Kirsten Gillibrand is the junior United States senator from New York, serving since 2009. She previously represented New York in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009 before being appointed to the Senate to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton.
Born December 9, 1966, in Albany, New York, she graduated from Dartmouth College and received her law degree from UCLA. Before entering elected office, she worked in private practice and in public service, including serving as special counsel at HUD.
In the Senate, Gillibrand has built a national profile around military justice reform and survivor protections, paid family leave, 9 11 health care and first responder support, gun trafficking enforcement, workplace harassment reforms, and veterans toxic exposure legislation. She also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.
Mainstream Liberal
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Led major Senate pushes on military justice reform and stronger survivor protections in sexual assault cases
- Central advocate for 9 11 first responder health coverage and long-term victim compensation support
- High profile champion of paid family leave and working family economic policy
- Advanced federal gun trafficking enforcement as part of broader public safety negotiations
- Pushed workplace harassment reforms and expanded protections for victims of sexual misconduct
Controversies
- Criticized for a noticeable shift from a more moderate House profile to a more progressive Senate brand over time
- Faced backlash for her early leadership in calling for Al Franken’s resignation during the MeToo era
- Viewed by some New York political insiders as too oriented toward national visibility and ambition
- Accused by opponents of being more performative than results-driven on certain headline issues
- Periodic scrutiny over donor networks tied to major law firms and high-dollar New York political fundraising circuits
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Israel Public Affairs Cmte | $480,614 | $470,614 | $10,000 |
| Corning Inc | $154,116 | $154,116 | $0 |
| Davis, Polk & Wardwell | $128,529 | $128,529 | $0 |
| Latham & Watkins | $73,380 | $73,380 | $0 |
| Boies, Schiller & Flexner | $63,009 | $63,009 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2010 Margin D +28%
2012 Margin D +45%
2018 Margin D +34%
2024 Margin D +18.4%