Former Commerce Department aide named to leadership role in House Democratic Caucus

A former Commerce Department and major union staffer has been named executive director of the House Democratic Caucus.

Irma Esparza Diggs recently worked for former Washington, D.C., City Council member Kwame Brown as chief of staff. Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) announced the appointment today, replacing Shelley Rubino with Esparza Diggs.

“With nearly twenty years of experience in the public, private and non-profit communities and her track record of building partnerships and bringing people together, I know Irma will make a great addition to the team and be a real resource for the Members of the Caucus,” Larson said in a statement.

Esparza Diggs has also served at the Commerce Department as congressional liaison and as an American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees staffer. She also worked on the presidential campaign for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and as an aide to Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas).

The new executive director previously served as a volunteer board member of the Planned Parenthood Political Action Fund.

“I look forward to being able to help continue the great work the caucus has been doing, serving the members and the nation,” Esparza Diggs said in a statement. 

“I’m especially excited about working with so many great members and staff," she said, "who are engaged every day fighting for their constituents and the country.”

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