Charles Ellis Schumer was born on November 23, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, the oldest of three children.

Charles Ellis Schumer was born on November 23, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, the oldest of three children. His father, Abe, took over his own father's exterminating business after serving as a radar operator in planes flying over the Himalayas in World War II. His mother, Selma, was a homemaker active in the community. Schumer grew up in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood with his siblings Fran and Robert, attended P.S. 197, and graduated as valedictorian from James Madison High School [1, 2].

In 1967, Schumer enrolled at Harvard College, becoming the first in his family to attend college. He initially studied chemistry before becoming active in the College Democrats, working on Eugene McCarthy's 1968 presidential campaign. He graduated from Harvard in 1971 and from Harvard Law School in 1974 [2, 3].

In November 1974, at age 23, Schumer was elected to represent the 45th District in the New York State Assembly, becoming the youngest member of the state legislature since Theodore Roosevelt [4, 1].

In November 1974, at age 23, Schumer was elected to represent the 45th District in the New York State Assembly, becoming the youngest member of the state legislature since Theodore Roosevelt [4, 1]. He served three terms in the Assembly from 1975 to 1980, focusing on rent-controlled housing, cemetery protection, noise pollution, and increased penalties for arson directed at houses of worship [4].

Schumer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 at age 29, representing New York's 16th congressional district [5].

Schumer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 at age 29, representing New York's 16th congressional district [5]. He was redistricted to the 10th district in 1983 and to the 9th district in 1993, serving nine terms in total through 1999 and representing parts of Brooklyn and Queens throughout [5].

During his House years, Schumer was the chief sponsor of the 1993 Brady Bill, which required background checks before a person could buy a handgun [1, 6]. He was also a leading sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, championed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and played a key role in the 1994 anti-crime bill that authorized 100,000 new police officers [1, 2].

In late 1998, while on the House Judiciary Committee, he opposed all four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton in both committee and on the House floor [1]. Sworn in to the Senate before Clinton's Senate impeachment trial began, he ultimately cast more votes against Clinton's impeachment and conviction than any other member of Congress [1].

Schumer was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 1998, defeating three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55 to 44 percent [7].

Schumer was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 1998, defeating three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55 to 44 percent [7]. He was sworn in on January 6, 1999 [8]. He was re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71 to 24 percent [7], and again in 2010, 2016, and 2022, becoming the longest-serving U.S. senator from New York, surpassing Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Jacob K. Javits [3].

After his 2004 re-election, he secured two powerful posts: a seat on the Senate Finance Committee and the chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) [2]. He led the DSCC for two consecutive cycles, overseeing a total of 14 Democratic gains in the Senate across the 2006 and 2008 elections [7].

Following the 2006 elections, then-Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Schumer to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Conference, the number-three position on the Democratic leadership team [2].

In November 2016, after Reid's retirement, Senate Democrats elected Schumer as their leader for the 115th Congress, a role he assumed in January 2017 [3].

In November 2016, after Reid's retirement, Senate Democrats elected Schumer as their leader for the 115th Congress, a role he assumed in January 2017 [3]. He served as Senate Minority Leader from 2017 to 2021, then as Senate Majority Leader from 2021 to 2025 after Democrats won control of the chamber following the January 2021 Georgia runoffs [3].

On December 3, 2024, Senate Democrats re-elected him without opposition to lead the caucus in the 119th Congress as Minority Leader, a role he assumed when Republicans took the Senate majority in January 2025 [9].

On August 6, 2015, Schumer became the first senator of President Obama's party to announce he would oppose the Iran nuclear deal, voting yes on a motion of disapproval [10, 11].

On August 6, 2015, Schumer became the first senator of President Obama's party to announce he would oppose the Iran nuclear deal, voting yes on a motion of disapproval [10, 11].

On March 4, 2020, Schumer spoke at a pro-abortion-rights rally outside the Supreme Court while justices heard arguments in a Louisiana abortion case, telling Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch they had "released the whirlwind" and would "pay the price." Chief Justice John Roberts publicly rebuked him; Schumer later said he should not have used those words [12].

On March 14, 2024, as Majority Leader, Schumer delivered a Senate floor speech calling for new elections in Israel and naming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as one of "four major obstacles to peace" alongside Hamas, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and radical right-wing Israelis [13]. He nonetheless attended Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, 2024 [14].

On March 13, 2025, with the federal government facing a shutdown, Schumer announced he would vote to advance a Republican-drafted continuing resolution, breaking with House Democrats who had largely opposed the measure.

On March 13, 2025, with the federal government facing a shutdown, Schumer announced he would vote to advance a Republican-drafted continuing resolution, breaking with House Democrats who had largely opposed the measure. He warned that a shutdown would give President Trump "the keys to the city, state, and country" [15, 16]. The vote drew immediate backlash from progressive Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [17].

The 2025 federal government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025, and ended on November 12, 2025, at 42 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at the time [18]. The Senate voted 60-40 on November 10 to advance an amended continuing resolution funding the government through January 30, 2026, with seven Democrats and one independent joining 52 Republicans. Schumer voted against the deal but faced renewed criticism for not preventing its passage [18, 19].

On February 1, 2026, Schumer addressed a gathering of Jewish leaders in New York City, pledging that one of his "many jobs" as Senate Democratic leader was to "fight for aid to Israel" [3].

On February 1, 2026, Schumer addressed a gathering of Jewish leaders in New York City, pledging that one of his "many jobs" as Senate Democratic leader was to "fight for aid to Israel" [3]. In April 2026, he was one of seven Democratic senators to join all Republicans in opposing a pair of resolutions that would have blocked sales of bulldozers and 1,000-pound bombs to Israel [3].

In December 2025, Schumer said that his offices in New York City, Long Island, Rochester, and Binghamton had been the targets of multiple bomb threats [3]. As of April 2026, he remained Senate Minority Leader. Per TIME reporting, no current Democratic senator was publicly calling for him to step aside, and his job appeared secure through the midterms [20]. His current Senate term runs through January 3, 2029, and he has not announced whether he will seek a sixth term in 2028 [8].