Black Talent Initiative

Joint Center Celebrates Sen. Amy Klobuchar for Hiring Bazyen Selassie as Legislative Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 29, 2025

Contact:
Kennedy Fortner, kennedy.fortner@jointcenter.org

Joint Center Celebrates Sen. Amy Klobuchar for Hiring Bazyen Selassie as Legislative Director

WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commends Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for hiring Bazyen “Baz” Selassie as legislative director.

Prior to his current role, Selassie served in several roles for Sen. Klobuchar including legislative correspondent, legislative assistant, and deputy legislative director/legislative counsel. Selassie graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in law, letters, and society and George Washington University Law School with a JD.

“This hire underscores the importance of continuously hiring and promoting talented and diverse mid and top-level staff,” said Joint Center Senior Researcher Dr. LaShonda Brenson. “The most common mid-level positions in the Senate for legislative director positions are legislative assistants and counsels. Bazyen’s experience, working as both an assistant and a counsel to now working as a legislative director for Senator Klobuchar, showcases his dedication and readiness for leading Senator Klobuchar’s legislative team. According to a Joint Center report that highlighted the career trajectories for legislative directors, 27.1 percent of them most recently served as legislative assistants before being promoted to legislative directors. Counsels were the second most common position with 22.9 percent, but only 8.2 percent of Senate counsels were African American. We commend Sen. Klobuchar for promoting talented pathway staff, and I encourage all senators to follow her example in hiring and promoting qualified top and mid-level staff of color.”

Joint Center Vice President, Policy Jessica Fulton said, “In an ever-changing policy landscape, the legislative director plays a crucial role in establishing the senator’s legislative agenda, managing legislative staff, monitoring legislative activity on the House floor, and overseeing legislative planning. Bazyen’s experience at all levels for Senator Klobuchar’s legislative team will be essential as the senator works on behalf of her constituents in Minnesota. Senator Klobuchar is a leader in the Senate, serving in leadership for her party, as a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and as a member of several other powerful Senate Committees, all of which have the responsibility to consider the needs of Americans across race and ethnicity. We commend Senator Klobuchar for recognizing the importance of building a highly qualified and diverse team.”

With the addition of Selassie, African Americans account for only eleven (3.8 percent) Senate personal office top staffers in Washington, DC who serve as chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors. African Americans account for 13.6 percent of the U.S. population. Every two years, the Joint Center tracks in real-time all top staff hires by newly-elected and returning senators and House of Representatives.

Background

In November, the Joint Center launched its midterm hiring campaign, which includes a microsite featuring interactive tracking tools, reports, an explainer video, coalition letters, and a list of ways concerned citizens and members of Congress can get involved. The microsite allows users to learn how each new and returning member of Congress is faring when it comes to hiring diverse top staff (chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors) in their Washington, DC office. The Joint Center regularly updates tracker data. Please check the press release section of our website for future updates.

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About the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank, provides compelling and actionable policy solutions to eradicate persistent and evolving barriers to the full freedom of Black people in America. We are the trusted forum for leading experts and scholars to participate in major public policy debates and promote ideas that advance Black communities. We use evidence-based research, analysis, convenings, and strategic communications to support Black communities and a network of allies.