“She said yes.”

Several years ago a friend introduced me to Elizabeth, the former Secretary to the Minority and the Majority in the US Senate. The position she held carried with it as much, if not more power than the cats (senators) she rode herd on.

Here’s what she did in that capacity: “The United States Senate Secretary for the Majority or Minority, is an elected officer of the United States Senate, elected by the entire Senate by adopting a Senate resolution. (typically nominated by the majority leader). This partisan role combines legislative strategy, extensive floor procedural knowledge and administrative responsibilities to support the Senate’s daily floor operations. In essence, they organize the Senate floor, using U. S. Senators, to achieve the desired outcome for the Majority or Minority leadership.

Elizabeth kept the Senate majority (or minority depending…) moving forward by assisting them in a variety of ways. A more formal list of the Secretary’s duties follows below.

Elizabeth and I found lots of common ground, eventually traveling much of the country together along with other members of the Tea Party, on buses (“motor coaches”) to destinations across America where we would talk to Americans gathered at our rallies. We’d listen to their concerns. I like to think we offered them hope as well.

Elizabeth and I have a lot of history, going back more than a decade.

Elizabeth composed and read a message this Christmas that she recorded and sent out to her family and friends. With her permission, I’m dropping it in here for you to hear it, as she would consider you a friend as well.

Elizabeth Baldwin Chryst (born in Washington, D.C.) is a former U.S. Senate officer, Republican legislative strategist, consultant, and small business owner.She is best known as the first woman elected by the U.S. Senate to serve in a partisan secretary role. Key Highlights from Her Career

• Began her 26-year Senate career in 1975 as a Senate page.
• Worked in the office of Senate Republican Leader Hugh Scott (1976–1977), then became the first female assistant in the Senate Republican Cloakroom.
• In 1995, nominated by Senator Bob Dole, she was elected Secretary for the Majority (Republican) on January 4, 1995.
• After Senator Jim Jeffords switched parties in 2001 (shifting control to Democrats), she was elected Secretary for the Minority on June 6, 2001.
• Served in these roles until around 2001; these were partisan positions assisting the majority or minority leader, distinct from the nonpartisan Secretary of the Senate.

Current Activities

• Principal in the consulting firm Congressional Global Strategies.
• Chairperson of the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Marion County, Florida.
• Hosts a radio show called Congress College.
• Involved in other organizations, including leadership roles in faith-based groups like the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
• Resides in Texas, and is affiliated with the Republican Party.

Key Responsibilities

The Secretary for the Majority and Secretary for the Minority are partisan elected officers of the U.S. Senate, distinct from the nonpartisan Secretary of the Senate (currently Jackie Barber as of late 2025). These positions were established in 1929. Each party conference nominates its candidate, and the full Senate formally elects them.The roles are similar in function but aligned with their respective party leaders (Majority Leader or Minority Leader). They serve as key floor staff, supporting party operations, legislative scheduling, and member communication. The offices are often staffed by experienced cloakroom personnel.Key ResponsibilitiesThese duties focus on facilitating smooth Senate floor operations for their party:

• Floor and Cloakroom Management:
  • Supervise the party cloakrooms (off-floor lounges where senators gather, receive messages, and coordinate).
  • Ensure pages are posted and cloakrooms are staffed.
  • Brief senators on pending votes, issues, bills, motions, nominations, and amendments.
• Scheduling and Information Dissemination:
  • Coordinate legislative scheduling with the party leader.
  • Disseminate information between the party floor leader and individual senators.
  • Keep members updated on the daily legislative program and upcoming business.
  • Assist in negotiations over vote scheduling (often at the leader’s request).
• Member Support:
  • Poll senators on positions (when requested by leadership).
  • Inform senators of all pending business in preparation for roll call votes.
  • Organize party conference matters and oversee chamber activities for the party.
• Presence on the Floor:
  • Assigned to duty on the Senate floor during daily sessions.
  • Seated near the dais (Secretary for the Majority on the right side as viewed from the rear; Secretary for the Minority on the left).

The positions are partisan and switch titles based on which party controls the Senate (e.g., a Republican secretary becomes “for the Majority” when Republicans hold the majority). As of the 119th Congress (beginning January 2025, with Republicans in the majority), the Secretary for the Majority supports the Republican leadership, and the Secretary for the Minority supports the Democratic leadership.These roles are operational and administrative, helping maintain party cohesion and efficient floor proceedings rather than policymaking.

https://www.youtube.com/@elizabethchryst3297