Peter Welch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Welch
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Official portrait, 2022
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| United States Senator from Vermont |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2023 Serving with Bernie Sanders
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| Preceded by | Patrick Leahy |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Bernie Sanders |
| Succeeded by | Becca Balint |
| 73rd & 78th President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate | |
| In office January 8, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Shumlin |
| Succeeded by | Peter Shumlin |
| In office January 9, 1985 – January 4, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Robert A. Bloomer |
| Succeeded by | Doug Racine |
| Minority Leader of the Vermont Senate | |
| In office January 5, 1983 – January 8, 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Daniels |
| Succeeded by | Allen Avery |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from the Windsor district |
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| In office December 13, 2001 – January 3, 2007 Serving with John Campbell, Richard McCormack
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| Preceded by | Cheryl Rivers |
| Succeeded by | Alice Nitka |
| In office January 7, 1981 – January 4, 1989 Serving with Chester Scott, John Hudson Howland, Edgar May, William Hunter
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| Preceded by | Herbert Ogden |
| Succeeded by | Richard McCormack |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Francis Welch
May 2, 1947 Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Joan Smith
(m. 1986; died 2004)Margaret Cheney
(m. 2009) |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA) University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
| Website | |
Peter Francis Welch (born May 2, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician. Since 2023, he has been a U.S. Senator for Vermont. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for Vermont from 2007 to 2023. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Peter Welch has been an important person in Vermont politics for over 40 years. He is only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the U.S. Senate.
Early Life and Education
Peter Welch was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1947. He went to Cathedral High School there. In 1969, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a degree in history. He earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 1973.
Working for the Community
In the late 1960s, Welch worked as a community organizer in Chicago. He helped low-income people in the city's West Side. He was part of an organization connected to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He even attended a national meeting where he heard speeches from civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr..
After law school, Welch moved to Vermont in 1973. He worked as a law clerk for a judge. For several years, he was a public defender, helping people who could not afford a lawyer in Windsor and Orange counties. He also worked as a partner in a law firm for 30 years.
Serving in Vermont's Government
In 1980, Peter Welch was elected to the Vermont Senate. This is part of Vermont's state government. In his second term, he became the leader of the minority party. Later, he became the President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate. This is a top leadership role. He was the first Democrat to hold this position in Vermont in over 100 years.
In 1988, Welch ran for the U.S. House of Representatives but did not win the primary election. In 1990, he ran for governor of Vermont but lost the main election.
Welch returned to the Vermont Senate in 2001. The governor appointed him to fill a vacant seat. He was reelected in 2002 and 2004. During this time, he again served as the Senate's president pro tempore.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a U.S. Representative
In 2006, Vermont's U.S. Representative, Bernie Sanders, decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Peter Welch then ran for Sanders's seat in the House of Representatives. He won the election, becoming the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1961.
Welch was reelected many times. In 2008, he was even nominated by both the Democratic and Republican parties. This was because many Republican voters wrote his name on their ballots. He continued to win elections in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Key Actions and Beliefs
Peter Welch often worked with members of both major political parties. For example, he worked with a Republican leader to increase funding for children's health research. He also worked with another Republican to protect the use of wooden shelves for aging cheese. He describes himself as "very independent."
Welch opposed sending U.S. troops to fight in Syria and against ISIL. He believes that climate change is a serious problem. He also supported immigration reform that addresses border security while keeping borders open.
In 2016 and 2020, Welch supported Bernie Sanders for president. During the first effort to remove President Donald Trump from office, Welch voted to impeach him.
Committees and Groups
While in the House, Peter Welch served on several important committees. These included:
- The Committee on Energy and Commerce, which deals with energy, technology, and consumer protection.
- The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which focuses on national security.
- The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which checks how the government is working.
He was also part of various groups called caucuses. These groups bring together members of Congress who share common interests. Some of the caucuses he joined focused on:
- Climate solutions
- Dairy farmers
- Renewable energy
- Healthcare (like the Medicare for All Caucus)
Serving in the U.S. Senate
Becoming a U.S. Senator
In November 2021, Senator Patrick Leahy announced he would not run for reelection. Peter Welch decided to run for the open Senate seat. He won the Democratic primary election by a large amount. On November 8, 2022, he won the general election, becoming a U.S. Senator for Vermont. He was 75 years old when he was elected, making him the oldest person to become a first-time senator.
Senate Committees and Groups
As a U.S. Senator, Peter Welch serves on several important committees:
- The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
- The Committee on the Judiciary, which deals with laws and the justice system.
- The Committee on Rules and Administration.
- The Committee on Finance, which handles taxes and government spending.
He is also part of the Senate Democratic Caucus and groups focused on electrification and renewable energy.
Political Views
Gun Control
Welch supports stricter gun control laws. He took part in a protest in the House of Representatives in 2016 to support gun control. He also supports a national ban on assault weapons.
LGBTQIA+ Rights
Peter Welch supports rights for transgender people. He also supports gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Israel and Palestine
In November 2023, Welch asked for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He was one of the first U.S. Senators to do so.
Personal Life
Since 2009, Peter Welch has been married to Margaret Cheney. She was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and later joined the Vermont Public Service Board. Before that, he was married to Joan Smith from 1986 until she passed away in 2004. Peter Welch has five stepchildren from his first marriage and three from his second marriage.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2022
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Peter Welch during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Peter Welch and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at a movie premiere in 2007.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Welch (político) para niños
