Vermont Government
In 1980, Welch was elected to the Vermont Senate as a representative from Windsor County. In his second term, Welch was chosen as the Minority Leader, and after Democrats gained control of the Senate, Welch was chosen as President pro tempore.
In 1988, Welch left the Vermont Senate to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Vermont's at-large congressional district.
In 1990, Welch won the Democratic nomination for governor of Vermont, but lost in the general election to the former Vermont Governor Richard Snelling, the Republican nominee.
Welch did not run for another office for more than a decade, but in 2001 was appointed by Governor Howard Dean to fill a vacant Vermont Senate seat in Windsor County. He was elected to the seat in 2002 and reelected in 2004, again serving as president pro tempore.
Read more about this topic: Peter Welch
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