kˈɑːpənɹˌæθ wʌz ɐpˈɔɪntᵻd tə ðə vɜːmˈɔnt sˈɛnət baɪ ɡˈʌvɚnɚ dʒˈɪm dˈʌɡləz ˌɔn ˈeɪpɹəl twˈɛlv, tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪv ænd wˈʌn ᵻlˈɛkʃən ɪn hɪz ˈoʊn ɹˈaɪt ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks.
Coppenrath was appointed to the Vermont Senate by Governor Jim Douglas on April 12, 2005 and won election in his own right in November 2006.