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Gillibrand was elected in 2006 after defeating incumbent Republican John E. Sweeney. She won by 6% of the vote after news of her opponent's long record of drunkenness was reported by three newspapers as well as a wife-beating incident when state police were called to his home, not to mention his ties with disreputable lobbyist Jack Abramoff.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/11/14/2007-11-14_former_congressman_john_sweeney_pleads_g-1.html Former congressman John Sweeney pleads guilty to DWI] NY Daily News, November 14th 2007</ref>

Gillibrand was elected in 2006 after defeating incumbent Republican John E. Sweeney. She won by 6% of the vote after news of her opponent's long record of drunkenness was reported by three newspapers as well as a wife-beating incident when state police were called to his home, not to mention his ties with disreputable lobbyist Jack Abramoff.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/11/14/2007-11-14_former_congressman_john_sweeney_pleads_g-1.html Former congressman John Sweeney pleads guilty to DWI] NY Daily News, November 14th 2007</ref>

==House==

==House==

Gillibrand is considered a [[Blue-dog Democrat]] for her conservative credentials, including a 100% rating from the [[NRA]], supports offshore drilling, and voted against the $700 billion bailout. However, she supports civil liberties and has a 100% rating from the [[ACLU]]. She supported redeployment of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, and voted with the Bush administration and against her own party leadership on funding the Iraq war.<ref> See [http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/01/23/kirsten_gillibrand/ Joe Conason, "Kirsten Gillibrand. Really? Why New York Gov. David Paterson chose a senator with conservative views that clash with his own." ''Salon'' Jan. 23, 2009] She favors the English language-only movement as well as abortion rights; she has supported balanced budget amendments, and opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants.  

Gillibrand is considered a [[Blue Dog Democrat]] for her conservative credentials, including a 100% rating from the [[NRA]], supports offshore drilling, and voted against the $700 billion bailout. However, she supports civil liberties and has a 100% rating from the [[ACLU]]. She supported redeployment of troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, and voted with the Bush administration and against her own party leadership on funding the Iraq war.<ref> See [http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/01/23/kirsten_gillibrand/ Joe Conason, "Kirsten Gillibrand. Really? Why New York Gov. David Paterson chose a senator with conservative views that clash with his own." ''Salon'' Jan. 23, 2009] She favors the English language-only movement as well as abortion rights; she has supported balanced budget amendments, and opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants.  

Gillibrand is considered one of the Democratic Party's most active and aggressive grass roots campaigners, using her huge $4.6 million war chest to garner 65% of the vote in the 2008 election.

Gillibrand is considered one of the Democratic Party's most active and aggressive grass roots campaigners, using her huge $4.6 million war chest to garner 65% of the vote in the 2008 election.

==U.S. Senate==

==U.S. Senate==

Gillibrand was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton after she became Secretary of State in the [[Obama Administration]]. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, had been considered the frontrunner until she mysteriously dropped out of the contest on Jan. 22. The choice of Gillibrand was a stunning blow to liberal forces in New York, who never dreamed she would displace their favorites. "She is on the right-wing of our Congressional delegation," said Danny Cantor, a liberal leader. "People change, and we’re going to be optimistic and hope she does too."<ref>Quoted in [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24gillibrand.html?ref=nyregion Michael Powell and Raymond Hernandez, "Gillibrand Is a Centrist With a Tenacious Style," ''New York Times'' Jan. 24, 2009] </ref>

Gillibrand was nominated to fill the seat vacated by Hillary Clinton after she became Secretary of State in the [[Obama Administration]]. Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late president, had been considered the frontrunner until she mysteriously dropped out of the contest on Jan. 22. The choice of Gillibrand was a stunning blow to liberal forces in New York, who never dreamed she would displace their favorites. "She is on the right-wing of our Congressional delegation," said Danny Cantor, a liberal leader. "People change, and we’re going to be optimistic and hope she does too."<ref>Quoted in [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24gillibrand.html?ref=nyregion Michael Powell and Raymond Hernandez, "Gillibrand Is a Centrist With a Tenacious Style," ''New York Times'' Jan. 24, 2009] </ref>

==See also==

==See also==