Kirsten Gillibrand
Encyclopedia
Kirsten Elizabeth Rutnik Gillibrand (ˈ ; born December 9, 1966) is an attorney and the junior United States Senator
from the state of New York
and a member of the Democratic Party
. Prior to being appointed to the Senate by New York Governor
David Paterson
in 2009, she served two terms in the House of Representatives
, representing New York's 20th congressional district
.
Gillibrand was born and raised in the Albany
area. She is a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College
, where she majored in Asian studies
. She received her Juris Doctor
from UCLA Law School in 1991 and passed the bar
the same year. She was an associate in the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell
in Manhattan
before becoming a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner
in Albany.
Gillibrand won an upset congressional election in November 2006
, beating four-term incumbent John E. Sweeney
53% to 47%. Her reelection campaign in 2008 against Sandy Treadwell
was significantly easier, winning 62% to 38%. In December 2008, then President-elect Barack Obama
nominated Hillary Rodham Clinton
as Secretary of State
, leaving an empty seat in the New York senate delegation. After two months and many potential names considered, Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill the seat. Gillibrand was required to run in a special election in 2010
, which she easily won with 63% of the vote. Her term ends in 2013 and she is currently running for reelection in 2012
.
Originally known in the House for conservative and centrist liberal views, since her appointment to the Senate, Gillibrand has been seen more as a progressive
or Liberal Democrat. In both cases, her viewpoints were significantly defined by her constituency (a heavily Republican
congressional district versus a largely liberal US state). In the House, Gillibrand was an opponent of strict gun control
, against amnesty for illegal immigrants
, and she voted twice against the 2008 bailout of the US financial system
. In the Senate she focused on support of gay rights, authored legislation to crack down on illegal guns and gun traffickers, scaled back her former support of gun rights, and changed her views on immigration through support of the DREAM Act
; she is best known for successfully championing both the repeal of Don't ask, don't tell
and the adoption of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
Gillibrand currently resides in Brunswick
with her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, a venture capitalist and British national, and their two sons, Theodore and Henry.
and is known for his close ties to Republicans
Alfonse D'Amato (former United States senator) and George Pataki
(former governor), although he himself is a registered Democrat. Gillibrand's mother is a retired attorney; the couple opened a law firm and practiced together until they divorced when Gillibrand was 22 years old. Gillibrand has an older brother, Doug Rutnik, and a younger sister, Erin Rutnik Tschantret. Her maternal grandmother was Dorothea "Polly" Noonan, founder of the Albany Democratic Women's Club and a leader in Albany Mayor Erastus Corning's
powerful political machine, which lasted for more than 40 years.
Gillibrand grew up in Albany
and was known by the nickname Tina, a name adopted by her brother when he couldn't pronounce "Kirsten". In 1984 she graduated from Emma Willard School
in Troy
and went on to Dartmouth College
. As an Asian Studies
major, she became functionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese; she studied in both Beijing
and Taiwan
and adopted a Chinese name, Lu Tian Na (陸天娜). She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1988. While at Dartmouth, Gillibrand was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma
sorority. During college, she interned at Senator D'Amato's Albany office. Following Dartmouth, Gillibrand attended UCLA Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor
in 1991. She passed the bar
the same year.
office of Davis Polk & Wardwell
as an associate. In 1992 she took a leave from Davis Polk to serve as a law clerk to Judge Roger Miner
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
in Albany. It was at this time she dropped the childhood nickname Tina; Judge Miner refused to call her by a nickname, and Kirsten stuck.
Gillibrand's tenure at Davis Polk is best known for her work as a defense attorney for tobacco giant Philip Morris
during major litigation, including both civil lawsuits and U.S. Justice Department
criminal and civil racketeering probes. According to The New York Times, "Gillibrand was involved in some of the most sensitive matters related to the defense of the tobacco giant as it confronted pivotal legal battles beginning in the mid-1990s." Gillibrand rarely comments on her work for Philip Morris, citing attorney-client privilege
. She states that she had no control over cases and clients she received, though The New York Times claims otherwise. While working on the Philip Morris case, Gillibrand was promoted to senior associate. Gillibrand indicates her work for Philip Morris allowed her to take on multiple pro bono
cases defending abused women and their children, as well as defending tenants seeking safe housing after lead paint and unsafe conditions were found in their homes.
While working for Davis Polk, Gillibrand became involved in—and later the leader of—the Women's Leadership Forum, a program of the Democratic National Committee
. Gillibrand states that a speech to the group by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton left an impressionable mark on her: " was trying to encourage us to become more active in politics and she said, 'If you leave all the decision-making to others, you might not like what they do, and you will have no one but yourself to blame.' It was such a challenge to the women in the room. And it really hit me: She’s talking to me."
Following her time at Davis Polk, Gillibrand served as Special Counsel to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), Andrew Cuomo
during the last year of the Clinton administration
. She worked on HUD's Labor Initiative and its New Markets Initiative as well as on TAP's Young Leaders Of The American Democracy, on strengthening Davis–Bacon Act enforcement.
In 1999, Gillibrand began working on Hillary Clinton's 2000 US Senate campaign. There, she focused on campaigning to young women and encouraging them to join the campaign. Many of those women would end up working on Gillibrand's future campaigns. Gillibrand and Clinton became close during the election, with Clinton becoming something of a mentor to the young lawyer. Gillibrand's fondness for Clinton has seen her donate more than $12,000 to Clinton's senate campaigns.
In 2001, Gillibrand became a partner at the Manhattan office of Boies, Schiller & Flexner
, where one of her clients was the Altria Group
, Philip Morris' parent company. In 2002 she informed Boies of interest in running for office and was allowed to transfer to the firm's Albany office. She left Boies in 2005 to begin her 2006 campaign for congress.
Gillibrand's first run for office was in the 2006 race in New York's 20th congressional district
against four-term Republican incumbent John E. Sweeney
. The 20th district encompasses all or part of Columbia
, Dutchess
, Delaware
, Essex
, Greene
, Otsego
, Rensselaer
, Saratoga
, Warren
, and Washington
counties. Traditionally conservative, it had been considered a safe seat
for Republicans to such an extent that after redistricting
in 2002, then-Congressman Sweeney was quoted as saying that “no Republican can ever lose” the district. In November 2006, the Republican Party held an enrollment advantage over Democrats of 82,737 voters (197,473 to 114,736).
Engaging New York's electoral fusion
election laws, Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families
lines. In addition to having the Republican nomination, Sweeney was endorsed by the Conservative and Independence
parties. During the campaign, Gillibrand was a popular candidate with Democrats. Mike McNulty, Democratic Congressman from the neighboring 21st congressional district
, campaigned for her, as did both Hillary and Bill Clinton
; the former president appeared twice at campaign events.
The election was noted as being vital to returning control of the House to Democrats. As such, both parties poured millions of dollars into the respective campaigns. Both campaigns spent a portion of those dollars on heated campaign ads; each campaign accused the other of "fighting dirty with negative campaign advertising
and of dragging the opponent's family into the campaign." Gillibrand was seen as a moderate by many conservatives. The American Conservative
described her eventual win by saying, "Gillibrand won her upstate New York district by running to the right: she campaigned against amnesty for illegal immigrants, promised to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington, and pledged to protect gun rights."
The probable turning point of the election was the November 1 release of a December 2005 police report of a 911 call made by Sweeney's wife, in which she claimed Sweeney was "knocking her around the house". The Sweeney campaign claimed it was a lie and promised to have the official report released by State Police
, but never came through on that promise. In response, the Sweeney campaign released an ad during which Sweeney's wife described Gillibrand's campaign as "a disgrace." By November 5, a Siena College
Research Poll showed Gillibrand ahead of Sweeney by three points (46% to 43%, although that was still within the 3.9% margin of error
).
Gillibrand ended up winning with 53.10 percent of the vote (a 6-point lead). She began her first term on January 3, 2007 in the 110th Congress
. Following her win, Republicans quickly began speculating about who would run against her in 2008. Len Cutler, director of the Center for the Study of Government and Politics at Siena College indicated that the seat would be difficult for Gillibrand to hold in 2008, noting the substantial Republican enrollment advantage. Gillibrand was noted for her skill at fundraising, giving her a leg up in her future appointment to the senate.
2008
Gillibrand won her bid for re-election in 2008, enjoying a sophomore surge
. Her challenger was former New York Secretary of State
Sandy Treadwell. Despite significantly outspending Gillibrand, and promising to never vote to raise taxes, not accept a federal salary, and limit himself to three terms in office, Treadwell lost the election by a 24-point margin, which, for Gillibrand, was a four-fold increase in the differential from the 2006 election. Gillibrand scored 62.13% of the vote with Treadwell getting 37.87%. Democrats generally saw major successes during the 2008 congressional election, credited in part to a coattail effect
from Barack Obama's election
.
Once again, Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families party lines; Treadwell ran on the Republican, Independence, and Conservative lines. Gillibrand's campaign ended up spending $3.5 million while Treadwell's spent $5.5 million. Like 2006, this election was also considered to be largely negative. Gillibrand emphasized bettering Wall Street regulation, pulling out of Iraq, and increasing local jobs by utilizing colleges and high tech companies.
and George W. Bush
's Wall Street bailout
.
During her first year, Gillibrand opened the earmarking process up to The New York Times. New rules requiring Representatives to tag their names to requests was seen as an increase in transparency, as was the invitation from the Congresswoman. Gillibrand stated she wanted what was best for her district "by requiring every project to pass a 'greatest-need, greatest-good' test."
Gillibrand was noted as being an aggressive legislator and someone that sometimes stirs up minor controversy within the House; members of the New York congressional delegation were known to refer to her as Tracy Flick
.
Barack Obama announced his choice of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior U.S. Senator from New York, as Secretary of State
. This began a two-month search process to fill her vacant Senate seat. Upon a Senate vacancy in New York, the governor appoints a replacement. In this case, Governor David Paterson was obliged to choose the new senator; Clinton's replacement would face a special election in 2010, with the final part of the term ending in January 2013.
The selection process began with a number of prominent names and high-ranking New York Democrats vying for the spot. Gillibrand quietly campaigned to Paterson for the position, meeting secretly with the governor on at least one occasion; she says she made an effort to underscore her successful House elections in a largely conservative district, adding that she could be a good complement to Chuck Schumer. Gillibrand was presumed a likely choice the days before the official announcement; Paterson held a press conference at noon on January 23 announcing Gillibrand as his choice.
Gillibrand herself has expressed the belief that her ability to keep their interaction secret was vital to the outcome: while other candidates were discussing the process with reporters, Gillibrand was on a holiday vacation in London
, far away from the excitement surrounding the selection. A July 2009 Elle
magazine exposé stated, "Competing against an A-list cast that included , along with virtually every big-name Democrat in New York, Gillibrand succeeded in her stealth campaign to persuade Governor David Paterson to appoint her as Clinton’s successor."
The response to the appointment was mixed. The upstate media was generally optimistic about an upstate Senator, which had not been seen since Charles Goodell
left office in 1971; downstaters focused on disappointment with a non-Kennedy selection, with some media outlets stating that the selection ignored the democratic
influence New York City and downstate have on state politics (due to the area's population). One explicitly asked whether Paterson's administration was aware of " statewide elections are won and lost". The relative unfamiliarity with Gillibrand statewide was undeniable, though, with many finding the choice surprising. One source states, "With every Democrat in New York...angling for the appointment, there was a sense of bafflement, belittlement, and bruised egos when Paterson tapped the junior legislator unknown outside of Albany."
Gillibrand was sworn in on January 26, 2009; at 42, she entered the chamber as the youngest senator in the 111th Congress
.
Gillibrand faced a Democratic primary election
on September 14, 2010. Challengers surfaced as early as the time of her appointment, most notably, Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
, who was unhappy with Gillibrand's stance on gun control. McCarthy ultimately decided not to run. By March 2009, Harold Ford, Jr.
, former Congressman from Tennessee
, considered a run but ultimately decided against it after pressure from Chuck Schumer and other high-ranking Democrats. Congressman Steve Israel
was also a contender but was talked out of it by President Obama. Concerned about a possible schism in the party that could lead to a heated primary, split electorate, and weakened stance, high-ranking members of the party backed Gillibrand and requested major opponents to back off. In the end, Gillibrand faced Gail Goode, a lawyer from New York City, and handily won the primary with 76% of the vote.
Initially expected to be a heated race, Gillibrand easily won against Republican Joseph DioGuardi, a former New York Congressman. This was Gillibrand's first state-wide election. By the end of October, a Quinnipiac University
poll placed Gillibrand over DioGuardi by 23 points (57 to 34). She won the November election 63% to 35%, carrying 54 of New York's 62 counties; those counties that supported DioGuardi did so by a margin no greater than 10%.
2012
Gillibrand is currently running for reelection. After winning the 2010 special election, Gillibrand serves the rest of Clinton's unfinished term, which ends in January 2013. The next election is in November 2012.
Gillibrand, in association with Senator Schumer, was instrumental in Sonya Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court. On April 9, 2009, a combined Schumer-Gillibrand press release stated strong support of a Latino being nominated to the Surpreme Court at the time of the next vacancy. Sotomayor was their first choice. The two senators introduced Sotomayor at the Senate confirmation hearing
in July; pundits and comedians took advantage of her long-windedness, which filled hours of television programming.
During the lame duck session
of the 111th Congress, Senator Gillibrand scored two substantial legislative victories: the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
and the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Both were issues she had championed during that session. In the aftermath of these victories, many commentators opined that these victories marked her emergence on the national stage.
In 2011, Gillibrand visited her friend Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who had been shot in the head during the shooting in Tucson, and Giffords opened her eyes for the first time and squeezed Gillibrand's hand.
The National Journal
declared Gillibrand to be the tenth most liberal member of the Senate in 2010 (she tied Chuck Schumer).
. In the House, she was known as a conservative liberal
or centrist
, serving at the will of a highly conservative electorate. She was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of fiscally conservative
Democrats. In the Senate, she is known more as a populist
-leaning liberal
, as she represents a heavily Democratic state. At the time of her appointment to the Senate, a Salon.com
editorial said that Gillibrand's reputation in the House characterized her as "a hybrid politician who has remained conservative enough to keep her seat while appearing progressive enough to raise money downstate."
On social issues, Gillibrand is generally liberal, supporting a pro-choice
agenda, legalization of same-sex marriage
, and health care reform
with a public option
. She is a strong advocate for government transparency, being one of a few members of Congress that releases as much personal and scheduling information. She is also a strong supporter of female equality and involvement, having begun the website offthesidelines.org in 2011. Although a supporter of gun rights while in the House, Gillibrand has since moved in the direction of gun control. On economic issues, Gillibrand has been more fiscally conservative.
Gillibrand has received an 8% rating from the American Conservative Union
, 70% from Americans for Democratic Action
, and 90% from the American Civil Liberties Union
. OnTheIssues.org
rates Gillibrand as a "populist-leaning liberal."
with her husband and two sons. She is married to Jonathan Gillibrand, a venture capitalist and British national. The two met on a blind date; Jonathan was only meant to be in the United States for a year while studying for his MBA
at Columbia University
, however he stayed in the country because of his relationship with Kirsten. The two were married in a Catholic church in Manhattan in 2001. Due to the requirements of the office, the family spends most of its time in Washington; in 2011, the Gillibrand family sold their house in Hudson
and purchased a home in Brunswick to be closer to Kirsten's family in Albany.
The Gillibrands welcomed their first child, Theodore, in 2003. Their second son, Henry, was born in 2008. Gillibrand is the sixth woman to have a child while serving as a member of congress. She continued to work until the day of Henry's delivery, for which she received a standing ovation from her colleagues in the House the next day.
|-
|-
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. Prior to being appointed to the Senate by New York Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
David Paterson
David Paterson
David Alexander Paterson is an American politician who served as the 55th Governor of New York, from 2008 to 2010. During his tenure he was the first governor of New York of African American heritage and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C. Riley, who was Acting...
in 2009, she served two terms in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing New York's 20th congressional district
New York's 20th congressional district
The 20th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern New York. It includes all or parts of Columbia, Dutchess, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. It includes the...
.
Gillibrand was born and raised in the Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
area. She is a 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where she majored in Asian studies
Asian studies
Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics...
. She received her Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from UCLA Law School in 1991 and passed the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year. She was an associate in the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is an international law firm. The firm employs more than 800 attorneys worldwide and is headquartered in New York City. The firm represents many of the world's largest companies and leading financial institutions, and is best known for its corporate and litigation...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
before becoming a partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner
Boies, Schiller & Flexner
Boies, Schiller & Flexner L.L.P. is a prominent American law firm founded by David Boies and Jonathan D. Schiller in 1997. In 1999, they were joined by Donald L. Flexner, former partner with Crowell & Moring. In March of 2009, a 27-lawyer firm, located in Miami, named Zack Kosnitzky, merged into...
in Albany.
Gillibrand won an upset congressional election in November 2006
New York 20th congressional district election, 2006
The New York 20th congressional district election for the 110th Congress was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent John E. Sweeney was the nominee for the Republican Party, while attorney Kirsten Gillibrand was the nominee for the Democratic Party...
, beating four-term incumbent John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney is a politician from the U.S. state of New York. A Republican, he represented New York's 20th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 1999 to January 2007. He was defeated for reelection in November 2006 by Democrat Kirsten...
53% to 47%. Her reelection campaign in 2008 against Sandy Treadwell
Alexander Treadwell
Alexander F. "Sandy" Treadwell is an American politician who is a longtime Republican Party political leader in New York. He is currently New York's National Committeeman on the Republican National Committee...
was significantly easier, winning 62% to 38%. In December 2008, then President-elect Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
nominated Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
as Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
, leaving an empty seat in the New York senate delegation. After two months and many potential names considered, Governor David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill the seat. Gillibrand was required to run in a special election in 2010
United States Senate special election in New York, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate special election in New York took place on November 2, 2010, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections...
, which she easily won with 63% of the vote. Her term ends in 2013 and she is currently running for reelection in 2012
United States Senate election in New York, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in New York will take place on November 6, 2012 concurrently with the U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives as well as various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S...
.
Originally known in the House for conservative and centrist liberal views, since her appointment to the Senate, Gillibrand has been seen more as a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
or Liberal Democrat. In both cases, her viewpoints were significantly defined by her constituency (a heavily Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
congressional district versus a largely liberal US state). In the House, Gillibrand was an opponent of strict gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
, against amnesty for illegal immigrants
Illegal immigration to the United States
An illegal immigrant in the United States is an alien who has entered the United States without government permission or stayed beyond the termination date of a visa....
, and she voted twice against the 2008 bailout of the US financial system
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
. In the Senate she focused on support of gay rights, authored legislation to crack down on illegal guns and gun traffickers, scaled back her former support of gun rights, and changed her views on immigration through support of the DREAM Act
DREAM Act
The DREAM Act is an American legislative proposal first introduced in the Senate on August 1, 2001 and most recently reintroduced there on May 11, 2011....
; she is best known for successfully championing both the repeal of Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
and the adoption of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
Gillibrand currently resides in Brunswick
Brunswick, New York
Brunswick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States that was originally settled in the early 18th century. During its history, it had been part of Albany County, Rensselaerswyck, and Troy, before its incorporation in 1807...
with her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, a venture capitalist and British national, and their two sons, Theodore and Henry.
Early years and education
A member of a politically active family, Kirsten Rutnik was born on December 9, 1966 to Douglas Rutnik and Polly Noonan Rutnik. Her father is an attorney and lobbyistLobbying in the United States
Lobbying in the United States targets the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and state legislatures. Lobbyists may also represent their clients' or organizations' interests in dealings with federal, state, or local executive branch agencies or the courts. Lobby...
and is known for his close ties to Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Alfonse D'Amato (former United States senator) and George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
(former governor), although he himself is a registered Democrat. Gillibrand's mother is a retired attorney; the couple opened a law firm and practiced together until they divorced when Gillibrand was 22 years old. Gillibrand has an older brother, Doug Rutnik, and a younger sister, Erin Rutnik Tschantret. Her maternal grandmother was Dorothea "Polly" Noonan, founder of the Albany Democratic Women's Club and a leader in Albany Mayor Erastus Corning's
Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd was an American politician. He was Mayor of Albany, New York for more than 40 years, from 1942 to 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of the last two classic urban political machines in the United States. Albany's longest serving mayor, the Democrat died in office in...
powerful political machine, which lasted for more than 40 years.
Gillibrand grew up in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and was known by the nickname Tina, a name adopted by her brother when he couldn't pronounce "Kirsten". In 1984 she graduated from Emma Willard School
Emma Willard School
The Emma Willard School, originally called Troy Female Seminary and often referred to simply as "Emma," is an independent university-preparatory day and boarding school for young women, located in Troy, New York on Mount Ida, offering grades 9-12 and postgraduate coursework...
in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and went on to Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. As an Asian Studies
Asian studies
Asian studies, a term used usually in the United States for Oriental studies and is concerned with the Asian peoples, their cultures, languages, history and politics...
major, she became functionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese; she studied in both Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and adopted a Chinese name, Lu Tian Na (陸天娜). She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1988. While at Dartmouth, Gillibrand was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
sorority. During college, she interned at Senator D'Amato's Albany office. Following Dartmouth, Gillibrand attended UCLA Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1991. She passed the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
the same year.
Legal career
In 1991, Gillibrand joined the ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
office of Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is an international law firm. The firm employs more than 800 attorneys worldwide and is headquartered in New York City. The firm represents many of the world's largest companies and leading financial institutions, and is best known for its corporate and litigation...
as an associate. In 1992 she took a leave from Davis Polk to serve as a law clerk to Judge Roger Miner
Roger Miner
Roger Jeffrey Miner is a federal appellate judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.After graduating from New York Law School, Miner practiced law for many years in Hudson, New York. He was corporation counsel for the City of Hudson from 1961 to 1964 and District...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is one of the thirteen United States Courts of Appeals...
in Albany. It was at this time she dropped the childhood nickname Tina; Judge Miner refused to call her by a nickname, and Kirsten stuck.
Gillibrand's tenure at Davis Polk is best known for her work as a defense attorney for tobacco giant Philip Morris
Philip Morris USA
Philip Morris USA is the United States tobacco division of Altria Group, Inc. Philip Morris USA brands include Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Benson and Hedges, Merit, Parliament, Alpine, Basic, Cambridge, Bucks, Dave's, Chesterfield, Collector's Choice, Commander, English Ovals, Lark, L&M, Players and...
during major litigation, including both civil lawsuits and U.S. Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
criminal and civil racketeering probes. According to The New York Times, "Gillibrand was involved in some of the most sensitive matters related to the defense of the tobacco giant as it confronted pivotal legal battles beginning in the mid-1990s." Gillibrand rarely comments on her work for Philip Morris, citing attorney-client privilege
Attorney-client privilege
Attorney–client privilege is a legal concept that protects certain communications between a client and his or her attorney and keeps those communications confidential....
. She states that she had no control over cases and clients she received, though The New York Times claims otherwise. While working on the Philip Morris case, Gillibrand was promoted to senior associate. Gillibrand indicates her work for Philip Morris allowed her to take on multiple pro bono
Pro bono
Pro bono publico is a Latin phrase generally used to describe professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment or at a reduced fee as a public service. It is common in the legal profession and is increasingly seen in marketing, technology, and strategy consulting firms...
cases defending abused women and their children, as well as defending tenants seeking safe housing after lead paint and unsafe conditions were found in their homes.
While working for Davis Polk, Gillibrand became involved in—and later the leader of—the Women's Leadership Forum, a program of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
. Gillibrand states that a speech to the group by then-First Lady Hillary Clinton left an impressionable mark on her: " was trying to encourage us to become more active in politics and she said, 'If you leave all the decision-making to others, you might not like what they do, and you will have no one but yourself to blame.' It was such a challenge to the women in the room. And it really hit me: She’s talking to me."
Following her time at Davis Polk, Gillibrand served as Special Counsel to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is the head of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, a member of the President's Cabinet, and thirteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Housing...
(HUD), Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
during the last year of the Clinton administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
. She worked on HUD's Labor Initiative and its New Markets Initiative as well as on TAP's Young Leaders Of The American Democracy, on strengthening Davis–Bacon Act enforcement.
In 1999, Gillibrand began working on Hillary Clinton's 2000 US Senate campaign. There, she focused on campaigning to young women and encouraging them to join the campaign. Many of those women would end up working on Gillibrand's future campaigns. Gillibrand and Clinton became close during the election, with Clinton becoming something of a mentor to the young lawyer. Gillibrand's fondness for Clinton has seen her donate more than $12,000 to Clinton's senate campaigns.
In 2001, Gillibrand became a partner at the Manhattan office of Boies, Schiller & Flexner
Boies, Schiller & Flexner
Boies, Schiller & Flexner L.L.P. is a prominent American law firm founded by David Boies and Jonathan D. Schiller in 1997. In 1999, they were joined by Donald L. Flexner, former partner with Crowell & Moring. In March of 2009, a 27-lawyer firm, located in Miami, named Zack Kosnitzky, merged into...
, where one of her clients was the Altria Group
Altria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
, Philip Morris' parent company. In 2002 she informed Boies of interest in running for office and was allowed to transfer to the firm's Albany office. She left Boies in 2005 to begin her 2006 campaign for congress.
Elections
2006Gillibrand's first run for office was in the 2006 race in New York's 20th congressional district
New York's 20th congressional district
The 20th Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives in eastern New York. It includes all or parts of Columbia, Dutchess, Delaware, Essex, Greene, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. It includes the...
against four-term Republican incumbent John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney is a politician from the U.S. state of New York. A Republican, he represented New York's 20th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 1999 to January 2007. He was defeated for reelection in November 2006 by Democrat Kirsten...
. The 20th district encompasses all or part of Columbia
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, Dutchess
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, Delaware
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
, Essex
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, Greene
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, Otsego
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
, Rensselaer
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
, Saratoga
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
, Warren
Warren County, New York
Warren County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 65,707. It is named in honor of General Joseph Warren, an American Revolutionary War hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill...
, and Washington
Washington County, New York
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
counties. Traditionally conservative, it had been considered a safe seat
Safe seat
A safe seat is a seat in a legislative body which is regarded as fully secured, either by a certain political party, the incumbent representative personally or a combination of both...
for Republicans to such an extent that after redistricting
Boundary delimitation
Boundary delimitation, or simply delimitation, is the term used to describe the drawing of boundaries, but is most often used to describe the drawing of electoral boundaries, specifically those of precincts, states, counties or other municipalities...
in 2002, then-Congressman Sweeney was quoted as saying that “no Republican can ever lose” the district. In November 2006, the Republican Party held an enrollment advantage over Democrats of 82,737 voters (197,473 to 114,736).
Engaging New York's electoral fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
election laws, Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
lines. In addition to having the Republican nomination, Sweeney was endorsed by the Conservative and Independence
Independence Party of New York
The Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
parties. During the campaign, Gillibrand was a popular candidate with Democrats. Mike McNulty, Democratic Congressman from the neighboring 21st congressional district
New York's 21st congressional district
The 21st Congressional District of New York is a congressional district for the United States House of Representatives that contains most of the Capital District of New York. It includes all or parts of Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties...
, campaigned for her, as did both Hillary and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
; the former president appeared twice at campaign events.
The election was noted as being vital to returning control of the House to Democrats. As such, both parties poured millions of dollars into the respective campaigns. Both campaigns spent a portion of those dollars on heated campaign ads; each campaign accused the other of "fighting dirty with negative campaign advertising
Negative campaigning
Negative campaigning, also known more colloquially as "mudslinging", is trying to win an advantage by referring to negative aspects of an opponent or of a policy rather than emphasizing one's own positive attributes or preferred policies...
and of dragging the opponent's family into the campaign." Gillibrand was seen as a moderate by many conservatives. The American Conservative
The American Conservative
The American Conservative is a monthly U.S. opinion magazine published by Ron Unz. Its first editor was Scott McConnell, his successors being Kara Hopkins and the present incumbent, Daniel McCarthy....
described her eventual win by saying, "Gillibrand won her upstate New York district by running to the right: she campaigned against amnesty for illegal immigrants, promised to restore fiscal responsibility to Washington, and pledged to protect gun rights."
The probable turning point of the election was the November 1 release of a December 2005 police report of a 911 call made by Sweeney's wife, in which she claimed Sweeney was "knocking her around the house". The Sweeney campaign claimed it was a lie and promised to have the official report released by State Police
New York State Police
The New York State Police is the state police force of over 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of a construction foreman named Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not...
, but never came through on that promise. In response, the Sweeney campaign released an ad during which Sweeney's wife described Gillibrand's campaign as "a disgrace." By November 5, a Siena College
Siena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
Research Poll showed Gillibrand ahead of Sweeney by three points (46% to 43%, although that was still within the 3.9% margin of error
Margin of error
The margin of error is a statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results. The larger the margin of error, the less faith one should have that the poll's reported results are close to the "true" figures; that is, the figures for the whole population...
).
Gillibrand ended up winning with 53.10 percent of the vote (a 6-point lead). She began her first term on January 3, 2007 in the 110th Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
. Following her win, Republicans quickly began speculating about who would run against her in 2008. Len Cutler, director of the Center for the Study of Government and Politics at Siena College indicated that the seat would be difficult for Gillibrand to hold in 2008, noting the substantial Republican enrollment advantage. Gillibrand was noted for her skill at fundraising, giving her a leg up in her future appointment to the senate.
2008
Gillibrand won her bid for re-election in 2008, enjoying a sophomore surge
Sophomore surge
A sophomore surge is a term used in the political science of the United States Congress that refers to an increase in votes that congressional candidates usually receive when running for their first re-election...
. Her challenger was former New York Secretary of State
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
Sandy Treadwell. Despite significantly outspending Gillibrand, and promising to never vote to raise taxes, not accept a federal salary, and limit himself to three terms in office, Treadwell lost the election by a 24-point margin, which, for Gillibrand, was a four-fold increase in the differential from the 2006 election. Gillibrand scored 62.13% of the vote with Treadwell getting 37.87%. Democrats generally saw major successes during the 2008 congressional election, credited in part to a coattail effect
Coattail effect
The coattail effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election...
from Barack Obama's election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
.
Once again, Gillibrand ran on both the Democratic and Working Families party lines; Treadwell ran on the Republican, Independence, and Conservative lines. Gillibrand's campaign ended up spending $3.5 million while Treadwell's spent $5.5 million. Like 2006, this election was also considered to be largely negative. Gillibrand emphasized bettering Wall Street regulation, pulling out of Iraq, and increasing local jobs by utilizing colleges and high tech companies.
Tenure
Upon the start of her tenure, Gillibrand became the first member of Congress to publish her official schedule, listing everyone she met with on a given day, as well as earmark requests and her personal financial statement. This "Sunlight Report", as her office termed it, was praised by a New York Times editorial in December 2006 as being a "quiet touch of revolution" in a non-transparent system. She joined the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats. She was noted for voting against 2007's Immigration Reform ActComprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, or, in its full name, the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 was a bill discussed in the 110th United States Congress that would have provided legal status and a path to citizenship for the approximately 12 to...
and George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's Wall Street bailout
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (Division A of , commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system, is a law enacted in response to the subprime mortgage crisis...
.
During her first year, Gillibrand opened the earmarking process up to The New York Times. New rules requiring Representatives to tag their names to requests was seen as an increase in transparency, as was the invitation from the Congresswoman. Gillibrand stated she wanted what was best for her district "by requiring every project to pass a 'greatest-need, greatest-good' test."
Gillibrand was noted as being an aggressive legislator and someone that sometimes stirs up minor controversy within the House; members of the New York congressional delegation were known to refer to her as Tracy Flick
Tracy Flick
Tracy Enid Flick is a fictional character, originating in the 1998 novel Election by Tom Perrotta and portrayed by Reese Witherspoon in the 1999 film adaptation of the same title. Tracy is a smart, ambitious high school student, whose quest to win a school election is nearly derailed by her own...
.
Committee assignments
While in the House of Representatives, Gillibrand served on the following committees:- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research (now known as Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry)
- Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic AgricultureUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic AgricultureThe House Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. It was first created during the 110th Congress as the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and PoultryThe House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. It oversees all issues relating to livestock, dairy, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products including federal inspection, marketing, and promotion of these commodities...
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces
- Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats
U.S. Senate
On December 1, 2008, President-electPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama announced his choice of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the junior U.S. Senator from New York, as Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
. This began a two-month search process to fill her vacant Senate seat. Upon a Senate vacancy in New York, the governor appoints a replacement. In this case, Governor David Paterson was obliged to choose the new senator; Clinton's replacement would face a special election in 2010, with the final part of the term ending in January 2013.
The selection process began with a number of prominent names and high-ranking New York Democrats vying for the spot. Gillibrand quietly campaigned to Paterson for the position, meeting secretly with the governor on at least one occasion; she says she made an effort to underscore her successful House elections in a largely conservative district, adding that she could be a good complement to Chuck Schumer. Gillibrand was presumed a likely choice the days before the official announcement; Paterson held a press conference at noon on January 23 announcing Gillibrand as his choice.
Gillibrand herself has expressed the belief that her ability to keep their interaction secret was vital to the outcome: while other candidates were discussing the process with reporters, Gillibrand was on a holiday vacation in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, far away from the excitement surrounding the selection. A July 2009 Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
magazine exposé stated, "Competing against an A-list cast that included , along with virtually every big-name Democrat in New York, Gillibrand succeeded in her stealth campaign to persuade Governor David Paterson to appoint her as Clinton’s successor."
The response to the appointment was mixed. The upstate media was generally optimistic about an upstate Senator, which had not been seen since Charles Goodell
Charles Goodell
Charles Ellsworth Goodell was a U.S. Representative and a Senator from New York, notable for coming into both offices under special circumstances following the deaths of his predecessors.-Early life and education:...
left office in 1971; downstaters focused on disappointment with a non-Kennedy selection, with some media outlets stating that the selection ignored the democratic
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
influence New York City and downstate have on state politics (due to the area's population). One explicitly asked whether Paterson's administration was aware of " statewide elections are won and lost". The relative unfamiliarity with Gillibrand statewide was undeniable, though, with many finding the choice surprising. One source states, "With every Democrat in New York...angling for the appointment, there was a sense of bafflement, belittlement, and bruised egos when Paterson tapped the junior legislator unknown outside of Albany."
Gillibrand was sworn in on January 26, 2009; at 42, she entered the chamber as the youngest senator in the 111th Congress
111th United States Congress
The One Hundred Eleventh United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. It began during the last two weeks of the George W. Bush administration, with the remainder spanning the first two years of...
.
Elections
2010Gillibrand faced a Democratic primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on September 14, 2010. Challengers surfaced as early as the time of her appointment, most notably, Long Island Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn McCarthy
Carolyn McCarthy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in central Long Island in west-central Nassau County and includes Mineola, the Five Towns, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Garden City, Hempstead,...
, who was unhappy with Gillibrand's stance on gun control. McCarthy ultimately decided not to run. By March 2009, Harold Ford, Jr.
Harold Ford, Jr.
Harold Eugene Ford, Jr. is an American politician and was the last chairman of the now-defunct Democratic Leadership Council . He was a Democratic Party member of the United States House of Representatives from , centered in Memphis, from 1997 to 2007...
, former Congressman from Tennessee
Tennessee's 9th congressional district
The 9th Congressional District of Tennessee is a Congressional district in southwestern Tennessee. The district is located entirely within Shelby County, and includes most of the city of Memphis...
, considered a run but ultimately decided against it after pressure from Chuck Schumer and other high-ranking Democrats. Congressman Steve Israel
Steve Israel
Steve J. Israel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located on Long Island and includes the towns of Huntington, Babylon, Islip, and Smithtown in Suffolk County, part of the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, and the...
was also a contender but was talked out of it by President Obama. Concerned about a possible schism in the party that could lead to a heated primary, split electorate, and weakened stance, high-ranking members of the party backed Gillibrand and requested major opponents to back off. In the end, Gillibrand faced Gail Goode, a lawyer from New York City, and handily won the primary with 76% of the vote.
Initially expected to be a heated race, Gillibrand easily won against Republican Joseph DioGuardi, a former New York Congressman. This was Gillibrand's first state-wide election. By the end of October, a Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
poll placed Gillibrand over DioGuardi by 23 points (57 to 34). She won the November election 63% to 35%, carrying 54 of New York's 62 counties; those counties that supported DioGuardi did so by a margin no greater than 10%.
2012
Gillibrand is currently running for reelection. After winning the 2010 special election, Gillibrand serves the rest of Clinton's unfinished term, which ends in January 2013. The next election is in November 2012.
Tenure
Soon after her appointment, Gillibrand's viewpoints on many political issues saw at least some change. Transitioning from representing a heavily Republican congressional district to a largely Democratic state is the given reason, though many in the 20th congressional district saw it as flip-flopping.Gillibrand, in association with Senator Schumer, was instrumental in Sonya Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court. On April 9, 2009, a combined Schumer-Gillibrand press release stated strong support of a Latino being nominated to the Surpreme Court at the time of the next vacancy. Sotomayor was their first choice. The two senators introduced Sotomayor at the Senate confirmation hearing
Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination
On May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama announced his selection of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, to replace retiring Justice David Souter. Sotomayor's nomination was formally submitted to the United States Senate on June 1, 2009, when the...
in July; pundits and comedians took advantage of her long-windedness, which filled hours of television programming.
During the lame duck session
Lame duck session (United States)
A "lame duck" session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins. The expression is now used not only for a special session called after a sine die adjournment, but also for any portion of a regular...
of the 111th Congress, Senator Gillibrand scored two substantial legislative victories: the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
and the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Both were issues she had championed during that session. In the aftermath of these victories, many commentators opined that these victories marked her emergence on the national stage.
In 2011, Gillibrand visited her friend Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who had been shot in the head during the shooting in Tucson, and Giffords opened her eyes for the first time and squeezed Gillibrand's hand.
The National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
declared Gillibrand to be the tenth most liberal member of the Senate in 2010 (she tied Chuck Schumer).
Committee assignments
While in the Senate, Gillibrand served on the following committees:- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and ForestryUnited States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and ForestryThe Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition and...
- Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health (Chair)
- Subcommittee on Energy, Science and TechnologyUnited States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Energy, Science and TechnologyThe U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation is one of five subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry....
- Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family FarmsUnited States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family FarmsTheU.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research is one of five subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.-Jurisdiction:...
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States Senate Committee on Armed ServicesThe Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy , benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and...
(112th Congress)- Subcommittee on AirlandUnited States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on AirlandThe Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee.-Jurisdiction:The Airland Subcommittee has primary jurisdiction over all issues related to the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S...
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and CapabilitiesUnited States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and CapabilitiesThe Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesUnited States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesThe Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is one of six subcommittees within the Senate Armed Services Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Airland
- Committee on Environment and Public WorksUnited States Senate Committee on Environment and Public WorksThe United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for dealing with matters related to the environment and infrastructure.-Members, 112th Congress:...
- Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New EconomyUnited States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New EconomyThe U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Job and the New Economy is one of seven subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.-Jurisdiction:According to the Committee's website:...
- Subcommittee on OversightUnited States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on OversightThe U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Oversight is one of seven subcommittees of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.-Jurisdiction:According to the Committee's website:-Members, 111th Congress:...
- Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health
- Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy
- Committee on Foreign RelationsUnited States Senate Committee on Foreign RelationsThe United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid programs as...
(111th Congress)- Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific AffairsUnited States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific AffairsThe Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs is one of seven subcommittees of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
- Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues
- Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps and Narcotics Affairs
- Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
- Special Committee on AgingUnited States Senate Special Committee on AgingThe United States Senate Special Committee on Aging was initially established in 1961 as a temporary committee; it became a permanent Senate committee in 1977...
Caucus memberships
- Healthy Kids Caucus
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Senate Women’s Caucus
- Sportsmen's Caucus
Political views
Gillibrand's views on many issues can be defined as an evolution based on constituent needs; some have characterized this progression as flip-floppingFlip-flop (politics)
A "flip-flop" , U-turn , or backflip is a sudden real or apparent change of policy or opinion by a public official, sometimes while trying to claim that both positions are consistent with each other...
. In the House, she was known as a conservative liberal
Conservative liberalism
Conservative liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal values and policies with conservative stances, or, more simply, representing the right-wing of the liberal movement....
or centrist
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
, serving at the will of a highly conservative electorate. She was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of fiscally conservative
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
Democrats. In the Senate, she is known more as a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
-leaning liberal
Liberalism in the United States
Liberalism in the United States is a broad political philosophy centered on the unalienable rights of the individual. The fundamental liberal ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion for all belief systems, and the separation of church and state, right to due process...
, as she represents a heavily Democratic state. At the time of her appointment to the Senate, a Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
editorial said that Gillibrand's reputation in the House characterized her as "a hybrid politician who has remained conservative enough to keep her seat while appearing progressive enough to raise money downstate."
On social issues, Gillibrand is generally liberal, supporting a pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
agenda, legalization of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in the United States
The federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage in the United States, but such marriages are recognized by some individual states. The lack of federal recognition was codified in 1996 by the Defense of Marriage Act, before Massachusetts became the first state to grant marriage licenses...
, and health care reform
Health care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States has a long history, of which the most recent results were two federal statutes enacted in 2010: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act , signed March 23, 2010, and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 , which amended the PPACA and...
with a public option
Public health insurance option
The public health insurance option is a proposed government-run health insurance agency which competes with other health insurance companies. It is not the same as Publicly-funded health care. Called the public insurance option or public option, for short, it was a proposed health insurance plan...
. She is a strong advocate for government transparency, being one of a few members of Congress that releases as much personal and scheduling information. She is also a strong supporter of female equality and involvement, having begun the website offthesidelines.org in 2011. Although a supporter of gun rights while in the House, Gillibrand has since moved in the direction of gun control. On economic issues, Gillibrand has been more fiscally conservative.
Gillibrand has received an 8% rating from the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
, 70% from Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
, and 90% from the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
. OnTheIssues.org
On the Issues
On The Issues or OnTheIssues is a non-partisan, non-profit organization providing information to voters about candidates, primarily via their web site. This organization was started in 1996, went non-profit in 2000, and is currently run primarily by volunteers.The president and CEO of On the...
rates Gillibrand as a "populist-leaning liberal."
Personal life
Gillibrand lives in the town of BrunswickBrunswick, New York
Brunswick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States that was originally settled in the early 18th century. During its history, it had been part of Albany County, Rensselaerswyck, and Troy, before its incorporation in 1807...
with her husband and two sons. She is married to Jonathan Gillibrand, a venture capitalist and British national. The two met on a blind date; Jonathan was only meant to be in the United States for a year while studying for his MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, however he stayed in the country because of his relationship with Kirsten. The two were married in a Catholic church in Manhattan in 2001. Due to the requirements of the office, the family spends most of its time in Washington; in 2011, the Gillibrand family sold their house in Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
and purchased a home in Brunswick to be closer to Kirsten's family in Albany.
The Gillibrands welcomed their first child, Theodore, in 2003. Their second son, Henry, was born in 2008. Gillibrand is the sixth woman to have a child while serving as a member of congress. She continued to work until the day of Henry's delivery, for which she received a standing ovation from her colleagues in the House the next day.
See also
- List of United States Senators from New York
- United States congressional delegations from New YorkUnited States Congressional Delegations from New YorkThese are tables of congressional delegations from New York to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.Over the years, New York has demographically changed so that it is hard to consider each district to be a continuation of the same numbered district before...
- Women in the United States House of RepresentativesWomen in the United States House of RepresentativesSince the beginning of the 20th century, a number of women have served in the United States House of Representatives. The first woman to be elected to the United States Congress was Jeanette Rankin, a Republican from Montana elected in 1917. 229 women have served in total as of 2009...
- Women in the United States SenateWomen in the United States SenateThere have been 39 women in the United States Senate since the establishment of that body in 1789. The first woman served in 1922, but women were first elected in number in 1992. As of 2011, 17 of the 100 senators are women...
External links
- United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand official U.S. Senate site
- Gillibrand for Senate official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Campaign contributions made by Kirsten Gillibrand
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