Brian Schatz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Schatz
Official portrait, 2013
United States Senator from Hawaii
Incumbent
Assumed office December 26, 2012 Serving with Mazie Hirono
Preceded by	Daniel Inouye
Senate positions Deputy Secretary of the Senate Democratic Caucus Incumbent Assumed office January 3, 2023 Serving with Chris Murphy (2025–present) Leader Chuck Schumer Preceded by Position established Vice Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Incumbent Assumed office January 3, 2025 Preceded by Lisa Murkowski Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by John Hoeven Succeeded by Lisa Murkowski
12th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
In office December 6, 2010 – December 26, 2012
Governor	Neil Abercrombie
Preceded by	Duke Aiona
Succeeded by	Shan Tsutsui
Chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party
In office May 2008 – January 2010
Preceded by	Jeani Withington
Succeeded by	Dante Carpenter
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
In office November 3, 1998 – November 7, 2006
Preceded by	Sam Aiona
Succeeded by	Della Au Belatti
Constituency	24th district (1998–2002) 25th district (2002–2006)
Personal details
Born	Brian Emanuel Schatz (1972-10-20) October 20, 1972 (age 52) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Other political affiliations	Green (formerly)
Spouse	Linda Kwok Kai Yun
Children	2
Education	Pomona College (B.A.)
Signature
Website

Brian Emanuel Schatz (/ʃɑːts/ shahts; born October 20, 1972) is an American politician. He is currently a U.S. Senator for Hawaii. He has held this important role since 2012.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Senator Schatz has served in several public offices. Before becoming a senator, he was a member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1998 to 2006. He also led the Democratic Party of Hawaii from 2008 to 2010. From 2010 to 2012, he was the 12th lieutenant governor of Hawaii.

Schatz became a U.S. Senator after Senator Daniel Inouye passed away in 2012. He was appointed to finish Inouye's term. He was the youngest U.S. Senator in the 112th Congress. He won special elections and re-elections in 2014, 2016, and 2022.

Early Life and Education

Brian Schatz was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 20, 1972. He has an identical twin brother named Steve. His father, Irwin Jacob Schatz, was a heart doctor.

His father was known for speaking up about ethical issues. In 1965, he wrote a letter about a medical study that was not treating patients properly. This letter helped bring attention to the problem years later. Brian Schatz has said his father's actions inspired him to work for the public good.

When Brian and his brother were two years old, their family moved to Hawaii. Brian went to Punahou School there. He later attended Pomona College in California, where he studied philosophy. He also spent time studying in Kenya. After graduating in 1994, he returned to Hawaii. He taught at Punahou School and worked for non-profit groups. For a short time, he was part of the Green Party.

Early Career in Public Service

Brian Schatz started helping his community when he was a teenager. He was involved with a group called Youth for Environmental Services. Later, he became the chief executive officer (CEO) of Helping Hands Hawaii. This is a non-profit group on Oahu that helps people with social services. He also directed the Makiki Community Library.

In March 2010, Schatz left his role at Helping Hands to run for lieutenant governor. He was also part of the Pacific Century Fellows program in 2007.

Serving in the Hawaii House of Representatives (1998–2006)

In 1998, Brian Schatz ran for State Representative in Hawaii's 24th district. He won against the person who held the seat, Republican Sam Aiona. He was re-elected in 2000.

In 2002, he ran in the new 25th House district and won again. He also won his re-election in 2004. This district includes areas like Makiki and Tantalus on Oahu.

Political Journey Before the Senate (2006–2010)

Running for Congress in 2006

In 2006, Schatz ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat was open because the current representative, Ed Case, decided to run for the U.S. Senate. Many people ran in the Democratic primary election. Mazie Hirono, who was the lieutenant governor at the time, won the primary. Schatz finished sixth in that race.

Supporting Barack Obama

Schatz was one of the first people in Hawaii to support Barack Obama for president. In December 2006, he helped start a group to encourage Obama to run. He believed Obama would bring hope to the country. In 2008, Schatz worked as a spokesperson for Obama's campaign in Hawaii.

Leading the State Democratic Party

In April 2008, Schatz ran to become the chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. He won the position the next month. During his time as chairman, the Democratic Party in Hawaii grew. Obama won Hawaii with a very high percentage of votes in the 2008 election. Schatz stepped down as party chairman in January 2010.

Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii (2010–2012)

2010 Election for Lieutenant Governor

Schatz, his wife, Linda Kwok Kai Yun Schatz; incoming Hawaii First Lady Nancie Caraway; and Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie on Election Day 2010.

On January 10, 2010, Schatz announced he would run for lieutenant governor of Hawaii. He focused his campaign on creating clean-energy jobs, improving public education, and using technology in government. He also supported a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions in Hawaii. Many labor unions in Hawaii supported him. Schatz won the Democratic primary election and became Neil Abercrombie's running mate for governor.

Serving as Lieutenant Governor

On December 6, 2010, Schatz became Hawaii's 11th lieutenant governor. He served alongside Governor Neil Abercrombie. The oath of office was given at the Coronation Pavilion at ʻIolani Palace.

U.S. Senate (2012–Present)

Becoming a Senator

When Senator Daniel Inouye passed away in December 2012, he asked Governor Neil Abercrombie to appoint U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa to finish his term.

Hawaii law requires the governor to choose from three candidates picked by the political party of the person who held the office before. On December 26, 2012, the Hawaii Democratic Party nominated Schatz, Hanabusa, and Esther Kia'aina. The same day, Governor Abercrombie chose Schatz, even though Inouye had requested Hanabusa. Schatz was sworn in as a senator by Vice President Joe Biden on December 27. He was only the sixth person to represent Hawaii in the U.S. Senate.

Senate Elections

2014 Special Election

Schatz decided to run in the special election in 2014 to complete the rest of Senator Inouye's term. Colleen Hanabusa also ran against him in the primary election. Schatz focused his campaign on climate change and clean energy. He won the primary election by a small number of votes.

As expected in Hawaii, which usually votes Democratic, Schatz won the general election. He defeated Republican Campbell Cavasso with about 70% of the votes.

2016 Election

In 2016, Schatz ran for his first full six-year Senate term. He won easily against other candidates.

2022 Election

Schatz ran for re-election for a second full term in 2022. He won by a large margin, getting over 71% of the total votes.

Time in the Senate

During his time in the Senate, Brian Schatz has become known as a progressive Democrat. He often votes with his party on different issues. He has worked on many bills with members of both parties. He has helped pass 48 bills into law. He has also been the main sponsor for seven bills, including one about a memorial for Native American veterans. His main areas of focus include healthcare, education, and national security. Schatz helped raise the minimum smoking age to 21 and secured paid family leave for federal workers. He has also worked to expand telehealth services.

Schatz has also helped bring a lot of federal money to Hawaii for things like transportation.

In April 2023, a survey found that Schatz was the "most popular" senator in the country. He had a 65% approval rating.

Schatz was at the U.S. Capitol when it was stormed by supporters of President Trump in January 2021. He called the event "despicable." Schatz called for Trump to be removed from office. He voted twice to impeach Trump.

Senate Committee Roles

Senator Schatz serves on several important committees:

• Committee on Appropriations (which handles government spending)
• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Committee on Foreign Relations (which deals with international issues)
• Committee on Indian Affairs (where he is the vice chairman)
• Select Committee on Ethics

Leadership Positions

• Chief Deputy Whip (a role in party leadership)
• Co-chair of the Senate Climate Change Task Force
• Chair of the Senate Democratic Special Committee on the Climate Crisis
• Member of the Board of Trustees for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship foundation

Caucus Memberships

Schatz is part of several groups in Congress:

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
• Expand Social Security Caucus

Political Views

Brian Schatz is considered a progressive politician. He is known for quietly pushing other Democrats to support progressive ideas on issues like healthcare, climate, and college costs. The American Conservative Union gave him a very low conservative rating in 2013.

Budget and Economy

Schatz supports increasing income taxes to help balance the government's budget. He also supports federal spending to help the economy grow.

LGBTQIA+ Rights

Schatz supports same-sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ rights. In 2015, he supported a law to give married gay couples equal access to veterans' benefits and Social Security. He also supports transgender rights.

Economy and Tourism

To help tourism in West Hawaii, Schatz suggested that customs checks for flights from Japan happen in Japan. This would make those flights arrive in West Hawaii as if they were domestic flights.

Environment and Climate Change

In March 2014, Schatz helped organize a long discussion in the Senate about climate change. He has received a perfect score from the League of Conservation Voters for his environmental work.

In 2019, Schatz supported both a Green New Deal and a carbon tax to reduce pollution. He believes climate change is a serious threat and supports clean energy. He has pushed for 50% clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030. He was against the Keystone Pipeline.

Schatz is known as one of the "Three Climateers" in the Senate. He has helped create laws to address climate change, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. He was also part of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Foreign Policy

Schatz has criticized China's activities in building islands in the South China Sea. He said that China's claims there are not based on international law.

In October 2017, Schatz spoke out against the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. He asked for a stronger response to the crisis.

In July 2018, Schatz led a resolution that warned President Trump not to let the Russian government question U.S. diplomats. The resolution passed with a vote of 98 to 0.

In 2024, Schatz proposed an amendment to a national security package. This amendment supported the creation of a Palestinian state in response to the conflict in Gaza. He called it a message of "hope for a peaceful and prosperous future." In April 2025, Schatz voted to stop the sale of bombs and other weapons to Israel.

Gun Law

Schatz supports laws that control guns. In 2013, he voted for a bill to ban high-capacity magazines. In 2019, he supported laws requiring background checks for all gun sales. The National Rifle Association gave him a "C" rating in 2010 for his mixed record on gun laws.

In 2016, Schatz took part in a long discussion in the Senate about gun control. He was disappointed when bills for background checks and banning gun sales to suspected terrorists did not pass.

Health Care

Schatz supports Senator Bernie Sanders's idea for a single-payer healthcare system. He also proposed his own idea that would let states expand Medicaid to cover everyone. Schatz supports the Affordable Care Act.

Housing

In April 2019, Schatz signed a letter with 40 other senators supporting a housing program called Section 4 Capacity Building. This program helps local groups build and improve communities.

In 2021, Schatz and Senator Todd Young wrote a bill called the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) Act. This bill created a federal fund to encourage building new homes and making local housing rules less strict. The bill became law in December 2022.

Privacy Rights and Cybersecurity

In one of his first Senate votes, Schatz voted against a law that allowed some government surveillance. In April 2013, he voted to expand background checks for gun purchases.

Schatz voted for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which some groups were against because of privacy concerns.

In January 2025, Schatz and other senators introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). This act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms. It would also stop social media companies from showing "algorithmically targeted" content to users under 17. Schatz said, "There is no good reason for a nine-year-old to be on Instagram or Snapchat." He added that social media is making kids more depressed and anxious.

Supreme Court Nominees

Schatz has voted against several of President Trump's Supreme Court nominees.

• In 2017, he voted against Neil Gorsuch, saying he was concerned about Gorsuch's views on individual rights and workers.
• In 2018, he voted against Brett Kavanaugh, saying Kavanaugh had a "troubling record" on civil liberties and workers' rights. He also called for an FBI investigation into allegations against Kavanaugh.
• In 2020, he voted against Amy Coney Barrett. He said Republicans were rushing to confirm her before the election and that she might help overturn the Affordable Care Act.

In April 2022, Schatz met with President Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Schatz called her "exceptionally qualified" and praised her dedication to the Constitution. He voted to confirm her nomination.

Voting on Cabinet Nominees

Schatz has voted on many cabinet nominees for both President Trump and President Biden.

• Trump's Cabinet (First Term):

* He voted against Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, saying Tillerson's views did not match U.S. foreign policy values. * He voted to confirm Mike Pompeo as CIA Director in 2017. However, when Trump nominated Pompeo for Secretary of State in 2018, Schatz voted no. He said Pompeo had an "alarming tendency towards military provocation." * He voted against Steven Mnuchin for Secretary of the Treasury. Schatz said Mnuchin had a "troubling business record" and preyed on homeowners. * He voted to confirm Jim Mattis as Secretary of Defense in 2017 and Mark Esper for the same role later. * He voted against Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, saying Sessions had "failed to protect fundamental civil rights." He also voted against William Barr for Attorney General. * He voted against Ryan Zinke and David Bernhardt for Secretary of the Interior. * He voted to confirm Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture and Wilbur Ross for Secretary of Commerce. * He voted against Tom Price and Alex Azar for Secretary of Health and Human Services, citing concerns about their views on healthcare.

• Joe Biden's Cabinet:

* Schatz voted to confirm almost all of President Biden's cabinet nominees. This included Antony Blinken for Secretary of State, Janet Yellen for Secretary of the Treasury, Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense, Merrick Garland for Attorney General, Deb Haaland for Secretary of the Interior, Tom Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture, Gina Raimondo for Secretary of Commerce, Marty Walsh for Secretary of Labor, and Xavier Beccera for Secretary of Health and Human Services. All of these nominees were confirmed.

Personal Life

Brian Schatz is married to Linda Kwok Kai Yun. They have two children.

He has three brothers, including his identical twin, Steve. Steve is the executive director of Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Brian Schatz para niños