Scoop: Gillibrand expected to chair DSCC
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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
After surveying members of his caucus on who should head the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to name Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to lead the party's 2026 efforts, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Gillibrand will be charged with a formidable challenge: Wresting control of the Senate majority from President-elect Trump in two years — or at least eating into the GOP's three-seat advantage.
- Axios first reported in September that Gillibrand was interested in the gig, and she has since run a public campaign to be Senate Democratic campaign chief.
What they are saying: Publicly, Schumer isn't ready to commit to Gillibrand, but sources tell Axios the job is heading her way.
- "I have not made a decision about DSCC yet," Schumer told Axios in a statement.
- "I have worked with Sen. Gillibrand for a long time and I know she would be a strong choice."
Zoom out: Democrats will have pickup opportunities in Maine, which Biden won, and North Carolina, where the Republican Party is deeply divided. But after that, Gillibrand will have to go on offense in red states like Texas.
- It's a more friendly map than 2024, where Democrats were playing defense — and ultimately lost — in Trump's states like Montana and Ohio.
Zoom in: Even though Gillibrand is the only known candidate for the job, Schumer has quietly reached out to senators who are up for reelection in 2026, assessing who is best to run the committees.
- But outside of Gillibrand, no other public candidates emerged.
- Gillibrand leaned on her fundraising bona fides, running a campaign to help House Democrats win toss up seats in New York. Democrats ended up flipping three of those seats earlier this month.
- Gillibrand's fundraising prowess and her work on the House campaigns in New York were received well by Schumer.
What we're hearing: For Schumer, himself a former committee chair, the DSCC spot is a nod of confidence.
- Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) held the DSCC spot for the last two cycles, and his act will be a challenge to follow. Peters held onto the majority in 2022, which is rare for the party in control of the White House.
- While Democrats lost the majority this year, Peters helped four Democrats win seats that Trump took in the presidential campaign.
