Jaime Quintana holds a degree in Literature and is a certified teacher of Spanish from Universidad Católica de Chile. He is a member and current president of the Party for Democracy (PPD), as well as a senator representing the 11th Electoral District, La Araucanía Region, for the 2018–2026 term. He served as President of the Senate from 2019 to 2020.

Quintana began his political career in the 1980s during his school and university years, serving as a student leader affiliated with the Socialist Party (PS). He later joined the Party for Democracy (PPD).

In the legislative sphere, Senator Quintana Leal was first elected as a deputy in 2001, representing the PPD for District No. 49, La Araucanía Region, for the 2002–2006 legislative term. In December 2005, he was re-elected for a second term (2006–2010).

He served as senator for the 14th Northern District of La Araucanía (2010–2018) and was Vice President of the Senate from 2017 to 2018. He also served two consecutive terms as a deputy for District No. 49.

In November 2017, he was re-elected as a senator for the PPD, representing the La Araucanía Region for the 2018–2026 term. He served as President of the Senate from March 11, 2019, to March 17, 2020, and previously as Vice President from 2016 to 2017.

Currently, he is the deputy leader of the PPD senators’ caucus and was re-elected as president of the PPD in August 2023.

In addition to being a permanent member of various Senate committees, he currently chairs the Education Committee and is a member of the Interior Regime Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Public Security Committee, and the Bicameral Committee on Public Security.