Better Know a Member: Alexandra Robinson

After graduating from the University of Maryland, where she was also a Division I athlete, Alexandra Robinson wrote for Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign in 2020, then moved to Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office before writing for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Labor.

How did you get into leadership communications?
I got into leadership communications the same way most of our field gets into it. I fell into it head-first. I saw an opening to be one of two speechwriters for Tom Steyer’s 2020 presidential bid, and the rest is history. I began writing op-eds, drafting talking points, and preparing materials for televised debates and town halls.

I got to work with the policy team to create informative and impactful policy rollouts and the state communications departments to create messaging and talking points for events. I wanted to continue the work once I understood what this world was like. I saw we were creating real change and bringing hope to so many people. Even though we didn’t win, I felt like we did because we made an impact.

Who has had the most significant influence on your career?
Speechwriters of Color. I found a real community once I joined the organization and began attending the events. When you spend most of your days at your desk alone with your thoughts and your own words, the days can seem daunting and lengthy. Connecting with others in the group and discussing our shared experiences has made my journey in this field much brighter.

What is your proudest career moment?
I served as Vice President Harris’s first Black female speechwriter during her vice presidency. One specific speech I was most proud of working on was Vice President Harris’s 2022 Veteran’s Day speech. President Biden was on an OCONUS (outside the contiguous United States), and it was the first and only time the Vice President was ever asked to speak on Veterans Day at Arlington Cemetery. This critical speech took a precise amount of time and research because Vice President Harris wanted this speech to be perfect and truly honor the veterans who bravely served our country. It was also the first speech I got to write that would pay tribute to the service my dad had given to this country as a soldier. My dad was invited as an honored guest of the Vice President to the Veterans Day brunch at the White House and could see, as he would say it, “his baby girl” work for the Vice President of the United States.

In the speech, the Vice President honored a veteran who had passed away from overexposure to burn pits in the line of duty and another veteran who had served during World War II and is 100 years old, Abe Lurie. A few weeks after that speech, the family of the veteran who had passed away and was buried at Arlington Cemetery sent us a letter thanking the Vice President for telling his story. It reminds me why I do this job and why I love it. We can make such a difference with the written word.

What non-work thing do you love the most?
I love to read! When I am not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book or trying to find the best eats in Washington, DC.

Alexandra Robinson is currently the Head Speechwriter for Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin.