U. S. Senator Gillibrand Forms Exploratory Committee
Compiled from various media reports
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who owns a home in Brunswick, appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Tuesday night, January 15, to announce she is forming an exploratory committee for a possible presidential bid in 2020. The Associated Press is quoting the Democratic New York junior senator as saying “It’s an important first step and it’s one I am taking because I am going to run.”
The senator returned to Brunswick early Wednesday morning to meet with reporters at the Country View Diner on Route 7. In her brief remarks, she talked about making improvements in health care and education, as well as taking on the cost of prescription drugs. She also made comments about the man who she hopes to earn the chance to defeat next year. The senator is quoted on the Times Union website as saying “President Trump has chosen to tear this country apart,” and accused him of using divisive rhetoric that crosses “every line you can find.”
Ms. Gillibrand has already announced plans to travel to Iowa later this week, where the nation’s first primary battle takes place, in the form of party caucuses. The nation’s first Presidential primary election is in New Hampshire.
Senator Gillibrand was elected to Congress in 2006, in what was then the 20th Congressional District. She was re-elected in 2008, but shortly after starting her second term, was named by Governor David Patterson to replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate, after Ms. Clinton was appointed as Secretary of State by President Barack Obama. She won a special election for the senate seat in 2010, won her first term outright in 2012, and was re-elected in November of 2018.
Senator Gillibrand has already faced some criticism for her decision to throw her hat into the 2020 presidential fray, by those who have cited her comments made at the 2018 Democratic Nominating convention, where she promised to serve a full term.
The senator starts her presidential campaign with $10.5 million in her war chest, money left over from her senatorial campaign that she can use in her bid for the Democratic nomination.
The field of democratic hopefuls is expected to grow. It already includes Senator Elizabeth Warren of neighboring Massachusetts, who announced the formation of her exploratory committee just last week.