Born in 1950 in Brooklyn, New York, Charles "Chuck" Schumer attended Harvard's undergraduate college and law school before turning to politics. After serving in the New York State Assembly, Schumer won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually the Senate on a liberal Democratic ticket. Having won four successive terms as a senator, he was elected Senate minority leader in 2016 shortly after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president.
Schumer has maintained a distinctive personality in Congress, recognized for his no-nonsense, zippy way of running his office and interacting with peers that showcase his Brooklyn roots. He married Iris Weinshall in 1980, and the couple has two daughters, Jessica and Alison. He is a second cousin of comedian Amy Schumer. He penned the 2007 book Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time.
