Democrats are aiming to take control of the Senate this November, Kirsten Gillibrand said Sunday, pointing to voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump and what she called weak Republican recruitment in critical races.
“We have huge opportunities to flip the Senate because of President Trump,” Gillibrand told CBS New York’s “The Point.” “Trump has created a very toxic environment that has hurt Americans across the board.”
According to the New York Post, as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Gillibrand highlighted the party’s strategy to target both competitive and open Senate seats.
Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote.
“These strong candidates, really strong candidates that Democrats have recruited to run, have a chance of flipping red and purple states across the country,” she said. “We think we can win North Carolina and Maine and Ohio and Alaska.”
The key contests include North Carolina, which has an open seat following the retirement of Thom Tillis, and Maine, where Susan Collins has consistently survived tight elections.
Ohio and Alaska are also rated competitive, though leaning Republican, according to the Cook Political Report.
Democrats face a heated primary in Maine between Janet Mills and Graham Platner. The party is also eyeing longer-shot races in Texas, Iowa, Florida, and Mississippi.
“The map has 11 states on it right now. I am optimistic we can deliver the four we need to flip the Senate,” Gillibrand said. “It’s because of Trump’s toxic agenda, our strong candidates that are formidable and represent their state, and then really huge recruiting failures on the Republican side, looking at Texas, for example.”
Gillibrand stressed that strong candidates and targeted races could allow Democrats to overcome the GOP’s current Senate majority, emphasizing the party’s focus on both swing states and open-seat opportunities.
Her comments underline Democrats’ aggressive strategy to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiment and weaknesses in Republican recruitment, setting the stage for a high-stakes midterm battle.
The outcome of these competitive races will be critical in determining control of the Senate heading into 2027.
