Kate Bedingfield, Jen Psaki, Karine Jean-Pierre and Symone Sanders will be among those overseeing communications for the incoming administration—marking the first time in history these roles have been filled by all women.
This story originally appeared on The 19th.
Several veteran Democratic, women political strategists have been named to the communications teams for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the transition team announced on Sunday.
Kate Bedingfield, who served on the campaign as deputy campaign manager and communications director, will serve as White House communications director. Her deputy will be Pili Tobar, former press secretary for the immigrant rights group America’s Voice, who worked on the campaign as communications director for coalitions.
Jen Psaki, who served as White House communications director during President Barack Obama’s administration, will become White House press secretary.
Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as a Biden senior adviser before becoming the first Black chief of staff for a vice presidential nominee, will serve as principal deputy press secretary.
Ashley Etienne, who was senior adviser for strategic planning, will serve as Harris’ communications director. Symone Sanders, who worked as senior adviser to Biden during the campaign, will serve as senior adviser and spokeswoman for Harris.
Elizabeth Alexander, who served as Biden’s press secretary when he was vice president, will serve as communications director for incoming first lady Jill Biden.
“It’s a big deal in that it’s not a big deal,” said Democratic strategist Jen Palmieri, who served as director of communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign. “I don’t believe the Biden-Harris transition set out to create an all-women communications team. They wanted an all-star team. It just so happened the best for the job was a diverse group of women.”
This marks the first time in history these roles have been filled by all women, according to the Biden transition team.
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