“By running, you're making that commitment that says, 'I'm dedicating myself to public service.' Win or lose, you're making that statement, and you actually are taking a step in that direction.”

American lawyer and politician

Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand is an American lawyer and politician, born in 1966, who has served as the junior United States senator from New York since 2009. A Democrat, she previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009. Gillibrand is known for her work in national politics, first in the House and then in the Senate, where she has represented New York since 2009. Her public voice is tied to her role as a lawmaker and to the issues that come with that office.