waited 18 years between runs for the U.S. House after losing in the 1988 primary to Poirier, and generations of potential U.S. congresspeople from VT are getting old and grey waiting for Leahy, Sanders, and Welch to retire.
Term limits might be the laxative we need.
** the only time it's happened in the last 45 years was in the 1990 U.S. House election when Bernie ousted Plympton-Smith, after coming a close 2nd when he and Paul Poirier split the Dem/Independent vote in the 1988 election.
