Elizabeth Alexander

Path to Power

Alexander was born in Cleburne, Tex. In high school, she joined the band and the color guard. But her main passion, she said, was politics.

She earned a B.A. in political science and communications from Texas A&M University in 2001. In the days after the contested 2000 presidential election, she moved to Florida to help set up the Democrats’ press shop.Smith, Matt, “CHS grad named Biden’s press secretary,” Cleburne Times-Review, Dec. 23, 2008

A self-described “political junkie,” Alexander moved to Washington soon after graduating to work on the Hill. She began her D.C. career with famed message man and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) as deputy press secretary in October 2001.

She left his office in April 2002. After a stint as Press Secretary for a 2002 Nevada Congressional race, Alexander began working as communications director for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). She left that job in April 2004 to work on ex-House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt’s (D-Mo.) presidential campaign as South Carolina press secretary.Legistorm Website “I loved it,” she told the National Journal of life on the trail.Cannon, Carl M. and Hegland, Corine, “Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” National Journal, June 23, 2007 

In fact, Alexander enjoyed campaign life so much that she travelled with Terry McAuliffe, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, during the 2004 general election.

She briefly left government life to work as press secretary for the United Nations Foundation. But she returned to Capitol Hill in 2006 as Biden’s Senate office press secretary. Alexander quickly rose in the ranks to communications director for Biden’s personal office as well as his spokesman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which Biden was chair. She held both jobs simultaneously while taking night classes at Georgetown University Law Center. 

The balancing act became increasingly difficult during Biden’s vice presidential campaign. Though Alexander remained in Washington, she helped with communication strategies, especially after Biden won the election.

Alexander said she spent one Sunday in December studying for a law school final while also preparing Biden for the Sunday morning talk shows. “Biden has been absolutely wonderful to work with,” Alexander told the Cleburne Times Review. “I wouldn’t have been able to go to law school and work for him if it wasn’t for his support.”Smith, Matt, “CHS grad named Biden’s press secretary,” Cleburne Times-Review, Dec. 23, 2008

Alexander was named press secretary for the vice president in December 2008.

The Issues

Alexander wins high marks for her work as a message manager and media go-to girl. She has been praised for her infectious laugh and her willingness to deal with the media respectfully. “Normally when ‘it’ hits the fan, a lot of these press secretaries vanish,” NBC producer Ken Strickland told the National Journal. “Not her. When it gets ugly, she still answers the phone.”Cannon, Carl M. and Hegland, Corine, “Senate Foreign Relations Committee,” National Journal, June 23, 2007
 

She has experience launching nationwide public relations and information campaigns, thanks in part to her stint with the United Nations Foundation, when she spearheaded an effort to develop media campaigns about U.N. causes around the world.

The Network

In the White House, Alexander will work closely with her deputy Annie Tomasini. The two worked together on the 2008 campaign trail. She will also help director of communications Jay Carney craft the vice president’s message.

In the Senate, Alexander worked with Antony J. Blinken, the Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff director and Dan Diller, Blinken’s deputy. Blinken advised Biden during the 2008 campaign, and will likely also play a key role in the White House.