Peter Welch

Peter Welch
Born	Peter Francis Welch 2 5, 1947
Birthplace	Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	U.S. Senator from Vermont, U.S. Representative for Vermont's at-large district
Education	University of California, Berkeley (J.D.)
Spouse(s)	Template:Plainlist
Website	[[welch.senate.gov welch.senate.gov] Official site]

Peter Francis Welch (born May 2, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Welch previously represented Vermont's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2023. His career in Vermont politics spans more than four decades, during which he has held positions in the Vermont Senate, run for governor, and built a substantial legal practice. Welch is only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the U.S. Senate, following his predecessor, Patrick Leahy. Elected to the Senate at the age of 75, Welch holds the distinction of being the oldest person to become a freshman U.S. senator, surpassing a record previously held by Frederick H. Gillett. Before entering federal office, Welch served two separate stints in the Vermont Senate, including terms as minority leader and president pro tempore, and was the first Democrat to serve as president pro tempore of that body. He serves alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, the independent whom he succeeded in the House of Representatives in 2007.

Early Life

Peter Francis Welch was born on May 2, 1947, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He grew up in the New England region and later relocated to Vermont, where he would build both his legal career and his political life. Details of Welch's upbringing and family background in Springfield remain limited in publicly available records, though his trajectory from Massachusetts to Vermont followed a path through higher education in both the northeastern and western United States.

Welch's early formation was shaped by his education at Catholic institutions and later by his legal training in California, experiences that preceded his move to Vermont and his entry into public life. He settled in the state during the 1970s and began practicing law, establishing roots in the community that would eventually become the foundation for his lengthy political career.

Education

Welch attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He subsequently enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Berkeley provided the foundation for a career that would encompass public defense, personal injury law, and eventually decades of political service. After completing his law degree, Welch began his legal career as a public defender before transitioning to private practice, where he founded his own law firm specializing in personal injury cases.

Career

Early Legal Career

Following his graduation from law school, Welch began his professional life as a public defender, representing indigent clients in the legal system. He later transitioned into private practice, founding his own law firm that focused on personal injury litigation. Welch practiced law in Vermont for several decades, and his legal work established him as a figure in the state's professional community. His legal career ran parallel to and often intersected with his growing involvement in Vermont politics.

Vermont Senate (1981–1989)

Welch entered elected office in 1981 when he was elected to the Vermont Senate, representing the Windsor district. He served alongside senators including Chester Scott, John Hudson Howland, Edgar May, and William Hunter during his initial tenure in the chamber. Welch quickly rose through the ranks of the Democratic caucus in the state senate. In 1983, he was elected minority leader of the Vermont Senate, succeeding Robert Daniels in that role.

In January 1985, Welch achieved a historic milestone when he became the President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, succeeding Robert A. Bloomer. He was the first Democrat to hold the position of president pro tempore in the Vermont Senate, a notable accomplishment in a state where the Republican Party had long held dominance in state government. Welch served as president pro tempore until January 1989, when he was succeeded by Doug Racine.

During his years in the Vermont Senate, Welch developed a reputation as a legislative leader and coalition builder. His tenure as both minority leader and president pro tempore gave him experience in managing legislative agendas and navigating bipartisan negotiations in the chamber.

1988 Congressional and 1990 Gubernatorial Campaigns

In 1988, Welch chose to relinquish his seat in the Vermont Senate to pursue a bid for the United States House of Representatives. He entered the Democratic primary for Vermont's at-large congressional seat but lost the primary to Paul N. Poirier, ending his first bid for federal office.

Two years later, in 1990, Welch secured the Democratic nomination for governor of Vermont. He faced Republican Richard A. Snelling in the general election. Snelling, a former governor seeking a return to office, defeated Welch in the November election. The loss marked a setback in Welch's political career, and he returned to his legal practice following the election.

Return to Vermont Senate (2001–2007)

After more than a decade away from elected office, Welch returned to the Vermont Senate in December 2001, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Windsor district seat previously held by Cheryl Rivers. He served alongside John Campbell and Richard McCormack during his second stint in the state senate. Welch was subsequently elected to the seat in his own right in 2002 and again in 2004.

In January 2003, Welch was once again chosen to serve as president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, succeeding Peter Shumlin, who would later serve as governor of Vermont. Welch held the position of president pro tempore for the second time from 2003 until January 2007, when he departed the state legislature to take office in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was succeeded as president pro tempore by Peter Shumlin.

His second tenure as president pro tempore underscored Welch's standing within the Vermont Democratic Party and the legislature more broadly. The position afforded him a leadership platform during a period of significant policy debate in the state.

U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2023)

Election to the House

In 2006, Welch ran for Vermont's at-large congressional seat, which was being vacated by Bernie Sanders, who was running for the U.S. Senate. Welch won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, becoming Vermont's sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He took office on January 3, 2007, succeeding Sanders.

Welch was reelected multiple times to the at-large seat, consistently winning by substantial margins. In 2014, he faced Republican challenger Donald Donka. He continued to serve in the House through the end of 2022, completing eight terms in office.

Committee Assignments and Caucus Memberships

During his time in the House, Welch was active on multiple committees and participated in a range of congressional caucuses. He was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Welch also participated in the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. He was additionally a member of the Citizens' Climate Lobby's Climate Solutions Caucus.

His legislative record in the House included work on energy policy, healthcare, agriculture, and government oversight. Welch's congressional profile listed his committee assignments and areas of legislative focus throughout his tenure.

Political Positions and Legislative Activity

Welch was involved in various legislative efforts during his House tenure. In 2007, during the early stages of the Iraq War debate in Congress, he was among the members who participated in public demonstrations of opposition to the conflict.

In February 2016, Welch announced his support for Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign, backing his fellow Vermont official in the Democratic primary race. The endorsement aligned Welch with his Senate-side colleague from Vermont during a competitive primary season.

During his time in the House, Welch developed working relationships across the aisle on certain policy matters, a characteristic that informed his approach to legislating on issues including energy efficiency, telecommunications, and agricultural policy relevant to Vermont's rural economy.

U.S. Senate (2023–present)

2022 Senate Campaign

In November 2021, Welch announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate following the retirement announcement of longtime Senator Patrick Leahy, who had served in the Senate since 1975. Welch sought the Democratic nomination in the 2022 United States Senate election in Vermont. On August 9, 2022, he won the Democratic primary. In the November 8, 2022 general election, Welch defeated Republican nominee Gerald Malloy to win the Senate seat. At 75 years of age at the time of his election, Welch became the oldest person ever to win election to the U.S. Senate as a first-time member, surpassing the record previously held by Frederick H. Gillett, who was elected to the Senate in 1924 at age 73.

Welch took office on January 3, 2023, succeeding Patrick Leahy. He serves alongside Bernie Sanders, making Vermont's Senate delegation composed of one Democrat and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

Senate Tenure

Since entering the Senate, Welch has been active on a range of issues including healthcare policy, environmental conservation, and foreign affairs. In February 2026, Welch announced that he would bring a Vermonter affected by rising healthcare costs—Vermont State Representative Alyssa Black of Essex Town—as his guest to the State of the Union address, in an effort to highlight the impact of changes to Affordable Care Act tax credits on constituents. Welch urged the president to work with Democrats on healthcare affordability measures.

On foreign policy, Welch released a statement in February 2026 marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming his position on the conflict.

In the area of environmental conservation, Welch co-sponsored bipartisan legislation with New York Representative Elise Stefanik to support conservation efforts for Lake Champlain over a five-year period. The bipartisan nature of the legislation reflected Welch's continued approach to cross-party collaboration on issues of regional significance.

Welch has also been involved in securing federal funding for community projects in Vermont. In February 2026, he visited the Rockingham Municipal Fire Department's Bellows Falls Fire Station to celebrate nearly $600,000 in federal funding earmarked to help build a new fire station in Saxtons River.

In February 2026, Welch commented on a Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump, welcoming the decision.

Personal Life

Welch married Joan Smith in 1986. Joan Smith Welch died in 2004. Welch later married Margaret Cheney, also known as Margaret "Peg" Cheney, in 2009. Cheney is a former member of the Vermont Public Utility Commission.

Welch has maintained his residence in Vermont throughout his political career. His personal life has been marked by his longstanding ties to the state's communities and his involvement in the civic fabric of the region beyond his official duties.

Recognition

Welch's career has been distinguished by several milestones. He was the first Democrat to serve as president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate, a position he held during two separate periods (1985–1989 and 2003–2007). His election to the U.S. Senate in 2022 at the age of 75 made him the oldest first-time senator in American history, and he became only the second Democrat to represent Vermont in the U.S. Senate, following Patrick Leahy's nearly five decades of service.

His record of service in both the state legislature and federal government—spanning over four decades—places him among the longest-serving political figures in Vermont's modern history. Welch's legislative work has encompassed a broad range of policy areas including energy, healthcare, agriculture, and government accountability.