New York State Assembly (1974, 1976, 1978)

Schumer was first elected in 1974 at age 23 (taking office at 24), winning the Brooklyn seat previously held by his mentor, U.S. Representative Stephen Solarz. He served three terms in the Assembly. [2] During his first campaign, he ran while still a student at Harvard Law School. [1]

U.S. House of Representatives (1980–1998)

In 1980, Schumer won the Brooklyn and Queens seat vacated by Elizabeth Holtzman, who ran for the U.S. Senate. He was reelected eight consecutive times from districts that changed numbers twice due to redistricting (16th district from 1981–1983, 10th from 1983–1993, and 9th from 1993–1999). [1] In preparation for a potential redistricting matchup with Solarz in 1982, Schumer began cultivating relationships with Wall Street donors, tapping into top law firms and securities houses for campaign contributions, a fundraising pattern that would define his career. [1]

1998 Senate Election

Schumer's first Senate race was described at the time as one of the highest-profile and most contentious contests of the cycle. [3]

In the Democratic primary, Schumer won with 51% of the vote, defeating former vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro (who received 21%) and New York City Public Advocate Mark Green (who received 19%). [1]

In the general election, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Alfonse D'Amato by approximately 10 percentage points, with roughly 55% of the vote to D'Amato's 44%. [3] [4] The campaign was marked by sharp exchanges: D'Amato attempted to brand Schumer as a liberal, while Schumer accused D'Amato of dishonesty. When D'Amato's first strategy failed, he attacked Schumer's attendance record as a congressman, which Schumer refuted. Late in the campaign, D'Amato called Schumer a "putzhead" at a private meeting with Jewish supporters and later apologized for the remark. [3]

Vice President Al Gore and First Lady Hillary Clinton campaigned personally for Schumer. D'Amato was supported by Governor George Pataki, New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Mayor Ed Koch (a Democrat). The candidates spent a combined $30 million. [3] Schumer's victory was attributed to strong performance in New York City and in upstate urban centers like Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, and Albany. [3] The win marked the first time since 1947 that Democrats held both of New York's U.S. Senate seats simultaneously. [3]

2004 Reelection

Schumer was reelected with 71% of the vote against Republican Assemblyman Howard Mills, winning every county in the state except Hamilton County, the least populated and most Republican county in the Adirondacks. Many New York Republicans were frustrated by the selection of Mills as their nominee. [1]

2010 Reelection

Schumer won a third term with 66% of the vote, defeating Republican Jay Townsend, Green Party candidate Colia Clark, and Anti-Prohibition/Libertarian candidate Randy Credico. [5]

2016 Reelection

Schumer was reelected with 70% of the vote. Simultaneously, his Senate colleagues elected him to serve as Democratic leader, succeeding the retiring Harry Reid. [1]

2022 Reelection

Schumer won a fifth term with approximately 56% of the vote, defeating Republican Joe Pinion and independent Diane Sare. [6] Pinion became the first Black individual nominated for the U.S. Senate by a major party in New York state history. [6]

While Schumer won comfortably, it was his closest Senate race since 1998, reflecting broader Democratic underperformance across New York State that cycle. He lost significant support on Long Island and in upstate New York compared to his 2016 results: Pinion flipped several counties that Schumer had previously won, including some traditionally Democratic-leaning counties such as Nassau, Saratoga, Broome, Clinton, and Essex. [6] However, Schumer's lead in New York City was large enough that most media outlets called the race in his favor as soon as polls closed. [6] With this fifth term, Schumer became the longest-serving U.S. senator in New York's history, surpassing both Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Jacob K. Javits. [6]

As of 2024, Schumer's Senate re-election margins have ranged from 14 percentage points (2022) to 47 percentage points (2004). [5] His next election is in 2028. [7]

Campaign Finance

Schumer has been one of the most prolific fundraisers in the Senate. The securities and investment industry has been the largest donor sector to his senatorial campaigns since 2010. [1] His principal campaign committee, "Friends of Schumer," is registered with the Federal Election Commission and has raised and spent significant sums across each election cycle. [7]

Rise Through Democratic Leadership

Schumer's political career began under the mentorship of Stephen Solarz, whose Assembly seat he won in 1974. [1] After his 2004 reelection, he secured a seat on the Senate Finance Committee and the chairmanship of the DSCC. Following the 2006 elections, then-Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Schumer as Vice Chair of the Democratic Conference the third-ranking position in the party's Senate hierarchy. [8] In 2011, Schumer became chair of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. [8] In 2016, his colleagues unanimously elected him to succeed Reid as Senate Democratic leader. [1]

Schumer became New York's senior senator in 2001 upon Daniel Patrick Moynihan's retirement. [1] He has been reelected to the leadership role without opposition in every subsequent caucus election, including as minority leader for the 119th Congress in December 2024. [5]

Bipartisan Partnerships

Despite deep partisan polarization, Schumer has maintained working relationships across the aisle on specific legislative priorities. His collaboration with Republican Senator Todd Young on the CHIPS and Science Act was cited as a model of bipartisan cooperation, and the two later co-led the Senate's bipartisan AI working group. [9] Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell worked together on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, changes to the Electoral Count Act, and the CHIPS legislation. At a 2024 Congressional dinner, Schumer joked about their working relationship by referencing a Jay-Z lyric, saying he had "99 problems but Mitch ain't one." [10]

In 2013, Schumer worked with a bipartisan "Gang of Eight" that included Republican senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake, and Marco Rubio to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill through the Senate. [8]

Relationship with Presidents

Schumer was a vocal opponent of many of President Trump's first-term policies (2017–2021), notably rallying Democrats against the ACA repeal effort and seeking additional witnesses during Trump's first impeachment trial. [2] During the Biden administration (2021–2025), Schumer worked closely with the White House to advance the president's legislative agenda, including the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. [11] In the 119th Congress (2025–present), Schumer has led Senate Democratic opposition on various budget, policy, and personnel matters. [12]

In 2017, Schumer briefly had a period of negotiation with President Trump on infrastructure and other issues, before the relationship became more adversarial. [13] Schumer was involved in negotiations in late March 2020 that led to the passage of a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, then the largest stimulus bill in U.S. history. [2]

Managing a Diverse Caucus

Leading the Senate Democratic Caucus has required balancing members who range from progressive (e.g., Senator Bernie Sanders) to more moderate. Defenders have praised his ability to hold together a 50–50 Senate and deliver major legislation. [14] Critics from the progressive wing have expressed frustration with what they see as centrist compromises on climate, healthcare, and economic issues. [14]

Personal Connections in Washington

For more than three decades, Schumer shared a row house in Washington, D.C., with congressional colleagues including Senator Dick Durbin and Representative George Miller. He lived there during the work week and returned to his family home in Brooklyn on weekends. [15]