Longtime Dem staffer leaving foreign affairs panel

The top spokesman for House Democrats on foreign affairs is leaving for a job at Harvard.

Daniel Harsha, the communications director for Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs committee since last year, is joining Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation as its associate director for Communications. Harsha had been with the committee since 2008, where he handled UN issues as a senior professional staffer and served unofficially as the committee’s vote counter and political enforcer.

“It’s been an honor working on the Hill in general and the Committee in particular,” Harsha told The Hill in an email. “While working in Congress has been a unique experience, I’m certainly looking forward to transitioning to the Kennedy School’s Ash Center.”

The native of Washington, DC said moving to Boston will be a big change – but a welcome one after six years of Capitol Hill politics.

“They’re pursuing innovative work on the way citizens interact with government, and how democratic ideals can be practiced in an everyday environment,” Harsha said of Harvard. 

“That,” he added, “and I can’t say I’ll miss the fight over congressional staffer healthcare employer contributions.”

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