Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) – (Photo. Senate.gov)
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will chair the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2026 cycle as the party seeks to gain more seats, the group announced on Monday.
It’s a tough map for Democrats, who became the chamber’s minority party for the 119th Congress. Republicans flipped four seats in the 2024 elections and moved from 49-51 to a 53-47 majority.
Democrats would need to retain all their incumbents and win four additional seats to become the majority party in the Senate.
“We are excited to announce Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will serve as the next DSCC Chair for the 2026 cycle working to build strong campaign infrastructure, hold Republicans accountable, and mobilize voters to win the majority for Senate Democrats!” the group posted on social media.
Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, has been in office since 2009. She previously served in the U.S. House for one term.
As chair, Gillibrand’s responsibilities include backing incumbents and drafting viable candidates as Democrats aim close in on the GOP majority.
“From now until Election Day, I will work my hardest to support our Democratic incumbents, recruit the strongest possible candidates, and ensure they have every resource needed to win,” Gillibrand wrote in a statement.
Political observers expect a competitive contest in North Carolina, where Republican Sen. Thom Tillis will be up for reelection.
He’s facing scrutiny in Washington and from within his own party as a more moderate Republican. Strategists from both sides of the aisle will pay close attention to how he votes on President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial cabinet picks.
If he doesn’t back contentious appointees like Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, Tillis risks a primary challenge from a Trump-endorsed candidate in 2026. If he follows party lines, he could deter moderate voters towards the Democratic nominee instead.
Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel of North Carolina’s 13th congressional district, who opted not to run for reelection due to redistricting, has publicly declared his candidacy for the seat’s Democratic nomination. Other possible contenders include former Gov. Roy Cooper — he’s yet to announce his plans after leaving the state’s executive office.
On the GOP side, the National Republican Senatorial Committee named U.S. Sen. Ted Budd of North Carolina as a vice chair for the group leading up to 2026. Other vice chairs are Republican U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Katie Britt of Alabama, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, and Jim Banks of Indiana.
Democrats will need to defend their incumbents in the battleground states of Georgia and Michigan. The most viable pick-up opportunities for them look like North Carolina, Maine — where Sen. Susan Collins, the only GOP senator representing a state Harris won in November, is running for her sixth term — and a special election in Ohio to replace Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Gillibrand stumped for Vice President Kamala Harris during an event in Charlotte last September.