Chisholm joined the ALP in 1995. He was the party's candidate in
Warrego at the
2001 Queensland state election, aged 22. He worked as an organiser from 2004 to 2007, initially with the national secretariat and then with the
state branch. He then joined the staff of opposition leader
Kevin Rudd as an advisor. He directed the party's successful campaign at the
2015 state election.
Parliament Following the retirement of Senator
Joe Ludwig, Chisholm won ALP
preselection for the
2016 federal election and was elected to the Senate. He has served on a number of committees, and in February 2020 was made chair of the Select Committee on Administration of Sports Grants. Chisholm is a member of the
right faction of the Labor Party. In June 2022, Chisholm was appointed
Assistant Minister for Education and
Assistant Minister for Regional Development in the
Albanese government. Following the Labor government's re-election at the
2025 Australian federal election, Chisholm continued as Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, was appointed
Assistant Minister for Resources, while the post of Assistant Minister for Education was abolished. ==References==