Brian Schatz Siblings: A Look at the Politician’s Family Tree
Brian Schatz PHOTO/The Hill
Brian Schatz is a prominent American politician serving as the senior United States Senator from Hawaii.
A progressive Democrat, he was born Brian Emanuel Schatz on October 20, 1972, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, into a Jewish-American family.
His parents were Barbara Jane (née Binder) and Irwin Jacob Schatz, a cardiologist originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who later became a professor at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.
When Brian was two years old, the family relocated to Hawaii, where he grew up in Honolulu and graduated from the prestigious Punahou School.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pomona College in California.
Siblings
Schatz grew up on Oahu with his three brothers, including an identical twin brother named Steve.
Steve has pursued a career in education, serving as the executive director of Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, an interagency initiative at the University of Hawaii at Manoa focused on educational collaboration and improvement.
He has also held positions such as Complex Area Superintendent in the Hawaii Department of Education.
Career
Schatz began in the nonprofit sector after college, teaching at Punahou School and later becoming CEO of a Honolulu-based community-service organization from 2002 to 2010.
In 1998, he entered elected office by winning a seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives, representing the 25th district until 2006.
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After an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House in 2006, he chaired the Democratic Party of Hawaii from 2008 to 2010, during which time he helped strengthen party membership and contributed to strong electoral performances, including Barack Obama’s standout results in the state.
In 2010, Schatz was elected lieutenant governor of Hawaii, serving until 2012.
Following the death of longtime Senator Daniel Inouye, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Schatz to fill the vacancy in December 2012, making him one of the youngest senators at the time.
He won a special election in 2014 with nearly 70% of the vote, was reelected in 2016, and again in 2022, securing his position as Hawaii’s senior senator.
In the Senate, he has focused on issues such as climate change, clean energy, health care, veterans’ affairs, technology, and Native Hawaiian concerns, serving on key committees including Appropriations, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs (as vice chair), and Ethics.
Accolades
Schatz has authored or co-sponsored numerous bills that became law, including more than 20 he directly authored, such as measures raising the nationwide smoking and vaping age to 21, expanding Medicare telehealth access, restoring Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals, combating online child sexual exploitation, and advancing veterans’ compensation adjustments.
As a leader on climate and clean energy, he has pushed initiatives to reduce environmental impacts while promoting sustainable jobs.
His work on Indian Affairs has secured significant funding for Native Hawaiian communities.
Schatz has also been honored for public service contributions, including awards recognizing his support for population sciences funding and broader efforts in health, education, and conservation.