Chuck Schumer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Schumer
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![]() Official portrait, 2017
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United States Senator from New York |
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Assumed office January 3, 1999 Serving with Kirsten Gillibrand
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Preceded by | Al D'Amato | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senate Minority Leader | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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Whip | Dick Durbin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Mitch McConnell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office January 3, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
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Whip | Dick Durbin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Harry Reid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Mitch McConnell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1999 |
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Preceded by | Elizabeth Holtzman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Anthony Weiner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constituency |
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Member of the New York State Assembly from the 45th district |
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In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1980 |
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Preceded by | Stephen Solarz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Daniel L. Feldman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born |
Charles Ellis Schumer
November 23, 1950 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Iris Weinshall
(m. 1980) |
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Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relatives | Amy Schumer (cousin) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | ![]() |
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Website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles Ellis Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is an American politician. He is the senior United States Senator from New York. He has held this position since 1999. As a member of the Democratic Party, he has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2017. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 2021 to 2025. He has also served as Senate minority leader from 2017 to 2021 and again since 2025.
Schumer became New York's senior senator in 2001. This happened when Daniel Patrick Moynihan retired. He was elected to his fifth term in 2022. This made him the longest-serving U.S. senator from New York. He is also the leader of New York's group of lawmakers in Congress.
Schumer grew up in Brooklyn. He graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Before becoming a senator, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980. He then served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1999. In 1998, Schumer was elected to the Senate. He won against Al D'Amato. He has been reelected several times, including in 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022.
From 2005 to 2009, Schumer led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. This group helps elect Democrats to the Senate. Under his leadership, Democrats gained 14 Senate seats in the 2006 and 2008 elections. He was the third-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate. He became the Democratic leader in the Senate in 2016.
In January 2021, Schumer became Senate majority leader. He was the first Jewish Senate leader in U.S. history. As majority leader, he helped pass important laws. These included the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. He also helped confirm many federal judges. This included Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman on the Supreme Court.
Early Life and Education (1950–1974)
Schumer was born on November 23, 1950. His parents were Selma and Abraham Schumer. His father ran an exterminating business. His mother was a homemaker. His family is Jewish. He is also a distant cousin of comedian Amy Schumer. His family came from a town in what is now western Ukraine.
Schumer went to public schools in Brooklyn. He graduated as the top student from James Madison High School in 1967. He then attended Harvard College. He first studied chemistry but later switched to social studies. He graduated with honors in 1971. He then went to Harvard Law School and earned his law degree in 1974. He passed the New York state bar exam in 1975. However, he chose to work in politics instead of practicing law.
Early Career in Government (1975–1998)
In 1974, Schumer was elected to the New York State Assembly. He served three terms, from 1975 to 1981.
In 1980, Schumer ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He won and was reelected eight times. He represented districts in Brooklyn and Queens. During his time in the House, he worked on various issues. He introduced the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993. He also helped oversee an investigation into the Waco siege in 1995.
Serving in the U.S. Senate (1999–Present)
In 1998, Schumer ran for the U.S. Senate. He won the Democratic primary. In the general election, he defeated the Republican incumbent, Al D'Amato.
In 2004, Schumer was reelected with a large majority of the votes. He won almost every county in New York State. He was also reelected in 2010, 2016, and 2022.
Many people who worked for Schumer later became important politicians themselves. After the 2016 presidential election, Schumer said the Democratic Party needed a stronger economic message. He urged Democrats to focus on making college more affordable.
Leading Senate Democrats

In November 2016, the Senate Democratic Caucus chose Schumer as their minority leader. He was the first person from New York and the first Jewish person to lead the Senate. On January 20, 2021, Democrats gained control of the Senate. This made Schumer the majority leader. He replaced Republican Mitch McConnell.
In March 2025, Schumer faced some criticism. He first opposed a bill to fund the government. Then he changed his mind, saying a government shutdown would be worse. This decision caused some disagreement among other Democrats.
Political Style and Public Image


Schumer is known for being very public. Some people joke that he always finds a television camera. However, his use of media has helped him connect with people. He often appears on TV and in the news.
In Washington, Schumer has worked to find common ground on big issues. These include health care, immigration, and financial rules.
He was in charge of organizing the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. A photo of him smiling behind Malia Obama became very popular online.
Focus on Local Issues


Schumer is proud of visiting all 62 counties in New York every year. He is the only New York senator to do this. He focuses on local issues important to everyday New Yorkers. These include tourism, local taxes, and creating jobs. For example, he spoke out when Adidas planned to move NBA jersey production overseas. He also helped keep Canon Inc. in Long Island by securing road funding.
In November 2017, Schumer announced funding for Head Start programs in Erie County. These programs help young students succeed. In January 2018, he asked the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to build a new veterans cemetery in Western New York.
Key Policy Positions
Schumer has taken clear stances on many important issues.
Healthcare
Schumer supported President Obama's health reform laws. He voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. He has also worked to ensure that health insurance programs are fair for everyone.
Homeland Security
Schumer has worked to get funding for New York's security. He helped secure billions of dollars after the September 11 attacks. He also worked to protect New York City's public transportation. He supports programs that help fire departments get funding for important equipment.
Immigration
Schumer was part of the "Gang of Eight" in the Senate. This bipartisan group worked on a major immigration reform bill in 2013. The bill passed the Senate but did not become law. He has also pushed for solutions for young immigrants known as "Dreamers."
Gun Laws
In 1994, Schumer helped write the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. This law banned certain semi-automatic weapons. He has also supported background checks for all gun sales. He has also supported hunters by sponsoring grants for hunting and fishing.
Supreme Court
Schumer plays a key role in confirming judges to the Supreme Court. He has often called for nominees to be fair and impartial. He has also spoken out when he believes the court is becoming too political.
Technology and the Internet
Schumer has supported net neutrality rules. These rules ensure that all internet traffic is treated equally. He believes this helps the economy and keeps the internet fair for everyone. He has also raised concerns about privacy on social media platforms like Facebook.
Other Work
In 2007, Schumer published a book called Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time. The book shares strategies for Democrats to connect with middle-class voters.
In November 2023, Schumer made his Broadway debut. He performed as the Producer in Gutenberg! The Musical! for one night.
Personal Life
Schumer married Iris Weinshall on September 21, 1980. Their wedding took place at the World Trade Center. Iris Weinshall was New York City's transportation commissioner from 2000 to 2007. The Schumers live in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
They have two daughters, Jessica and Alison. Both daughters also graduated from Harvard College. Jessica has worked in government. Alison is a marketing manager at Facebook. In 2018, Jessica had a son, making Schumer a grandfather.
Electoral History
Schumer has been elected to the Senate multiple times. He first won his Senate seat in 1998. He has since been reelected in 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022.
Honorary Degrees
Schumer has received several honorary degrees from universities. These degrees recognize his long career in public service.
- Hofstra University (1999)
- Hunter College (1999)
- Adelphi University (2000)
- New York Law School (2002)
- Pace University (2004)
- Touro Law Center (2007)
- Brooklyn Law School (2015)
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Schumer para niños