Peter Welch
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| Peter Welch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Peter Welch |
| State | Vermont |
| Jr/sr | United States Senator |
| Alongside | Bernie Sanders |
| Term start | January 3, 2023 |
| State1 | Vermont |
| District1 | At-large |
| Term start1 | January 3, 2007 |
| Term end1 | January 3, 2023 |
| Predecessor1 | Bernie Sanders |
| Successor1 | Becca Balint |
| Office2 | President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate |
| Term start2 | 2003 |
| Term end2 | 2007 |
| Predecessor2 | Peter Shumlin |
| Successor2 | John F. Campbell |
| State senate3 | Vermont |
| District3 | Windsor County |
| Term start3 | 1981 |
| Term end3 | 1989 |
| State senate4 | Vermont |
| District4 | Windsor County |
| Term start4 | 2001 |
| Term end4 | 2007 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Margaret Cheney |
| Alma mater | College of the Holy Cross (BA), University of California, Berkeley (JD) |
| Birth date | 2 May 1947 |
| Birth place | Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Peter Welch. He is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the U.S. representative for Vermont's at-large congressional district from 2007 to 2023. Before his federal service, Welch had a long career in Vermont state politics, including serving as President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate.
Early life and education
He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and attended local schools before enrolling at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he moved to the West Coast to attend law school at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Juris Doctor. Following his graduation from Berkeley Law, he relocated to Vermont, where he began his legal and political career.
Early career
He initially worked as a public defender in White River Junction and later entered private practice. His political career began with his election to the Vermont Senate in 1980, representing Windsor County. After a period away from elected office, he returned to the Vermont General Assembly in 2001. He rose to leadership, becoming the President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate in 2003, a position he held until his election to the United States Congress.
U.S. House of Representatives
He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2006 election, succeeding Bernie Sanders who was elected to the United States Senate. During his tenure, he served on influential committees including the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and played a role in passing major legislation like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
U.S. Senate
He announced his candidacy for the United States Senate following the retirement of Senator Patrick Leahy. He won the 2022 election and was sworn into the 118th United States Congress in January 2023. In the Senate, he serves on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Rules and Administration, and the Special Committee on Aging.
Political positions
He is considered a progressive Democrat, generally aligning with the party's mainstream on key issues. He is a strong supporter of Medicare for All, aggressive action on climate change, and robust antitrust enforcement. He has been a vocal critic of the Iraq War and has advocated for reforms to the filibuster. On foreign policy, he has supported aid to Ukraine following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been critical of certain aspects of United States–Israel relations.
Personal life
He is married to Margaret Cheney, who served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives. They reside in Hartland. An avid reader and outdoorsman, he enjoys hiking the trails of the Green Mountains. He is a Roman Catholic and has been involved with various community organizations throughout his career in Vermont.
Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont Category:United States senators from Vermont Category:Vermont Democrats Category:People from Springfield, Massachusetts Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni Category:University of California, Berkeley School of Law alumni