From Intern to Legislative Assistant
Ella Yard has been hired as a senior legislative assistant in the personal office of Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1), beginning her role in January of 2026. The position places Yard on the Minnesota congressman's staff, where she will support legislative work across multiple policy areas including civil rights and liberties, immigration, law and judiciary, taxation, and small business matters. She previously served as a legislative assistant in the office of Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-6) from June 2025 to January 2026, and before that held the position of legislative correspondent in the same office from July 2024 to June 2025. Her Capitol Hill tenure extends further back, including roles as a staff assistant in the office of Rep. John Joyce (R-PA-13) from July 2023 to July 2024, and as an intern in that same office from May 2023 to July 2023. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Staff Assistant in the office of Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA-12) from September 2022 to January 2023, following an internship there from May 2022 to October 2022. She also interned in the office of Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) from January 2022 to May 2022. Yard holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government.
The Office She Helps Run
Rep. Finstad serves on four House committees, positioning Yard to engage with diverse legislative priorities: the House Agriculture Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.
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