As Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) prepares for her second reelection bid, the New York Democrat could face a number of primary challengers from other members of her party, according to reports.
Gillibrand launched her reelection bid last week, seeking a third term to the office she has held since 2009, when she was appointed by then-Gov. David Paterson (D-NY). However, some of Gillibrand’s more liberal colleagues in Congress may be mulling a primary challenge, campaign insiders told the New York Post.
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One such challenger who might be considering a bid against Gillibrand is firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who has positioned herself as one of the most well-known members of her party. It’s not clear whether Ocasio-Cortez is considering a Senate run, but some political strategists say she’d have a fair shot.
“She could do it. Oh, my God, could she do it,” Ryan Adams, a Democratic consultant, told the New York Post.
Defeating Gillibrand would be no easy task. The junior senator already has more than $4 million in campaign funds sitting in the bank, and she was reelected in 2018 with 67% of the vote.
But Ocasio-Cortez has also made herself a tough opponent, with the New York Democrat sitting on more than $5.4 million in campaign funds — a number that would likely skyrocket should she launch a campaign, according to Adams.
“If she ran for Senate, the fundraising that would come in from all around the country would easily make her competitive. And nobody campaigns like her. Everyone would come out,” he said. “The apparatus that would spring up around her would be unstoppable. People would fly in from other states to volunteer with her.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) could also be a formidable opponent to Gillibrand’s reelection bid, especially as he has acquired more powerful positions in the House over the last few years.
A source close to Torres had mentioned to the outlet that “there are rumblings in his circles pushing him to eventually go for the Senate.”
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Despite the possible intraparty challenges to Gillibrand’s campaign, spokespeople for the New York Democrat have remained confident in her reelection chances.
“From making gun trafficking a federal crime to securing health benefits for 9/11 survivors and our veterans to bringing home millions of dollars to boost the economy, Senator Gillibrand has delivered for the people of New York,” said spokesman Evan Lukaske. “She’s confident New Yorkers will re-elect her.”
The Washington Examiner contacted spokespeople for Gillibrand, Ocasio-Cortez, and Torres, but it has not received a response.
