Following the resignation of Tasmanian Labor Party leader Rebecca White, Winter was elected unopposed as her successor on 10 April 2024.

[2] Winter was born in Queenstown on Tasmania's West Coast where his father Murray worked as a miner for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company.

Winter's first job at the age of 15 was working as a service station attendant after being hired by Liberal minister Nic Street's father.

He then worked in the Tasmanian Government Media Office before taking a role with Federal Labor MP Julie Collins.

[6] Following the 2018 Tasmanian state election, Winter was appointed senior economic adviser to Opposition leader Rebecca White.

He was initially denied preselection in the seat of Franklin for the 2021 Tasmanian state election, with the Labor Left rumoured to be opposed to him becoming a candidate.

[2] On becoming leader, Winter announced that the Tasmanian Labor party would focus on policies that create and protect jobs.