Fresh off a string of legislative victories, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is seeking another six years on Capitol Hill in hopes, she says, of getting more bills across the finish line.

In just the last few years, she has secured passage of legislation cracking down on gun trafficking, overhauling the military justice system, combating workplace harassment, and assisting veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

What You Need To Know

  • Earlier this year, Sen. Gillibrand formally announced her bid for another term. She listed the “care economy” — including universal pre-K, paid leave, and fighting age discrimination — as a top policy priority for the years ahead

  • So far, Gillibrand, who has served in the Senate since 2009, has no notable competition for the Democratic nomination

  • In just the last few years, Gillibrand has seen a string of legislative victories, including passage of legislation cracking down on gun trafficking, overhauling the military justice system, and assisting veterans exposed to toxic burn pits

  • In her interview with Spectrum News NY1, Gillibrand said she is not considering a run for the White House in 2028, which would fall in the middle of her potential next term

In an interview with Spectrum News NY1, she credited Democratic control of the Senate for the recent flurry of activity, as well as her own “persistence.” Many of these policy wins were years in the making, achieved in part by her strategy of building bipartisan coalitions and slowly chipping away at colleagues’ resistance.

“The veterans themselves: [when] we started advocating for this bill, some were walking, some were at press conferences,” she said of the burn pit legislation. “By the time we passed the bill, they were gone.”

Earlier this year, Gillibrand formally announced her bid for another term. She listed the “care economy” - including universal pre-K, paid leave, and fighting age discrimination - as a top policy priority for the years ahead.

“Making sure that people can age in place with more home health aides, better paid home health aides, a pipeline for healthcare workers, making sure people can have affordable housing,” she said.

Gillibrand has served in the Senate since 2009, when she was appointed by then-New York Gov. David Paterson to succeed Hillary Clinton.

A Siena College poll conducted earlier this month shows that only 41 percent of registered voters in New York rate her favorably. Twenty-eight percent said they do not have an opinion of her.

Asked why, after more than a decade in the Senate, more than a quarter of the respondents said they do not have an opinion of her, Gillibrand said, “I think it's because I'm not as famous as the Majority Leader.”

“Sen. Schumer is very well known. He's the most powerful man in the Senate. And he's been in Congress an extra 20 years more than me,” she continued.

Gillibrand also pointed to new people moving into New York, causing a churn in the voting population over time. “My hope is that through hard work and through running a robust campaign, people will know who I am, what I've done, and why I want to continue to serve,” she said.

The 2024 Field

So far, Gillibrand has no notable competition for the Democratic nomination.

A spokesperson for Bronx Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose name is often batted around as someone who could seek higher office, has said the progressive star is not planning to primary Gillibrand.

Other New York Democrats on Capitol Hill offered praise for the incumbent senator.

“Whenever I’ve reached out to Sen. Gillibrand, she’s been nothing but responsive,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres, noting they worked together on legislation focused on fire investigations.

“Her personality is measured. She’s a steady hand,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat said.

“I’ll continue to work with her to make sure that we’re fighting for the same things: affordable housing, fully funding our schools, fighting for climate justice,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman said.

Provided she is the Democratic nominee for Senate, who she will face across the aisle in a general election is unclear. Gillibrand argues regardless of who it is, New York Republicans will not have a strong message to run on.

Migrants, Other Ambitions?

Gillibrand’s re-election bid kicks off as parts of New York are grappling with a surge of migrants, leading to infighting amongst local leaders about how and where to house them - especially in the New York City suburbs, which were pivotal regions in the 2022 elections.

Asked if she is concerned the migrant situation could hurt Democrats' chances in New York heading into 2024, Gillibrand said, “My concern is that there is a humanitarian crisis with families, with children who are suffering deeply.”

Gillibrand previously made a short-lived bid for president as part of the 2020 election cycle.

In her interview with Spectrum News NY1, Gillibrand said she is not considering another run for the White House in 2028, which would fall in the middle of her potential next term. She said that she would serve all six years.

“I love my role in the Senate,” she said, noting her positions on the Senate Intelligence, Armed Services, and Agriculture Committees. “I really feel like my role in the Senate has been terrific.”