Changes

After incumbent Republican senator Ernest W. Gibson died in office on June 20, 1940, Gov. Aiken appointed Gibson's son as an interm to the seat. After the younger Gibson decided against running in the [[special election]] that year, Aiken ran and easily won by over twenty percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=223197 VT US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1940]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> Aiken continued to be re-elected before retiring in the 1974 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=7383 Candidate - George D. Aiken]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>

After incumbent Republican senator Ernest W. Gibson died in office on June 20, 1940, Gov. Aiken appointed Gibson's son as an interm to the seat. After the younger Gibson decided against running in the [[special election]] that year, Aiken ran and easily won by over twenty percentage points.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=223197 VT US Senate - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1940]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> Aiken continued to be re-elected before retiring in the 1974 midterms.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=7383 Candidate - George D. Aiken]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>

Part of the [[progressive]]<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/05/23/the-bizarre-political-transformation-of-vermont/ The Bizarre Political Transformation of Vermont]. ''fascinatingpolitics.com''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>/[[Moderate Republican]] wing of the GOP, Aiken was liberal on a number of issues and, along with his more conservative colleague Ralph Flanders, voted for the censure of [[Joseph McCarthy]],<ref name=wapo/><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1954/s271 S. RES. 301. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1954/12/02/Censured-McCarthy-plans-new-investigation/4424680116219/ Censured McCarthy plans new investigation]. ''UPI''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> who had exposed [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government. Aiken also supported rural electrification programs and price supports to aid farmers.<ref name=wapo/>

Part of the [[progressive]]<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2018/05/23/the-bizarre-political-transformation-of-vermont/ The Bizarre Political Transformation of Vermont]. ''fascinatingpolitics.com''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref>/[[Moderate Republican]] wing of the GOP, Aiken was liberal on a number of issues and, along with his more conservative colleague Ralph Flanders, voted for the censure of [[Joseph McCarthy]],<ref name=wapo/><ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/83-1954/s271 S. RES. 301. PASSAGE.]. ''GovTrack.us''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1954/12/02/Censured-McCarthy-plans-new-investigation/4424680116219/ Censured McCarthy plans new investigation]. ''UPI''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> who had exposed [[communist]] infiltration of the U.S. government. According to an analysis on his voting record up until 1950, he was considerably liberal.<ref>[https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/01/06/ideology-and-civil-rights-1950-edition/ Ideology and Civil Rights, 1950 Edition]. ''fascinatingpolitics.com''. Retrieved June 5, 2021.</ref> Aiken also supported rural electrification programs and price supports to aid farmers.<ref name=wapo/>

Aiken opposed U.S. involvement in the [[Vietnam War]], saying in 1966:<ref name=wapo/>

Aiken opposed U.S. involvement in the [[Vietnam War]], saying in 1966:<ref name=wapo/>