From Intern to Staff Assistant
Jaizon Soehl-Zelaya has joined Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN-5) as a staff assistant in her personal office, a move that rounds out his early career navigating multiple House offices. Soehl-Zelaya served as an intern for Spartz six months before being offered a staff assistant position in January 2026. The move reflects a path common among early-career Hill staffers, cycling through internships and staff assistant roles across several Republican offices before landing a permanent position.
Soehl-Zelaya, a University of Rhode Island graduate with a degree in political science, history, and criminal justice, has logged time across five House personal offices. He interned for Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA-5) from August to December 2023, then for Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) from January to May 2024. He moved into his first staff assistant role under Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN-6) from May 2024 through January 2025, then interned briefly for Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23) before beginning with Spartz's office in July 2025.
The Office
In December 2024, Spartz announced that she will be boycotting her committee assignments, claiming she doesn't "need to be involved in circuses" and pointing to a lack of compromise found in committees.
Spartz has been active in the 119th Congress, particularly on healthcare competition. She introduced a package of eight bills in late April and early May 2025 targeting hospital monopolies, nonprofit hospital accountability, Medicare billing practices, and physician ownership rights. Among them were the Combatting Hospital Monopolies Act, which would extend FTC jurisdiction to nonprofit hospitals, and the Preventing Hospital Overbilling of Medicare Act, which promotes site-neutral payments. All bills remain in committee.
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article