ITK: Meet 7 Boss Female Staffers on Capitol Hill
Sure, you know Hill. She rocks a badass power suit, she's running for POTUS, and can hold her own on a stage. But do you the other women on the Hill? Capitol, that is. Women who are making moves and breaking barriers, ceilings, and deal will the quiet sexism that still exists there? These are behind-the-scenes-females who wield a fair amount of power and work to drive their party's message. We're highlighting seven female staffers who .
Kat Skiles is the digital director and senior advisor to Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Prior to joining Pelois's office in 2014, she was Press Secretary & Director of Online Strategy for the Democratic Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, where she developed comprehensive outreach plans for Members of Congress that utilized the power of digital and traditional engagement strategies.
Alexis Covey-Brandt serves as the floor director for returning House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) According to Politico she keeps a low profile outside of the Capitol, but is one of "the most recognizable and trusted aides for Democratic lawmakers during frenzied floor votes, at meetings of House leaders and in the behind-the-scenes machinations that determine which bills, large and small, make it to the floor."
Sharon Soderstrom is one of nine Republican female chiefs of staff in the Senate and is the top aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Reema Dodin serves as Floor Director to the Assistant Democratic Leader, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), where she runs the whip operation for the Senate Democratic leadership team. As Floor Director, she runs the whip operation for the Senate Democratic leadership team, and advises on Senate Floor strategy for the caucus.
Rebecca Tallent currently serves as Assistant to the Speaker for Policy, focusing on Judiciary and Homeland Security issues, specifically immigration reform. She came to the Speaker’s office from the Bipartisan Policy Center where she served as the Director of Immigration policy and prior to her work at the BPC, served as Senator John McCain’s Chief of Staff.
Kelly Ward serves as Executive Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Prior to serving as Executive Director, Kelly was the DCCC’s Political Director in 2012, where she oversaw the incumbent protection program and the Committee’s redistricting efforts, and the Regional Political Director for Incumbent Protection in 2010, working with more than 50 incumbent Members on their re-election efforts.
Jo-Marie St. Martin Green serves as General Counsel and Chief of Legislative Operations for the Speaker. She oversees all aspects of procedure for the House, the Republican Conference, and committees. She advises Boehner on filing lawsuits, like the one opposing President Obama's health care law. She's his ethics officer. And she's one of his top advisers.