Gillibrand to seek second term leading Senate Democrats' campaign arm

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) announced on Monday that she intends to serve a second term as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. She made the statement following a strong performance by her party in the November elections.

Gillibrand told Nexstar Media Group Washington correspondent Margaret Chadbourn, “I am definitely going to volunteer again.” She added that the party can build on its recent success in the next election cycle.

Democrats secured at least seven additional seats in the Senate last week, with the final count potentially reaching nine. The party won in traditionally Republican states including Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas. Results in Mississippi and Alaska remained pending.

Gillibrand assumed the DSCC leadership role at the start of 2025. She noted that she predicted this level of success when she first took the position. At that time, achieving a majority seemed unlikely because Democrats needed to hold their own seats while defeating opponents in states that voted for President Trump two years prior.

“A year and a half ago, I did say we could win between seven and nine seats,” Gillibrand said. She explained that a blue wave required strong candidates in red states and a political climate driven by a president she described as not listening to the American people.

The New York senator requires reappointment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to continue in the role. Schumer has not yet confirmed whether he will grant that position. The DSCC chair directs candidate recruitment and allocates party resources to achieve Senate control.

Looking ahead to 2028, Gillibrand identified North Carolina, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Florida as potential targets. Democrats currently sit 20 seats away from the 60-seat filibuster-proof majority they last held briefly in 2009. If they finish this cycle with 56 seats, they will need a net gain of four to reach that threshold.