Deborah Wasserman Schultz, commonly known as Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is an American politician born on September 27, 1966, in Long Island, New York. She grew up in a Jewish family and graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East in 1984. Wasserman Schultz pursued higher education at the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1988 and a Master of Arts in the same field in 1990. Her early career involved working as a congressional staffer, which laid the foundation for her entry into elective politics. She was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1992, serving until 2000, and then to the Florida Senate from 2000 to 2004, where she became the youngest woman in Florida's history to preside over the chamber as Democratic Leader.

Wasserman Schultz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004, representing Florida's 25th congressional district (previously the 23rd), and has been reelected ever since. A prominent Democrat, she served as Chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2011 to 2016, overseeing the party's operations during a pivotal period including the 2016 presidential election. Her tenure ended amid controversy following the leak of DNC emails that suggested bias toward Hillary Clinton's campaign, leading to her resignation just before the Democratic National Convention. Despite this, she has remained a key figure in the House, chairing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2005 to 2011 and serving on influential committees such as Appropriations. Wasserman Schultz is a vocal advocate for progressive causes, including women's rights, healthcare access, and environmental protection, and has been a strong supporter of U.S. aid to Israel, notably introducing legislation related to the Iron Dome defense system.

On a personal level, Wasserman Schultz has been married to Steve Schultz since the early 1990s, and they have three daughters. She resides in South Florida and continues to represent her district with a focus on constituent services and national security issues. Her career has not been without challenges, including health issues such as a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in 2011, from which she recovered, and ongoing criticisms regarding her political influence and fundraising activities.