First On CNN Kirsten Allen To Serve As Harris New Press Secretary
More recently, the addition of Allen follows the high-profile exit of deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh, who is headed to the Pentagon. Singh was Harris' longest serving press staffer, having joined then-Sen. Harris' orbit as senior adviser for her Fearless for the People political action committee in 2020.
By many accounts, Harris suffered a turbulent first year in office, due in part to missteps and messaging failures. And some in the vice president's orbit placed at least part of the blame on Harris' staff.
Allen will be filling one of the last major holes on Harris' communications team.
A source familiar with the office says Allen's expansive knowledge of Harris helps fill the void of longevity Singh's departure creates, as the office looks to continue to find ways to shape Harris' vice presidency.
"With Sabrina leaving, it will be helpful to have people who have a longer history with [Harris] because Sabrina brought that to the office," the source said, highlighting the merits of having some staffers with a longer perspective of their boss's career.
Allen's hire also comes amid a larger communications team reshuffling.
Last week, the office announced that Herbie Ziskend would become a senior adviser for communications, a promotion from his current role as deputy communications director. Rachel Palermo, who worked on Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign and on the Biden-Harris transition, would take Ziskend's previous role and focus on the day-to-day operations of the communications shop.
And Apreza, who previously served on the Biden-Harris campaign and Harris' own Democratic presidential campaign, was named deputy press secretary after working as a senior adviser in the White House Office of Public Engagement. discord server
Allen's hire marks a press shop almost complete. Still missing is a speech writer, after Kate Childs Graham left last month.
While Harris had what some described as a frustrating first year in office, the latest staff changes follow her recent trip to Poland, during which she avoided any public discord and generated little Republican criticism. Harris was prepared and engaged on the trip as she worked to smooth over a dust-up with Poland over questions about sending fighter jets through the US to Ukraine.
Simmons said Harris is expected to continue her effort to do more national television and print interviews.
"From the first conversation I had with the Vice President, she wanted to increase her visibility, particularly with people who don't live in Washington, DC," Simmons said, "and so we have been focused as a team on communicating with Americans across the country, not just inside the beltway."
