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Line 3: − Daughter of an upstate New York family long involved in politics, she graduated from Dartmouth College (1988) and UCLA Law School. At Dartmouth learned Chinese, spent a semester in China, and wrote a senior project on a conservative topic, "The History of Tibetan Resistance to the Chinese Occupation of Tibet 1950-1988." + − + + + − ==Election== − Gillibrand was elected in 2006 in a heavily Republican district after the incumbent Republican John E. Sweeney became mired in numerous scandals. 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>
Saying that Sweeney is guilty of "a wife-beating incident" is over the top.
'''Kirsten Gillibrand''' (born December 9, 1966) (pronounced JILL-uh-brand) is a first-term United States senator from [[New York]]. She had previously been in the United States House of Representatives. She was nominated on Jan. 23, 2009, by Governor David Paterson to replace [[Hillary Clinton]] in the U.S. Senate. At forty-two years old she is the youngest member of the Senate.
'''Kirsten Gillibrand''' (born December 9, 1966) (pronounced JILL-uh-brand) is a first-term United States senator from [[New York]]. She had previously been in the United States House of Representatives. She was nominated on Jan. 23, 2009, by Governor David Paterson to replace [[Hillary Clinton]] in the U.S. Senate. At forty-two years old she is the youngest member of the Senate.
==Career==
==Career==
From an upstate New York family long involved in politics, she graduated from Dartmouth College (1988) and UCLA Law School. At Dartmouth learned Chinese, spent a semester in China, and wrote a senior project on the topic, "The History of Tibetan Resistance to the Chinese Occupation of Tibet 1950-1988."
She is a Catholic, and is married with two children. Her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, is a British citizen who works in finance.
She is a Catholic, and is married with two children. Her husband, Jonathan Gillibrand, is a British citizen who works in finance.
Gillibrand worked for both Republicans and Democrats, and clerked for a senior federal judge --a Reagan appointee--before working for a major law firm in New York City.
Gillibrand worked for both Republicans and Democrats, and clerked for a senior federal judge --a Reagan appointee-- before working for a major law firm in New York City.
==Election==
Gillibrand was elected in 2006 after defeating incumbent Republican John E. Sweeney. She won by 6% of the vote.
==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]</ref> 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]</ref> She favors the English language-only movement as well as abortion rights; she has supported balanced budget amendments, and opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants.