Chuck Schumer is the senior senator from New York and the current Senate Majority Leader. First elected to the Senate in 1998 after nearly two decades in the U.S. House (1981–1999), he’s been a central strategist for Democrats on judges, budgets, and major policy fights.
Born November 23, 1950, in Brooklyn, Schumer graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He entered the New York State Assembly at just 24 years old and has basically never stopped doing politics since.
As Majority Leader (since 2021), Schumer helped steer COVID economic relief, infrastructure spending, elements of climate and clean energy funding, and an aggressive judicial confirmation pipeline. He’s known for caucus management, message discipline, and keeping even feuding factions mostly rowing in the same direction.
Establishment Democrat
Achievements
- Guided passage of major COVID economic relief and middle-class aid packages
- Helped pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill with huge funding for transit, broadband, and roads
- Championed climate and clean energy investments in recent budget deals
- Oversaw a sustained push on federal judicial confirmations, shaping the courts
- Vocal advocate for voting rights and gun safety legislation
Controversies
- Criticized for close ties to Wall Street, finance, and high-dollar donors
- Hit from the left for strategic caution on some progressive economic and housing priorities
- Accused by Republicans of using Senate procedure to jam through partisan priorities
- Sometimes portrayed as prioritizing electoral calculus and caucus protection over maximal policy demands
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Group | $281,400 | $281,400 | $0 |
| NextEra Energy | $235,000 | $225,000 | $10,000 |
| Paul, Weiss et al | $231,791 | $231,791 | $0 |
| Newmark Group | $194,606 | $194,606 | $0 |
| L3Harris Technologies | $162,341 | $142,341 | $20,000 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
1998 Margin D +10%
2004 Margin D +32%
2010 Margin D +34%
2016 Margin D +43%
2022 Margin D +14%