President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris announced an all-female White House communications team Sunday, which includes two prominent Black women.
Symone Sanders, who served as a senior advisor for Biden’s campaign, will serve in the same role and as the chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Harris. The Creighton University graduate previously served as Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) national press secretary. She quit the role almost a year later and later joined CNN as a political analyst and commentator.
According to CNN, Sanders is also the former chair of the Coalition of Juvenile Justice Emerging Leaders Committee and is a former member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice.
Karine-Jean Pierre served as a senior adviser to the Biden campaign and as Harris’ chief of staff. According to Out.com, Jean-Pierre is the first Black person, woman, and first out lesbian to hold that position for a vice-presidential nominee. The Columbia University graduate will serve as Biden’s principal deputy press secretary. The former Vice President developed a close working relationship with Jean-Pierre when she worked as a White House staffer for the Obama Administration.
The former vice president congratulated all of the women Sunday when he made the announcement, calling them all qualified, experienced communicators.
“I am proud to announce today the first senior White House communications team composed entirely of women. These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden’s communications team also includes Kate Bedingfield, who will serve as the White House Communications Director and was previously the deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden’s campaign. Pili Tobar will serve as the deputy White House communications director. Elizabeth Alexander, a Biden campaign senior adviser, will serve as communications director for first lady Jill Biden. Jen Psaki and Ashley Etienne round out Biden’s seven-member team.
Harris, who will become the first female, Black and Indian vice president, called the team “experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering.”
“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis, to the climate crisis, and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice, Harris said according to CNN. “To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly, and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering team will help us do that,” Harris said in a statement.
Psaki served as a state department spokesperson during the Obama administration and was a deputy White House communications director and deputy White House Press Secretary. Etienne previously served as an advisor to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
