Biography
Overview
Brian Schatz is a Democratic U.S. senator from Hawaii, serving since 2012. A progressive Democrat, he previously served in the Hawaii House of Representatives (1998-2006), as chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii (2008-2010), and as Hawaii's lieutenant governor (2010-2012). He was appointed to the Senate by Governor Neil Abercrombie to complete Daniel Inouye's term following Inouye's death in 2012. Schatz was the youngest U.S. senator in the 112th Congress.
Career
Schatz has co-sponsored 48 bills that became law, including the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021 and the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. He was primary sponsor for seven bills including the Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2013 and the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act. He was instrumental in increasing the minimum smoking age to 21 and securing paid family leave for federal workers. He led efforts to expand telehealth services and brought substantial federal funding to Hawaii for transportation and other programs. As one of the "Three Climateers" alongside Senators Martin Heinrich and Sheldon Whitehouse, he drove negotiations on climate legislation culminating in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. In April 2023, Morning Consult reported he was the "most popular" senator in the country with a 65% approval rating.
Prior political experience
Schatz was appointed to the Senate on December 26, 2012, by Governor Neil Abercrombie to complete Senator Daniel Inouye's term following Inouye's death on December 17, 2012. In the 2014 special election, Schatz defeated primary challenger Colleen Hanabusa by 1,782 votes (0.75% margin) and then won the general election against Republican Campbell Cavasso with approximately 70% of the vote. In 2016, Schatz easily won his first full six-year Senate term against only nominal opposition. In 2022, he ran for reelection and defeated Republican state representative Bob McDermott with 69.4% of the vote. In his Hawaii House races, he won his 1998 challenge to incumbent Republican Sam Aiona 53%-47%, was reelected in 2000 by 57%-43%, won the 2002 newly-drawn 25th district race 69%-31%, and won in 2004 by 64%-36%.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Brian Schatz
No active campaigns target Brian Schatz right now.
Start a campaign targeting Brian SchatzOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | U.S. Senate HI Class 3 | 2023–present | In progress | Brian Schatz | — |
| 3rd | U.S. Senate HI Class 3 | 2017–2023 | Term ended | Brian Schatz | Brian Schatz |
| 2nd | U.S. Senate HI Class 3 | 2015–2017 | Term ended | Brian Schatz | Brian Schatz |
| 1st | U.S. Senate HI Class 3 | 2012–2015 | Term ended | — | Brian Schatz |
Committee assignments
- State, Foreign Operations, and Related ProgramsSenateRanking Member· 2023–present
- SenateVice Chairman· 2023–present
- Senate· 2023–present
- Coast Guard, Maritime, and FisheriesSenate· 2023–present
- Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy, and Environmental PolicySenate· 2023–present
- Telecommunications and MediaSenate· 2023–present
- Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and SafetySenate· 2023–present
- East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity PolicySenate· 2023–present
- Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data PrivacySenate· 2023–present
- Senate· 2023–present
- Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2023–present
- Europe and Regional Security CooperationSenate· 2023–present
- Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2023–present
- Department of DefenseSenate· 2023–present
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2023–present
- Senate· 2023–present
- Senate· 2023–present
- Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related AgenciesSenate· 2023–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- S. 2488
Empowering App-Based Workers Act
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2363
Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025
Jul 21, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2253
Unsubscribe Act of 2025
Jul 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2127
Wall Street Tax Act of 2025
Jun 18, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2073
State Public Option Act
Jun 12, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1624
PATCH Act
May 6, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1471
Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2025
Apr 10, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1378
TAME Extreme Weather and Wildfires Act
Apr 9, 2025INTRODUCED - S. 1261
CONNECT for Health Act of 2025
Apr 2, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 1181
Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025
Mar 27, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- S. 2523
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2514
Gun Violence Prevention Research Act of 2025
Jul 29, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2468
Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929
Jul 28, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2448
Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act of 2025
Jul 24, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2414
Housing Supply Expansion Act of 2025
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2416
Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act
Jul 23, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2350
Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act of 2025
Jul 17, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2298
Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness, Injury, and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025
Jul 16, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2295
Child Care for Working Families Act
Jul 15, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - S. 2265
America's Olympic and Paralympic Games Commemorative Coins Act
Jul 14, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | Pending | — | — |