Thomas Rivera Schatz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of the Puerto Rico Senate | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | José Luis Dalmau |
| In office January 2, 2017 – January 2, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Eduardo Bhatia |
| Succeeded by | José Luis Dalmau |
| In office January 2, 2009 – January 2, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Kenneth McClintock |
| Succeeded by | Eduardo Bhatia |
| Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico Senate | |
| In office January 2, 2021 – January 2, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Eduardo Bhatia |
| Succeeded by | Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz |
| President of the New Progressive Party | |
Acting | |
| In office July 22, 2019 – August 16, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Ricardo Rosselló |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Pierluisi |
| Member of thePuerto Rico Senate from the at-large district | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-06-10)June 10, 1966 (age 58) Bronx, New York,U.S. |
| Political party | New Progressive |
| Other political affiliations | Republican |
| Relatives | José Rivera Díaz (father) |
| Education | Interamerican University of Puerto Rico (BA) Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law (JD) |
Thomas Rivera Schatz (born June 10, 1966) is aPuerto Ricanpolitician, legal advisor,attorney, and formerprosecutor, who was the fourteenth, sixteenth and is currently the eighteenthPresident of the Senate of Puerto Rico. He is affiliated withNew Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (abbr. PNP in Spanish) and the USA'sRepublican Party. Historically, his tenure as President of the Senate has been shadowed by multiple scandals regarding ghost employees on the payroll of his office and the conviction for corruption of several of his closest colleagues and subordinates, namely Héctor Martínez, José Gómez Zaldo, Juan Carlos Acosta Ramírez, Alex Emille Martínez Morales, among others.
Rivera Schatz was born on June 10, 1966, in theBronx Borough ofNew York City. He is the son ofJosé A. "Nía" Rivera, a past mayor ofTrujillo Alto, and Christina Schatz, a German woman.[1] While in college, he worked full-time at the City of San Juan Public Works Department. He attended theInteramerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, where he graduated in 1992. A year later, he passed thebar exam required to practice law in Puerto Rico.[2]
Rivera Schatz started his legal career as a legal advisor in theSenate andHouse of Representatives of Puerto Rico. In 1996,GovernorPedro Rosselló appointed him as a prosecutor at thePuerto Rico Department of Justice. After finishing his service as a prosecutor, he returned to private practice, handling both criminal and civil cases.
In 2000, Rivera Schatz was named Electoral Commissioner for the pro-statehoodNew Progressive Party (PNP).
Two years later, party presidentPedro Rosselló named Rivera Schatz as secretary general of the PNP in addition to his current position as electoral commissioner. He served both positions simultaneously until August 1, 2007, when he decided to run for senator.
Rivera Schatz ran for senator at thePNP primaries where he won a slot in the ballot, receiving the second-most votes. In the2008 general elections, Rivera Schatz was elected senator. His fellow senators then elected him to be the 14th president of Puerto Rico's Senate. As such, he selected the following persons for his team:
Rivera Schatz was sworn into his post on January 12, 2009.
Thomas Rivera Schatz was reelected in 2012 and elected for the third time as a member of the Senate majority in the 2016 election with 10.33% of the "at large" votes, placing him in second place after independent senatorial candidate Dr. José Vargas Vidot and followed by Juan Dalmau of the Puerto Rico Independence Party (PIP).[3] Rivera Schatz was elected to a second term as President of the Senate of Puerto Rico starting January 2017.[4] He holds two records, first as the only reelected Senate President during the past 28 years and the only Senate President ever elected as such to non-consecutive terms. On November 5, 2024, he was elected President of the Senate for a third non-consecutive term.[5]
On July 22, 2019, Rivera Schatz announced he would succeed Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló as head of theNew Progressive Party of Puerto Rico (PNP).[6] Rosselló announced his intention to resign due to the ongoing controversy surroundingTelegramgate.[7]
In his free time, Rivera Schatz enjoys spending time with Gaby Hernandez. Thomas and his father are avid car enthusiasts with an extensive antique car collection .[8][9]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Puerto Rico Senate 2009–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Puerto Rico Senate 2017–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Puerto Rico Senate 2025–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chair of the Puerto Rico New Progressive Party Acting 2019–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Senate of Puerto Rico | ||
| Preceded by | Minority Leader of the Puerto Rico Senate 2021–2025 | Succeeded by |
Political officials ofPuerto Rico | ||
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| U.S. House | ||
| Executive government |
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| Supreme Court (appointed) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
