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Official portrait, 2024

United States Senator from California
Incumbent
Assumed office December 9, 2024 Serving with Alex Padilla
Preceded by	Laphonza Butler
Chair of the House Intelligence Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Devin Nunes
Succeeded by	Mike Turner
Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Dutch Ruppersberger
Succeeded by	Devin Nunes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
In office January 3, 2001 – December 8, 2024
Preceded by	James E. Rogan
Succeeded by	Laura Friedman
Constituency	27th district (2001–2003) 29th district (2003–2013) 28th district (2013–2023) 30th district (2023–2024)
Member of the California Senate from the 21st district
In office December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2000
Preceded by	Newton Russell
Succeeded by	Jack Scott

Personal details
Born	Adam Bennett Schiff (1960-06-22) June 22, 1960 (age 65) Framingham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Eve Sanderson (m. 1995)
Children	2
Education	Stanford University (BA) Harvard University (JD)
Signature
Website

Adam Bennett Schiff (born June 22, 1960) is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for California, a role he started in 2024. Before becoming a senator, Schiff served for 12 terms in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2024. He was also a member of the California State Senate from 1996 to 2000.

Schiff studied at Stanford University and Harvard Law School. Early in his career, he worked as a prosecutor. He successfully handled the case against Richard Miller, a former FBI agent who spied for the Soviet Union.

Schiff lives in Burbank. During his time in the House of Representatives, he represented various districts in Los Angeles County. He led the House Intelligence Committee from 2019 to 2023. He also played a key role as the lead manager in the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

In 2024, Schiff was elected to the Senate. He won against other candidates, including fellow Democrats Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, and Republican Steve Garvey. He officially became a senator on December 9, 2024.

Early Life and Education
Law Career and Early Politics
California State Senate (1996–2000)
U.S. House of Representatives (2001–2024)
Campaign for California Attorney General
U.S. Senate (2024–Present)
- Senate Elections
  - 2024 Election
- Senate Work
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Adam Schiff was born on June 22, 1960, in Framingham, Massachusetts. His parents were Edward and Sherrill Ann Schiff. His family has roots in Lithuania. In 1970, his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, and then to Alamo, California, in 1972.

In 1978, he graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville, California. He was a top student and was voted "most likely to succeed" by his classmates.

Schiff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Stanford University in 1982. He then received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1985. While at Harvard, he helped drive guest speakers and worked as a research assistant.

Law Career and Early Politics

After law school, Schiff worked for a judge in California for a year. From 1987 to 1993, he was a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office. He became well-known for prosecuting Richard Miller, an FBI agent who spied for the Soviet Union. Miller was eventually found guilty in a third trial.

In 1994, Schiff ran for a seat in the California State Assembly but lost to Republican James E. Rogan.

California State Senate (1996–2000)

Schiff as a state senator in 1997

In 1996, Schiff was elected to the California State Senate for the 21st district. He defeated Republican assemblywoman Paula Boland. At 36, he was the youngest member of the Senate when he started his term.

During his four years as a state senator, Schiff led the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also chaired the Select Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Joint Committee on the Arts.

Schiff helped create many new laws. One important law he wrote in 1998 helped continue work on a light rail extension to Pasadena. This project, which became known as the Gold Line, was completed in 2003. It was later extended to Azusa in 2016 and is planned to reach Pomona by 2025. Because of his work on this project, some people called him the "Father of the Gold Line."

U.S. House of Representatives (2001–2024)

Elections to the House

Schiff speaking to the California Democratic Party in June 2019.

In 2000, Schiff ran against James E. Rogan for the 27th congressional district seat. This was a very expensive election for a House race at the time. Schiff won with 53% of the votes, becoming only the second Democrat to represent that district since 1913.

After new census data, his district was renumbered several times (29th, 28th, and 30th districts). These new districts were more favorable to Democrats. Because of this, Schiff was re-elected 11 times and never had another election as close as his first one.

In 2024, instead of running for another term in the House, Schiff decided to run for the United States Senate. He resigned from the House on December 8, 2024, to prepare for his Senate role.

Key Work in the House

Iraq War Vote

Schiff voted to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Later, in 2015, he said he regretted that vote. He explained that the intelligence information they had about Saddam Hussein at the time was wrong. He felt the vote led to many bad outcomes.

Schiff at the United States Capitol during the 115th Congress

Schiff and Heather Podesta at a party hosted by the Podesta Group in Washington, D.C., honoring the inauguration of Barack Obama

US congressional delegation at Halifax International Security Forum 2014

Schiff with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in November 2014

Schiff at George Floyd protest in Los Angeles

Schiff and Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Armenian Genocide Resolution

Schiff has been a strong supporter of Armenian-American issues. He introduced a resolution in the U.S. House to recognize the Armenian genocide. This resolution was approved by a House committee in 2007 and again in 2010. On October 29, 2019, the full House of Representatives passed the resolution with a large majority. Schiff believes that telling the truth about historical events is very important.

Helicopter Noise in Los Angeles

Schiff worked to reduce helicopter noise in Los Angeles County. He introduced a bill called the Helicopter Noise Relief Act. This law would allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study and control helicopter noise. In 2015, the FAA created a system for people to report helicopter noise, which was a first step toward new rules.

Surveillance Reform

Schiff has supported changes to how the government collects information, especially after Edward Snowden shared classified details. He worked to make sure that foreign intelligence gathering within the U.S. followed specific laws. He also criticized the National Security Agency for collecting large amounts of phone data. He introduced bills to stop this kind of data collection and to make the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court more open.

Benghazi Attack Investigation

In 2014, Schiff was appointed to the House Select Committee on Benghazi. This committee investigated the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic building in Benghazi, Libya. Before joining, Schiff thought the committee was a "waste of time." However, he decided to serve because he felt he could help. A previous investigation, which he was part of, found that security at diplomatic facilities needed improvement.

Press Freedom

In 2006, Schiff helped create the Congressional Caucus for the Freedom of the Press. This group works to protect press freedom around the world. They proposed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act, named after a journalist who was murdered. This law requires the U.S. Department of State to report on how countries treat news media. President Barack Obama signed this act into law in 2010.

Saudi Arabian Intervention in Yemen

In 2015, Schiff supported the military action led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. He said it was needed because of illegal actions by rebels. However, he also believed that a peaceful solution was the only way to bring order back to Yemen. In 2019, he voted for a resolution to end U.S. involvement in the war, but it was vetoed.

War Authorization Reform

Schiff has pushed for new laws about when the U.S. can use military force. He wanted to update old laws that were used to fight terrorism. He also strongly supported debating and voting on a new authorization for military action against the ISIS. Schiff has consistently supported increasing the U.S. defense budget.

Comments on Trump-Russia Investigation

Schiff was a key figure in the investigation into whether Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign worked with Russia. In 2017, he said there was "more than circumstantial evidence" of this. He later clarified that the investigation was still early.

As the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff played a major role in looking into these claims. He believed it was important to find out the truth. In 2019, when he became chairman of the committee, he continued to investigate Trump's connections to Russia.

Censure

On June 21, 2023, the House of Representatives voted to censure Schiff. This means they formally disapproved of his actions. The resolution claimed he misled the public about Trump's campaign and Russia. Schiff denied these claims, calling them "defamatory."

North Korea

Schiff has called North Korea "one of the most brutal regimes in the world." After an American student, Otto Warmbier, died after being imprisoned in North Korea, Schiff said it was like "murder of a U.S. citizen." In 2018, he suggested that President Trump's strong approach might have helped bring North Korea to talks with the U.S.

Israel and Antisemitism

Schiff with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 2002

Schiff is a supporter of Israel. In 2016, he urged President Obama to veto a United Nations resolution that criticized Israeli settlement building.

Schiff and Nancy Pelosi in the Knesset, Jerusalem, February 2022

In 2019, Schiff criticized a tweet by Representative Ilhan Omar that implied money influenced American politicians' support for Israel. He said it was "never acceptable to give voice to, or repeat, anti-Semitic smears." In October 2023, Schiff condemned Hamas's actions during the Gaza war and supported Israel's right to defend itself. He supported "humanitarian pauses" to help Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Murder of Jamal Khashoggi

After reports that the CIA believed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, President Trump said there wasn't enough evidence. Schiff, who was briefed by the CIA, said Trump was not being honest about the CIA's findings.

Impeachments

Schiff has served as an impeachment manager (like a prosecutor) in several trials. In 2009 and 2010, he was the lead manager in the impeachment trials of two judges, Samuel B. Kent and Thomas Porteous.

As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Schiff was a lead investigator in the impeachment inquiry against President Trump. This inquiry came from the Trump–Ukraine scandal. Trump was impeached by the House on December 18, 2019. On January 15, 2020, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Schiff a lead impeachment manager. He led the team that presented the case against Trump during his Senate trial.

Armenia–Azerbaijan War

Schiff accused Turkey of making the conflict worse between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. He called for the U.S. to recognize the Republic of Artsakh, a region controlled by ethnic Armenian forces.

January 6 Attack Investigation

On July 1, 2021, Schiff was appointed to the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol. This committee investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

On June 21, 2022, Schiff led a public hearing for the committee. It included testimony from Republican officials who said Trump tried to influence election results. The hearing also focused on threats faced by election workers. Schiff called the testimony "enormously powerful."

Ban on Stock Trading

Schiff supports banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks.

Committee Assignments (House)

For the 118th Congress, Schiff was on the:

Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet

Caucus Memberships

Schiff was part of several groups in Congress, including:

Co-chair of the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus
Co-founded the Democratic Study Group on National Security
Co-founded the Congressional Caucus for Freedom of the Press
Vice Chairman of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus
Black Maternal Health Caucus
New Democrat Coalition
House Baltic Caucus
Congressional Arts Caucus
Afterschool Caucuses
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
United States–China Working Group

Campaign for California Attorney General

In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced he would nominate California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for a cabinet position. Schiff tried to get California Governor Gavin Newsom to appoint him as the new Attorney General. However, some groups expressed "strong opposition" to Schiff, citing his past support for "tough on crime" measures. On March 24, 2021, Governor Newsom appointed Rob Bonta instead.

U.S. Senate (2024–Present)

Senate Elections

2024 Election

Senate campaign logo

Adam Schiff at his first Senate campaign event in Davis, February 2023

On January 26, 2023, Schiff announced he would run for the United States Senate in the 2024 election. He received support from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The current senator, Dianne Feinstein, had announced she would not seek re-election.

In the primary election, Schiff competed against Representatives Katie Porter and Barbara Lee. He advanced to the general election, where he faced Steve Garvey, a former professional baseball player.

On November 5, 2024, Schiff won both the election to finish Feinstein's term and the election for the new Senate term starting in January 2025.

Senate Work

Food and Agriculture

As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Schiff supported a letter in July 2025. This letter urged leaders to protect California's animal welfare law, Proposition 12. This law limits the sale of products from animals raised in small cages.

Foreign Policy

Schiff supported the 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran. He stated that Israel could not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

Committee Assignments (Senate)

Schiff is currently on these Senate committees:

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Committee on the Judiciary

Personal Life

Adam and Eve Schiff

Adam Schiff met his wife, Eve Sanderson, in 1990, and they married in 1995. They have two children, Alexa and Elijah. The Schiff family lives in Burbank.

Schiff enjoys endurance sports. He has participated in triathlons and marathons. In 2014, he was the first member of Congress to join the AIDS/LifeCycle, a long charity bike ride to raise money and awareness for HIV and AIDS.

The New Yorker reported in 2018 that Schiff has written screenplays, including a murder mystery and a spy drama. In October 2021, Schiff published a book called Midnight in Washington. The book talks about the effects of the Trump presidency.

Images for kids

Official portrait, 2024
Schiff as a state senator in 1997
Schiff speaking to the California Democratic Party in June 2019.
Schiff at the United States Capitol during the 115th Congress
Schiff and Heather Podesta at a party hosted by the Podesta Group in Washington, D.C., honoring the inauguration of Barack Obama
US congressional delegation at Halifax International Security Forum 2014
Schiff with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in November 2014
Schiff at George Floyd protest in Los Angeles
Schiff and Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Schiff with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 2002
Schiff and Nancy Pelosi in the Knesset, Jerusalem, February 2022
Senate campaign logo
Adam Schiff at his first Senate campaign event in Davis, February 2023
Adam and Eve Schiff