Ericka Redic talks switching parties, overcoming obstacles in race for Vermont's U.S. House seat
She lost the Republican primary in August, but said quitting wasn't an option for her.
She lost the Republican primary in August, but said quitting wasn't an option for her.
She lost the Republican primary in August, but said quitting wasn't an option for her.
It hasn't been a normal path to the general election for Ericka Redic, but the Republican turned Libertarian candidate for Vermont's open U.S. House seat is feeling confident that she has a strong campaign behind her.
The accountant from Chittenden County said when she lost the Republican primary in August, quitting wasn't an option for her.
"A handful of people said if I were you, I would've given up," Redic said. "Having all of this attention brought to the race when people may have not otherwise been paying attention has actually allowed me the opportunity, a bigger voice to talk about what Vermonters are really facing."
All the attention about her candidacy stemmed from a situation with the Republican nominee.
Liam Madden ran on the Republican ticket, however, has been outspoken about not being a Republican. Madden won the nomination but didn't have the proper paperwork filed to change party affiliations in time for November's ballots.
Redic said the letter next to her name doesn't matter all that much to her. She added that she had the support of the Libertarian Party prior to the August primary, so the transition hasn't been too difficult.
This year, Redic is celebrating 13 years sober from substance abuse. The Libertarian Party candidate said the challenge of changing parties isn't different than other obstacles she's overcome throughout her life.
"I think that having struggles and being able to demonstrate overcoming them, the perseverance. I think that says more about a person's character than how many bills they've signed," Redic said. "I played football in high school, and I didn't know that little girls weren't supposed to play football. So, I started getting bullied mercilessly even by teachers at my high school and all it did was strengthen my resolve to not quit."
The General Election is Nov. 8. Ballots in Vermont will be mailed to registered voters. You can return your ballot to your town clerk or drop it at your polling location on election day.