Mike Lynch joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s campaign team as a field director way back in 1998, when the New York Democrat first ran for the Senate against heavyweight Republican incumbent Al D’Amato.
He served as Schumer’s state director in his personal office for a few years before rising to become his chief of staff in 2002.
Schumer has described his chief of staff as his opposite, “personality-wise,” but has also declared that there’s no one whose judgement he trusts more.
Schumer’s allies describe Lynch’s calm approach to daily challenges as a good complement to Schumer’s famous intensity.
Lynch, a James Madison University graduate and Virginia native, is known for his ability to give Schumer honest and unvarnished advice.
Despite his close proximity to the most powerful Democrat in Congress, Lynch keeps a low profile. But he always has a friendly smile or “hello” for the work-a-day denizens of the Capitol.
Schumer likes to think of his staff like family, and Lynch sets the tone for his tightly knit inner circle.
Schumer’s former aides say Lynch helps Schumer put his torrent of ambitious ideas into action, and plays a key role in coordinating with the Democratic Policy and Communications Center and senators’ offices.
Lynch, together with state director Martin Brennan, help keep Schumer well briefed and up to date on local New York issues, and Lynch works closely with Schumer to map out national political strategy. Schumer talks about these trusted aides as the two halves of his brain.
Lynch has had a seat at the table on high-stakes negotiations with both parties.
Schumer and Lynch met with White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and Biden adviser Ron Klain at the beginning of last year to discuss a shift in strategy for touting President Biden’s legislative accomplishments and implementing major laws passed in 2021 and 2022, such as the $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
He was also in a pivotal meeting between Schumer and then-President Trump at the Oval Office to avert a government shutdown in January 2018, when they came close to reaching a deal to increase military spending in exchange for legalizing immigrants who came to the country at a young age.