Kirsten Gillibrand Gets To Know New York
New York's new Junior senator adapts to a more liberal constituency
When Hillary Clinton accepted the nomination to be Secretary of State in the Obama Administration, the speculation began on who would Governor David Paterson appoint to serve out her term in the United States Senate.
The names of some of New York's most prominent Democrats began to pop up; Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, Congressman Steve Israel of Long Island, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Congressman Brian Higgins of Buffalo, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, and Former First Daughter Caroline Kennedy. One name that appeared as a dark horse candidate was that of a second-term congresswoman from the Hudson Valley; Kirsten Gillibrand.
Gillibrand's Rise To Power As A Moderate Democrat
Gillibrand was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2006. She defeated Republicak John Sweeney in, what had historically been, one of New York's most Republican districts; stretching from Lake Placid to Pougkeepsie and including Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and some of Albany's suburbs.
Gillibrand presented herself to her constituents as a moderate Democrat representing a formerly conservative district in transition. She took a hard line on illegal immigration, opposing Governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to allow undocumented immigrants to get state driver's licenses and opposed gun control, receiving praise from the NRA. She joined the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats and favored a balanced budget. Although her views were in line with her constituents, they put her to the right of most of New York State's Democrats; at least the ones from downstate around liberal New York City.
From Saratoga To Statewide
The last time someone from outside New York City held a major statewide office was from 1995-1999 when Republican Dennis Vacco of Buffalo served as Attorney General. Since then, only Mary Donohue, the low key Lieutenant Governor originally from outside Albany gave upstate a face in statewide offices. However, she was not considered very influential. In 2009, none of New York's statewide elected officials hailed from north of The Bronx. Even the State Senate Republican leader, Dean Skelos, was from Long Island. Skelos replaced Upstater Joe Bruno in 2008.
Appointing Gillibrand gave Governor Paterson a chance to give Upstate it's first major voice in statewide affairs in a long time. The only problem would be satisfying liberal activists who hoped to see a real progressive voice in the US Senate. Since liberal isn't a problem in New York electorally, they wanted to see the most liberal person Governor Paterson could find. If Gillibrand was going to be it, she had to modify her stances on some issues. Her constituency would no longer be a swath of the Upper Hudson Valley and Eastern Adirondacks home to historically conservative voters. Her new constituency would include places like Brooklyn, Manhattan, Ithaca, Buffalo, nd various other locales far more liberal than where she comes from.
A Progressive Blue Dog?One of the first moves made by Senator-designate Gillibrand in January, 2009 was to call the Empire State Pride Agenda, an influential gay rights organization in New York, and declare her unyielding support for same-sex marriage. Her position put her to the left of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, and New York's other Senator, Chuck Schumer, as well as many of her potential primary opponents. She became a strong advocate for President Obama's stimulus plan, as well as his progressive budget, which many of her former Blue Dog colleagues in the House of Representatives voted against. In May, 2009, she declared her support for a public option for healthcare; allowing Americans to choose a government-run plan over private insurance policies, to guarantee Universal Healhcare. She even went as far to say that omitting a public option in healthcare would be a dealbreaker for her; a position similar to progressive heroes in the Senate like Barbara Boxer of California, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York)
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