Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, is considering leading the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for the 2026 cycle. She expressed her belief that Democrats were slow to address the current immigration crisis, stating that bipartisan ideas should have been discussed earlier to address the urgent concerns of certain communities in New York.
Immigration emerged as a significant issue following the 2024 election, with data from Voter Analysis indicating that reducing the number of immigrants allowed to seek asylum was a key concern for voters. Despite efforts by Democrats to address the issue through a border and immigration bill negotiated by bipartisan senators, the bill faced challenges and ultimately did not garner sufficient support.
Gillibrand highlighted that immigration, along with concerns about child safety, fentanyl trafficking, and gun trafficking, were top priorities for voters. She emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to resonate with swing voters in red or purple areas.
Regarding abortion messaging in the upcoming cycle, Gillibrand noted that voters were focused on the cost of living. She rejected the notion of veering away from identity politics, attributing its emphasis to Republican efforts to divide America.
Gillibrand expressed her intention to lead the DSCC to support candidates nationwide in engaging with voters early on and addressing their primary concerns. She cited her successful track record of flipping a red House district to blue in 2006 as evidence of her ability to win competitive races.
While Gillibrand has not been officially selected to lead the DSCC, she has identified potential candidates, including North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, whom she views as a strong contender to flip a Senate seat to the Democrats in the state currently held by incumbent Senator Thom Tillis.
Recognizing the challenges of regaining the Senate majority in 2026, Gillibrand acknowledged that it might take multiple election cycles to achieve this goal. She expressed optimism about recruiting strong candidates and working towards winning back the majority.
