Early Life and Education of Brian Schatz: A Complete Timeline

Updated: April 7, 2025

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Brian Schatz. From birth to education, explore key events.

Brian Schatz is an American politician currently serving as a U.S. Senator for Hawaii since 2012. A Democrat, his political career includes serving in the Hawaii House of Representatives (1998-2006), chairing the Democratic Party of Hawaii (2008-2010), and as the state's Lieutenant Governor (2010-2012). Schatz is a prominent figure in Hawaiian politics and now represents the state in the U.S. Senate.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

October 20, 1972: Brian Schatz Born

On October 20, 1972, Brian Emanuel Schatz was born. He later became a U.S. Senator representing Hawaii.

Others born on this day/year

1972: Attention to Tuskegee experiment

In 1972, public attention was finally brought to the Tuskegee syphilis experiment after Brian Schatz's father, Irwin Schatz, complained about the ethics of the experiment in a 1965 letter that had initially been ignored.

1994: Graduation from Pomona College

In 1994, Brian Schatz graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in philosophy.

2004: Democratic nominee John Kerry received 54% of Hawaii's vote

In 2004, John Kerry received 54% of the Hawaii vote.

December 2006: Founded group to urge Obama to run for president

In December 2006, Brian Schatz founded a group with other Hawaii Democrats to urge Barack Obama to run for president.

2007: Pacific Century Fellow

In 2007, Schatz was a member of the 2007 class of the Pacific Century Fellows.

2010: NRA rating

In 2010, the National Rifle Association had given Brian Schatz a "C" rating for his mixed voting record regarding gun law.

December 17, 2012: Daniel Inouye's Letter

Shortly before his death on December 17, 2012, Senator Daniel Inouye dictated a letter to Governor Neil Abercrombie recommending that U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa be appointed to finish his term.

2013: Low Conservative Rating

In 2013, the American Conservative Union gave Schatz a 3% lifetime conservative rating.

2014: Position on marijuana legalization

In 2014, Schatz stopped short of calling for the legalization of marijuana in Hawaii, and has called for the criminalization of date-rape drugs.

2014: Schatz campaign focusing on climate change and renewable energy

In 2014, the core of the Schatz campaign was climate change and renewable energy.

April 1, 2015: Death of Irwin Schatz

On April 1, 2015, Irwin Schatz, Brian Schatz's father, passed away due to metastatic melanoma.

2017: Commencement Speaker at Pomona College

In 2017, Brian Schatz was invited to be the commencement speaker for the Class of 2017 at Pomona College, his alma mater.

2017: Response to Las Vegas shooting

In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Schatz advocated for common-sense gun safety laws, stating that more action was needed than just lowering the flag to half-mast.

2021: Response to Capitol storming

In 2021, Schatz called the storming of the United States Capitol by Trump supporters during the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count "despicable" and called for Trump's removal from office.