Peter Welch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Welch
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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 and 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) |
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.
Peter Welch is a member of the Democratic Party. He has been an important person in Vermont politics for over 40 years. He is only the second Democrat from Vermont to be elected as a U.S. Senator.
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.
Vermont Government Roles
In 1980, Peter Welch was elected to the Vermont Senate, which 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 when Democrats gained more control. He was the first Democrat to hold this position in Vermont.
In 1988, Welch tried to run for the U.S. House of Representatives but did not win the Democratic nomination. In 1990, he ran for governor of Vermont but lost the main election.
After a break from politics, Governor Howard Dean appointed Welch to fill an open seat in the Vermont Senate in 2001. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2004, and again served as president pro tempore.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a 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. He won the election, becoming the first Democrat to represent Vermont in the House since 1961.
Welch was re-elected many times after that. In 2008, he was even nominated by both the Democratic and Republican parties! He continued to win his elections by large margins, serving eight terms in total.
Key Actions and Beliefs
Welch often worked with members from both political parties. For example, he worked with a Republican leader to get more money 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."
He disagreed with his party leaders when he voted against arming and training Syrian rebels. He also believes that climate change is a serious issue. He opposed travel bans during the Ebola epidemic. He supports changing immigration laws to make borders safe but still open.
In 2016 and 2020, Welch supported Bernie Sanders for president. During the first time President Donald Trump faced impeachment, Welch voted for both articles of impeachment.
Committee Work
As a U.S. Representative, Peter Welch served on several important committees. These committees help Congress study issues and create laws.
- He was on the Committee on Rules.
- He also served on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- He was a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- He was part of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
- He was a Chief Deputy Whip for the Democrats, helping to manage votes.
Group Memberships
Welch was also part of several special groups in Congress called caucuses. These groups focus on specific topics.
- Climate Solutions Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Congressional Biomass Caucus (co-chair)
- Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus (co-chair and founder)
- Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Medicare for All Caucus
- Safe Climate Caucus
Becoming a U.S. Senator
2022 Election
In November 2021, Senator Patrick Leahy announced he would retire. Peter Welch decided to run for his seat in the U.S. Senate. He won the Democratic primary election by a large amount. On November 8, 2022, he won the main election against the Republican candidate.
Welch was 75 years old when he was elected to the Senate. This made him the oldest person to become a new senator.
Senate Committee Assignments
As a U.S. Senator, Peter Welch serves on these committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Committee on the Judiciary
- Committee on Rules and Administration
- Joint Economic Committee
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
Peter Welch has been married to Margaret Cheney since 2009. She was also a politician in Vermont. Before that, he was married to Joan Smith from 1986 until she passed away from cancer in 2004. Welch has five stepchildren from his first marriage and three from his second.
Images for kids
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Welch and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders at the premiere of The Simpsons Movie in 2007
