Adam Schiff

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1994 Schiff ran unsuccessfully for the California State Assembly (lower house of the state legislature). Two years later, however, he won election to the California State Senate (upper house). In 2000 he sought and won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He took office the following year. Schiff was reelected to the House 11 times.

As a congressman, Schiff was considered a centrist, and he served on a number of key committees. These included the House Appropriations Committee, which makes decisions on legislation related to federal spending. In 2015 he became the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which helps oversee U.S. intelligence agencies and military intelligence programs.

In September 2019 the House launched an impeachment inquiry against U.S. Pres. Donald Trump, a Republican. This followed allegations that Trump had pressured Ukraine to investigate one of his political rivals, Democrat Joe Biden. As chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Schiff oversaw the inquiry, and in December the House voted to impeach the president. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi selected Schiff to serve as lead manager in the Senate impeachment trial that followed, and he became nationally known. The Senate acquitted Trump in February 2020.

Biden defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election, but Trump contested the election results, alleging widespread voter fraud despite a lack of evidence. On January 6, 2021, Congress met to certify Biden’s victory. The proceedings were temporarily halted when a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Many accused Trump of having encouraged the attack. On January 13 the House impeached Trump for a second time, charging him with “incitement of insurrection.” However, in February the Senate again acquitted Trump, who had left office the previous month.

Schiff was later named to the House select committee that was established to investigate the January 6 attack. He played a prominent role in the committee’s efforts to examine Trump’s involvement in the events of that day. The committee ultimately recommended that the Department of Justice charge Trump with several crimes, which included provoking or assisting an insurrection. Because of Schiff’s leadership of various Trump investigations, he was frequently singled out for criticism by Trump and other Republicans. In a strictly party-line vote taken in June 2023, the Republican-controlled House censured Schiff for his role in those investigations. As the censure resolution accusing Schiff of “misleading the American public” was read aloud on the House floor, many Democratic lawmakers shouted “shame” and “disgrace” at their Republican colleagues. Addressing the chamber before the vote was held, Schiff stated, “My colleagues, if there is cause for censure in this House—and there is—it should be directed at those in this body who sought to overturn a free and fair election.”

In July 2023 Schiff reintroduced to Congress legislation known as the Protecting Our Democracy Act. The package of proposed reforms was aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power and reinforcing checks and balances between the branches of the federal government.

Senate

In January 2023 Schiff announced that he was running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein, who was 89. Feinstein subsequently opted not to seek reelection, and she died in September 2023. Schiff faced several progressive Democratic opponents, including Katie Porter, and he called the election “a choice between results, or just rhetoric.” His campaign focused on improving the economy and protecting democracy. In March 2024 Schiff won the California Senate primary, and he moved on to face a Republican candidate, former professional baseball player Steve Garvey.

On November 5, 2024, a special election was held to fill the remainder of Feinstein’s term, which was set to expire in early January 2025. On the same day as the special election, a regular general election also took place for the succeeding full six-year Senate term expiring in 2031. Schiff soundly defeated Garvey in both races. Schiff took office on December 9, 2024.