Chuck Schumer

Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is the senior United States Senator from New York. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the Senate Minority Leader since 2025.

Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Whip	Dick Durbin
Preceded by	Mitch McConnell
In office January 3, 2017 – January 20, 2021
Whip	Dick Durbin
Preceded by	Harry Reid
Succeeded by	Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader
In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Whip	Dick Durbin
Preceded by	Mitch McConnell
Succeeded by	John Thune
Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017
Vice Chair	Mark Warner Elizabeth Warren
Preceded by	Harry Reid
Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Byron Dorgan
Succeeded by	Debbie Stabenow
Chair of the Senate Rules Committee
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Dianne Feinstein
Succeeded by	Roy Blunt
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2017
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Mark Warner Elizabeth Warren
Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Jon Corzine
Succeeded by	Robert Menendez
United States Senator from New York
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1999 Serving with Kirsten Gillibrand
Preceded by	Al D'Amato
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Elizabeth Holtzman
Succeeded by	Anthony Weiner
Constituency	16th district (1981–1983) 10th district (1983–1993) 9th district (1993–1999)
Member of the New York State Assembly from the 45th district
In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1980
Preceded by	Stephen Solarz
Succeeded by	Daniel L. Feldman
Personal details
Born	Charles Ellis Schumer (1950-11-23) November 23, 1950 (age 74) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Iris Weinshall ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	2
Relatives	Amy Schumer (cousin)
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Signature
Website	Senate website

Early career

Before his election to the U.S. Senate, Schumer served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1999. He represented New York's 16th congressional district, which was later redistricted to the 10th congressional district in 1983 and to the 9th congressional district in 1993.

Senate Minority leader (2017)

In 2015, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada announced his retirement. Reid quickly supported Schumer to replace him as the new Senate Minority Leader. On November 16, 2016, Schumer was elected as the senate's new minority leader. He assumed this position on January 3, 2017.

Personal life

Schumer was born on November 23, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York.^[1] His family is Jewish, descended from immigrants from Russia, Poland, and Austria.^[2] He studied at Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he was a three-term member of the New York State Assembly, serving from 1975 to 1980. Schumer is married to Iris Weinshall. They have two children.