Kirsten Gillibrand

Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand (born December 9, 1966) is an accomplished American attorney and politician who has represented New York as the junior United States senator since 2009. A prominent figure in the Democratic Party, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 until 2009.

Raised in upstate New York, Gillibrand earned her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and later graduated from the UCLA School of Law. Her political career began to take shape after she worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2000. In 2006, she was elected to Congress, representing New York's 20th congressional district, and successfully secured reelection in 2008. During her time in the House, Gillibrand was part of the Blue Dog Democrats, notably opposing the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Following Clinton's appointment as Secretary of State in 2009, New York Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to the Senate, making her the state's second female senator. She won a special election in 2010 and was subsequently reelected in 2012 and 2018. Over her Senate career, Gillibrand has embraced more progressive stances, particularly regarding issues such as military sexual assault and harassment. She has publicly criticized fellow Democrats, including Bill Clinton and Al Franken, for allegations of misconduct. Her advocacy includes support for paid family leave, a federal jobs guarantee, and calls for reforming the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.