By TODD STACY, Alabama Daily News
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – U.S. Senator-elect Tommy Tuberville has hired Stephen Boyd as his chief of staff, the transition team confirmed to Alabama Daily News Wednesday.
Boyd, a Birmingham native, is a well-travelled politico in the nation’s capital, having served in senior roles in the Senate, House and Department of Justice.
“Stephen is a true conservative who has fought for our Alabama values since moving to Washington D.C. and I’m proud to announce him as my Chief of Staff,” Tuberville said. “He is well-known throughout Alabama and knows how to get things done on Capitol Hill. Stephen is a leader of tremendous integrity and during my discussions with him, it became abundantly clear that he is the right person for the job.”
Boyd began his Capitol Hill career in the office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, eventually working his way up to communications director and senior adviser. In the House, Boyd worked as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Martha Roby for six years before being tapped by Sessions to work at Main Justice. In 2017, Boyd was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs, a position in which he acts as the department’s top liaison to Congress.
Boyd, who has degrees in communications and law from the University of Alabama, will officially step down as Assistant Attorney General effective Dec. 11, 2020.
Tuberville previously discussed during his “In the Weeds” interview how hiring a chief of staff was his top priority, followed by a scheduler and communications director. To be sure, the chief of staff is an indispensable role in a Capitol Hill office, particularly for a brand new senator without experience in professional politics. Between his Washington and state offices, Tuberville will hire as many as 50 people, making it like running a medium-sized business, all while managing the machinations of the Senate.
Boyd’s hiring will no doubt be well-received by the Alabama political world, both in D.C. and in state. He has long standing relationships with the various Alabama political interests, particularly in the defense, agriculture and legal realms.
Boyd’s, and to a lesser degree, Tuberville’s job now becomes filling out that staff. As the only Republican to flip a Senate seat, Tuberville’s office will certainly be flooded by resumes, and already has been according to sources close to the situation.
The good news for Team Tuberville is that the GOP talent pool in Washington just got a lot deeper with the defeat of President Donald Trump in the November 3 election. Not only will many White House staff soon become available, so will hundreds of appointees at federal agencies. For Republicans who are in senior roles at federal agencies – communications, legislative affairs, scheduling – the U.S. Senate would be a nice move, and Tuberville is the only one hiring at the moment.
Also throw in the fact that two Senate Republicans – Cory Gadner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona – were just defeated and their experienced staff will be looking.
Tuberville has made it clear that he wants as many staff as possible who have Alabama roots and connections. He hit the mark with Boyd in terms of Alabama roots and Washington experience, and there will be no shortage of choices for the rest of the staff going forward.