brand born december american politician junior united_states senator new_york office previously served united_states house_of_representatives representing new_york 20th congressional district member democratic_party december president elect barack_obama nominated hillary_clinton secretary state leaving seat new_york senate delegation months potential names considered governor appointed fill seat required run special election won vote elected year term vote highest margin statewide candidate new_york member democratic_party relatively conservative blue dog faction house seen progressive appointment senate cases views significantly defined respective constituency served time conservative congressional district versus generally liberal state new_york example quiet military don ask don tell policy house months senate important successful campaign repeal early life education born albany new_york december daughter née parents attorneys father worked couple divorced late 1980s older brother younger sister maternal grandmother founder leader albany mayor powerful political machine lasted years english austrian scottish german irish ancestry childhood college years nickname tina began use birth years law school graduated women high school new_york enrolled studying beijing taiwan beijing studied lived graduated cum member gamma college interned republican senator albany office went receive pass bar exam law career joined manhattan based law firm associate took leave serve law clerk judge albany tenure best known work defense attorney tobacco company major litigation including civil lawsuits criminal civil senior associate working litigation time career proven controversial indicates work allowed multiple pro cases defending abused women children cases defending tenants seeking safe housing lead paint unsafe conditions found homes working involved later leader program states speech group lady hillary_clinton inspired clinton trying encourage active politics said leave decision making like blame challenge women room hit talking following time served special counsel secretary year clinton administration worked tap young leaders american democracy strengthening davis bacon act enforcement began working hillary_clinton campaign focusing campaigning young women encouraging join effort women later worked campaigns clinton close election clinton mentor young attorney donated clinton senate campaigns partner manhattan office client parent company informed interest running office allowed transfer firm albany office left begin campaign congress elections ran office new_york 20th congressional district term republican incumbent considered running hillary_clinton believed circumstances favorable advised wait traditionally conservative district electoral offices republican hands years november voters district registered republicans registered democrats congressman time said republican lose district engaging new_york electoral fusion election laws ran democratic lines addition having republican nomination endorsed conservative independence parties campaign popular democratic_party politicians democratic congressman neighboring 21st congressional district campaigned bill_clinton president appeared twice campaign events parties poured millions dollars respective campaigns saw moderate conservative stated eventual victory won upstate new_york district running right campaigned amnesty illegal immigrants promised restore fiscal responsibility washington pledged protect gun rights legal representation issue campaign campaign finance records showed received contributions company employees campaign congress probable turning point election november release december police report detailing wife claimed knocking house campaign claimed police report false promised official report released campaign released wife described campaign disgrace november showed ahead ended winning vote following win republicans quickly began possible candidates director politics said seat difficult hold noting republicans substantially outnumbered democrats district won bid election new_york secretary state margin lost margin despite significantly promising vote raise taxes accept federal salary limit terms office campaign expenditures second highest nation house race democrats generally saw major successes congressional election credited effect barack_obama presidential campaign legal representation issue campaign finance records showed received employees campaign putting dozen democrats contributions questioned campaign work behalf stated voted favor anti tobacco bills session congress said hid work added associate law firm control clients worked new_york_times reporting issue said officially associates allowed withdraw representing clients moral house tenure taking office joined blue dog coalition group moderate conservative democrats noted voting citing concerns insufficient oversight excessive opposed new_york plans issue driver licenses illegal immigrants voted favor legislation federal funds immigrant sanctuary cities taking office member congress publish official schedule listing met given day published requests received personal financial statement sunlight report office termed praised new_york_times editorial december quiet touch revolution non transparent system process stated wanted best district require project pass greatest need greatest good test committee assignments house_of_representatives served following committees dairy december president elect barack_obama announced choice hillary_clinton junior senator new_york secretary state began month search process fill vacant senate seat senate vacancy new_york law governor replacement special election held remainder term ending january governor selection process began number prominent names high ranking new_york democrats including spot quietly campaigned position meeting secretly occasion says effort successful house elections largely conservative district adding good complement presumed likely choice days official announcement held press conference noon january announcing choice response new_york appointment mixed upstate media generally optimistic appointment upstate senator elected left office disappointed selection media outlets stating ignored electoral influence new_york_city state politics area population questioned administration aware statewide elections won lost relatively unknown statewide voters finding choice surprising source stated democrat new_york appointment sense bruised tapped junior legislator unknown outside albany sworn january entered chamber youngest senator elections numerous potential september democratic primary election obvious time appointment notably long_island unhappy stance gun control mccarthy ultimately decided run march congressman tennessee considered run ultimately decided congressman contender talked president obama concerned possible party lead heated primary split electorate weakened stance high ranking members party backed requested major opponents run end faced lawyer new_york_city won primary vote initially expected heated race easily prevailed republican congressman statewide election end october poll placed won november election carrying new_york counties counties supported margin greater special election victory gave right serve rest clinton second term ended january ran year term november general election faced challenger attorney running republican_party lines endorsed new_york_times democrat chronicle won seat vote largest victory margin statewide candidate new_york history ahead victory carried rural counties western new_york senate tenure april combined press release stated strong support latino nominated supreme_court time vacancy choice introduced senate confirmation hearing july lame duck session scored substantial legislative victories repeal don ask don tell passage james health compensation act issues advocated session aftermath victories commentators opined victories marked emergence national stage march sponsored protect act restrict access web sites judged ultimately announced support bill wide critical public response authored portion stock act extended limitations insider trading members congress version bill merged senator content bill authored senator passed congress signed law president obama april proposed legislation remove sexual assault cases military chain command bill republican senators bill failed gain votes break march efforts likely improved standing senate included annual time time magazine list influential people invited campus activist attend invitation intended promote campus safety act bill sponsored criticized decision public description accused pointing university hearing police investigation cleared man allegations critics decision accused process man reputation order gain support political objective senate positions repeal don ask don tell sexual assault military freshman senators traits caused friction democratic colleagues republican iowa contrasted approach new parties saying distinguished determination knowledge willingness sit senators explain fund raising ability million helped mentor female candidates nationwide committee assignments senate served following committees ranking member energy science technology hunger nutrition family farms committee caucus caucus caucus political positions views issues defined evolution based constituent needs characterized progression flip house known conservative liberal serving highly conservative electorate member caucus conservative democrats senate known populist leaning liberal represents heavily democratic state time appointment senate editorial said reputation house characterized hybrid politician remained conservative seat appearing progressive raise money social issues generally liberal supporting abortion rights agenda sex marriage health care reform public option strong advocate government transparency members congress releases personal scheduling information strong supporter female equality involvement having begun website supporter gun rights house moved direction gun control economic issues conservative received rating americans rates hard core liberal personal life lives town husband sons met venture capitalist british national blind date planned united_states year studying columbia_university stayed country relationship married catholic church manhattan requirements office family spends time washington sold house hudson purchased home closer family albany child second son henry continued work day henry delivery received standing ovation colleagues house day published works published book raise voice change world memoir notable media release future presidential run revealing culture senate including specific comments members congress weight appearance debuted number new_york_times best seller list hardcover electoral history nominated line nominated independence conservative lines nominated line nominated independence conservative lines nominated independence lines nominated conservative line nominated independence lines long nominated conservative line
Kirsten Gillibrand