Former Kamala Harris Spokesperson Hints at Tough Experience: ‘You Might Be the Last Woman I Work For’

Townsend recently spoke about her difficult experience working for her former boss, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Sanders-Townsend, who served as Harris’s chief spokesperson and senior adviser before joining MSNBC in 2022, discussed the unique challenges she faced during a segment with fellow MSNBC host Jen Psaki.

Ex-Kamala Harris aide Symone Sanders-Townsend suggested she had a bad experience working for the vice president. (Screenshot/MSNBC)

“The thing about being the first is that, whether you’re the first woman or the first person of colour, people often struggle to interact with you. They resort to unfortunate racist, sexist stereotypes,” Sanders-Townsend said during Thursday’s broadcast. She then shared her personal experiences working for Harris, noting it was a significant departure from her previous roles with male leaders.

“It was new for me when I worked for her because I had only ever worked for men before,” Sanders-Townsend explained. “There was a day at work where I thought, ‘Ma’am, you might be the last woman I work for because it’s a lot to deal with.’”

Vice President Kamala Harris has been known for having multiple staffer exoduses during her time in office. (ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

Jen Psaki responded with a chuckle, acknowledging the challenges. “There’s a story there,” Psaki remarked before emphasizing the importance of being aware of and responding to criticism.

Sanders-Townsend continued, “It’s crucial for any candidate, any person in power, to be aware of criticism. You don’t want them to be caught off guard by something they should already know about.”

Psaki agreed, noting the importance of how public figures respond to criticism. “It’s an interesting dynamic,” Psaki said. “It’s not just being aware but how they respond to it.”

Harris has faced multiple staff departures and criticisms for high turnover within her office during her tenure as vice president. Despite this, she has quickly emerged as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee following President Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

See Full Bio