The Joint Center Applauds Sen. Alsobrooks for Hiring Zephranie Buetow as Chief of Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 6, 2025

Contact:
Victoria Johnson, victoria.johnson@jointcenter.org
Kennedy Fortner, kennedy.fortner@jointcenter.org

WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies applauds newly-elected Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) for hiring Zephranie Buetow as chief of staff.

Prior to this position, Buetow served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Legislative Affairs and Assistant to the President and Senate Legislative Affairs Liaison. From 2015 to 2021, she was also on Senator Gary Peters’s (D-MI) legislative team including as legislative director for two years. Buetow graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in Speech Communications. She also earned an M.S. in Communication from Illinois State University and a J.D. and M.A. in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago.

“With over ten years of experience across Capitol Hill and The White House, Zephranie Buetow is a stellar choice to lead Senator Alsobrooks’ office as chief of staff. Her background in communications, combined with her role as a legislative director on the Hill and her experience in legislative affairs within the executive branch, makes her uniquely qualified for this role,” said Joint Center Senior Researcher Dr. LaShonda Brenson. “As Senator Alsobrooks makes history as the first Black person to serve as Senator to serve the state of Maryland, it’s encouraging to see her also recognize the importance of representing the diversity of Maryland’s constituents, where 54 percent of residents are people of color and 31.6 percent are Black Americans. We applaud Senator Alsobrooks for advancing diversity in congressional staffing with the hiring of Buetow, and we urge other members of Congress to follow her example in hiring qualified candidates of color. It’s critical that all Americans, from all backgrounds, are represented among the senior staff in Congress.”

“We commend Senator Alsobrooks for being a leader among her colleagues in hiring and recognizing the talents of Zephranie Buetow. As chiefs of staff are responsible for developing and implementing policy objectives, overseeing personal office budgets, and more, Buetow’s expertise will undoubtedly aid Senator Alsobrooks in considering the needs of Maryland’s diverse constituents,” said Joint Center Vice President, Policy Jessica Fulton. “Since the Joint Center began following staff diversity among top congressional staff a decade ago, members of Congress as a whole have failed to meet the mark of staffing their team with top staff that reflect the diversity of America. With the addition of Buetow, two Black chiefs of staff currently serve in the Senate according to Joint Center data. We hope the rest of the 119th Congress, which was sworn in last week, follows Senator Alsobrooks’ lead in ensuring their top staff reflects the people in their state or district.”

With the addition of Buetow, African Americans account for only nine (3.3 percent)  Senate personal office top staffers in Washington, DC who serve as chiefs of staff, legislative directors, and communications directors. African Americans account for over 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.

The Joint Center also sent letters signed by nearly 70 national organizations and diversity stakeholders to new and returning members of Congress to advocate for increasing diversity among top and mid-level congressional staffers.

To view detailed data on top staff of color hired by newly-elected and returning members, click here.

To understand the problem of a lack of Hill staff diversity, why it matters, and solutions, click here.

Please check the press release section of our website for future updates.

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.