Chen spent most of his career in his native Zhejiang province, serving as head of the provincial department of propaganda, and Vice Governor of Zhejiang.
In 2013, he was transferred to Guizhou as governor, and in 2015 promoted to provincial Communist Party Secretary.
Chen was catapulted to prominence in 2017 in the aftermath of the ouster of Chongqing party chief Sun Zhengcai, a move that made him well-positioned for further elevation.