Gillibrand was born in Albany, New York, in 1966 and grew up in upstate New York. She earned her degree in Asian studies from Dartmouth College in 1988 and her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1991. After graduating from law school, Gillibrand clerked for Judge Roger Miner on the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. After working in private practice, she entered government service as special counsel to then- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Andrew Cuomo. After working on Hillary Clinton's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2000, Gillibrand returned to private practice. In 2005, Gillibrand left private practice to run against incumbent Rep. John Sweeney "John Sweeney (New York)") in New York's 20th congressional district. Gillibrand won 53% of the vote to Sweeney's 47% in the 2006 election. In 2009, Gov. David Paterson appointed Gillibrand to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton, who had resigned to serve as secretary of state. Gillibrand won election to the remainder of Clinton's term in 2010 with 60% of the vote. In 2024, she was re-elected with 59% of the vote.
