I'm Michaela Lefrak.

These are the highlights from Vermont Public's 2026 US House debate.

The candidates were Democratic Representative Becca Balint, Republican Gerald Malloy and Independent Adam Ortiz.

The candidates debated the legality of the Iran war and how to end it.

I support President Trump decision.

I will support the president and help him win the war faster.

I am a decorated combat veteran.

I've served in Europe, Asia, the Persian Gulf, Middle East, and combat.

When I looked at what has happened here, one of the things I look to do as a congressman is actually have an impact on proper military decision making processes.

It's clear that the current administration did not go through that process to actually have a clearly defined objective and an end state and an exit plan.

And they really didn't clearly didn't do the war gaming to consider an important strategic place like the Strait of Hormuz and the impact on energy prices.

So what I look for is an immediate ceasefire and a negotiation as like you follow on question to a peace agreement.

I do want that peace agreement as soon as possible, but I would like it to have parts to which it can ensure that the United States can ensure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.

We do not want that.

They do harbor and support terrorists like Hamas, and will do something terrible with a nuclear weapon.

This was an illegal war.

This was an unwarranted war.

Yes, it is true.

Iran is no friend to the United States.

Absolutely not.

To your point, it wasn't as if they didn't have the Intel.

They had people telling them.

The first thing that's going to happen is they're going to close the Strait of Hormuz, and you're going to disrupt the entire region.

They ignored that.

I have sat in congressional briefings with Pete Hegseth, with the secretary of state, who cannot give us any clear reason why it was an imminent threat.

And in 2025, the president said they had obliterated, excuse me, obliterated nuclear capabilities.

So why are we currently at war with Iran?

They disagreed on the SAVE act and whether US elections are secure.

Why do you support making it harder for eligible Vermonters to vote?

I don't support making it harder at all.

That's your words.

I do support the SAVE act because I think in meeting Vermont as a meeting, Americans, many Americans have lost faith in their election system.

And that that hurts because that's the foundation of our Constitution.

I want to restore that confidence.

And I think to SAVE act, the idea behind the SAVE act would help support that.

With a voter, ID get rid of the machines.

What I would like to do is, you know, work with the other side to get that bill to some middle piece where it is agreeable.

Maybe it's just a maybe it's just a license, a driver's license, or maybe it's just your Social Security number you punch in to reduce the requirements if that was your concern.

But overall, the idea of restoring confidence to Americans in our voting system is something I support.

So there is a reason why people have lost faith in our elections.

And part of that is because we have a president and many members of his party who continue to insist that he did not win the 2020 election.

I just want to remind everybody.

Elections are not run by the federal government.

Elections are run by the states, and it's town clerks across Vermont that make sure the people who are eligible to vote are voting.

You also just said voter ID, I just said to you, it is not a voter ID bill.

That's not what the SAVE act is.

It is a registration bill, and it will take thousands of people off the rolls in order to vote.

They will be removed if their names do not match and thousands of Vermonters do not have passports.

Do you respond to that last?

Well, it's about showing an ID and making sure you are who you are and a US citizen to vote.

I think that's the idea behind the act.

Their many differences on federal policy.

Proposals were clear in the lightning round.

Should there be term limits on members of Congress?

Representative Balint?

Absolutely.

Gerald Malloy?

Absolutely.

Adam Ortiz?

No.

You vote who you vote for.

You don't like them.

You don't vote for them.

Should the federal government eliminate the death penalty?

Adam Ortiz?

No.

Becca Balint?

Yes.

No.

Should the federal government legalize recreational marijuana?

Yes.

Federal government?

Federal government.

No.

Yes.

If you lose this race, what job are you going to try to get instead?

Id become a farmer.

I actually did call Guantanamo Bay to see if I could do the EMT class.

So when we are in Cuba, I'm already there, and I can be a civilian contractor or as an EMT.

Becca Balint.

If I lose this race, I will commit myself to two of the issues that I care about literacy and food distribution to people who are hungry.