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Brian Schatz — news, coverage & facts — IJR

Tenure

During his time in the Senate, Schatz has developed a reputation as a liberal Democrat. He tends to vote with his party on both policy and procedural issues most of the time. GovTrack ranks Schatz as a more moderate member of his caucus. Schatz has been a part of numerous pieces of bipartisan legislation. He has co-sponsored 48 bills that have become law, including the bipartisan Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021 and the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. He has been the primary sponsor for seven bills, including the Native American Veterans' Memorial Amendments Act of 2013 and the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act. His primary areas of focus include healthcare, education, government operations, and national security. Schatz was instrumental in increasing the minimum smoking age to 21 and securing paid family leave for federal workers. He has also led efforts to expand telehealth services.

Schatz has also brought a large amount of federal funding to Hawaii. He secured reservation funding and transportation funding.

In April 2023, Morning Consult reported that Schatz was the "most popular" senator in the country, averaging an approval rating of 65% and a disapproval rating of 24%.

Schatz was participating in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol. He called the storming "despicable". Schatz called for Trump's removal from office through both the invocation of the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the impeachment process. He called Trump a "danger to democracy itself". Schatz twice voted to impeach Trump. He also criticized Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz for voting against the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count during a floor speech a year later.

Schatz also gained attention for sparring with Hawley over various Biden nominees. In April 2022, Hawley objected to the confirmation of Christopher Lowman, prompting a fiery response from Schatz on the floor that cited Hawley's previous vote against Ukraine aid and his vote to exonerate Trump for extorting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In December 2022, Hawley objected to Schatz's attempt to confirm Russell Rumbaugh. The Senate confirmed both Lowman and Rumbaugh.

During the second of the 2026 United States federal government shutdowns, Schatz objected to unanimous consent for S. Res. 526, a resolution introduced by Senator John Kennedy to withhold senators' pay during a shutdown. The objection occurred during a Sunday Senate session during the shutdown. Schatz subsequently left the chamber, which prompted Kennedy to later criticize Democrats on social media, saying that they had blocked the resolution "without explaining why".

Supreme court nominees

Of Trump's 2017 Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, Schatz said in a statement, "We need to know if Judge Gorsuch will serve as an independent check on the executive and legislative branches. We need to know if Judge Gorsuch will interpret the law fairly or reliably favor the powerful. And we need to know if he will uphold the right to privacy, the basis for a woman's right to choose. Judge Gorsuch has refused to give the Senate any clarity. In case after case, Judge Gorsuch consistently sided with corporations over individuals, undermined women’s rights, and failed to protect workers." Schatz voted against Gorsuch's confirmation, but he was confirmed in a 54–45 vote.

Of Trump's 2018 Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Schatz said in a statement, "Judge Brett Kavanaugh has a troubling record of undermining civil liberties, opposing environmental protection, favoring corporations over workers, and undermining reproductive rights". Schatz also said the FBI should investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. Schatz voted against Kavanaugh's nomination, but Kavanaugh was confirmed in a 50–48 vote.

Schatz did not support Trump's 2020 Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. He said in a statement, "We are just weeks away from Election Day, but Republicans are rushing to confirm a justice to the Supreme Court before the American people get a chance to make their voices heard. They are hurrying their nominee onto the Court to help overturn the Affordable Care Act, kicking millions off their health care in the middle of the worst public health crisis in a century. With voting already underway, the people should decide who they think should pick our next Supreme Court justice. I will not support this nominee". Schatz voted against Barrett's nomination, but she was confirmed in a 52–48 vote.

In April 2022, Schatz met with Joe Biden's Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Schatz called her "exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court" and said, "Throughout her years of public service, she has demonstrated a dedication to the Constitution, including a strong commitment to equal justice under the law". Schatz voted to confirm Jackson's nomination, and she was confirmed in a 53–47 vote.

Trump's cabinet nominees, first term

Of Trump's 2017 Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson, Schatz said in a statement, "From international human rights to the grave threats facing our country, Mr. Tillerson’s views do not align with well-established, bipartisan foreign policy. The United States has built our global leadership on a foundation of core American values of liberty and justice for all—values that were missing from Mr. Tillerson’s testimony in his nomination hearing. After reviewing his record and his testimony before the Senate, I do not believe Mr. Tillerson is the right person to lead the State Department. I will vote no on his nomination to lead the State Department." Tillerson was confirmed in a 56–43 vote.

Schatz voted to confirm Mike Pompeo as CIA Director in 2017. When Trump nominated Pompeo to succeed Tillerson as Secretary of State in 2018, Schatz said on Twitter (now X), "I voted YES on Pompeo for CIA on the theory that he would be the 'adult in the room.' I was wrong. I am voting NO on Pompeo for Secretary of State because our top diplomat should believe in diplomacy. He has an alarming tendency towards military provocation and brinkmanship." Pompeo was confirmed in a 57–42 vote.

Of Trump's 2017 Secretary of the Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin, Schatz said in a statement, "Steven Mnuchin has a troubling business record using predatory business tactics. The United States government entrusted his company, OneWest, to help seniors and working families stay in their homes during the housing crisis. His company did the exact opposite, preying on vulnerable homeowners and profiting from it. In addition to his disturbing record, Steven Mnuchin has pledged to roll back the consumer protections that were put into place to stop the kind of reckless practices that caused the financial crisis in 2008. This is dangerous and irresponsible, and that’s why I will be voting no on Steven Mnuchin’s confirmation." Mnuchin was confirmed in a 51–48 vote.

In 2017, Schatz voted to confirm Trump's nominee Jim Mattis as Secretary of Defense. Mattis was confirmed in a 98–1 vote. After Mattis resigned, effective in 2019, Trump nominated Mark Esper for the position. Schatz voted to confirm Esper, who was confirmed in a 90–8 vote.

In 2017, Schatz voted against Trump's Attorney General nominee, Jeff Sessions. He said in a statement, "Throughout Sen. Sessions' career, he has been on the wrong side of history. As a U.S. attorney and in the Senate, he failed to protect fundamental civil rights, including the right to vote. When he had the chance to protect equal rights for LGBTQ Americans and help reform a racially biased and outdated sentencing system, he refused to do so. When the Department of Justice worked to end racial discrimination and the use of excessive force by police, he stood in opposition. And when confronted with the reality of the president's inhumane plan to deport undocumented children who call the United States home, he showed zero empathy. Time and time again, when presented with the opportunity to advocate for the central mission of the Justice Department—pursuing equal justice for all—Sen. Sessions fell short." Sessions was confirmed in a 52–47 vote. After Sessions resigned, Trump nominated William Barr (attorney general under President George H. W. Bush) to the position. Schatz voted against Barr, saying, "Mr. Barr has been clear where he should be vague, and vague where he should be clear". Barr was confirmed in a 54–45 vote.

In 2017, Trump nominated Ryan Zinke for Secretary of the Interior. Schatz voted against his nomination, but he was confirmed in a 67–31 vote. After Zinke resigned, Trump nominated David Bernhardt to the position. Schatz voted against Bernhardt's nomination, but he was confirmed in a 56–41 vote.

Trump nominated Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture in 2017. Schatz voted to confirm Perdue, and he was confirmed in an 87–11 vote.

Trump nominated Wilbur Ross for Secretary of Commerce in 2017. Schatz voted to confirm Ross, and he was confirmed in a 72–27 vote.

Trump nominated Tom Price for Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2017. Schatz expressed concern about Price's nomination and voted against it. Price was confirmed in a 52–47 vote. After Price's controversial tenure and resignation, Trump nominated Alex Azar to fill the position. Schatz voted against Azar, citing his positions on the Affordable Care Act and the healthcare system. Azar was confirmed in a 55–43 vote.