Chuck Schumer, in full Charles Ellis Schumer, (born November 23, 1950, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.), American politician who was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and began representing New York in that body the following year. He served as the Senate’s minority leader (2017–21) before becoming majority leader in 2021. Schumer was previously a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–99).