Rising Stars: Maxie Holmberg-Douglas, Senate Republican Caucus

Maxie Holmberg-Douglas, Director of Communications for the California Senate Republican Caucus, knew that she had a passion for public speaking and storytelling from the age of 11, when she competed to be the local rodeo queen of her small town.

“I remember being in my purple chaps, gold fringe, and my purple hat, giving this speech,” says Holmberg-Douglas. “Everybody was looking at me so appalled because an 11 year old was delivering this well-articulated speech. That was the first time I ever really spoke publicly.”

Holmberg-Douglas grew up in a small, mountainous town in Northern California called Penn Valley. She is the youngest of four siblings, raised on a small ranch with horses, sheep, and chickens. She recalls waking up every morning and tending to the animals with her sister, which she describes as a very unique childhood.

Maxie’s experience working with animals and her close relationships with her siblings cultivated her interests in agriculture and her firmness of purpose.

“My oldest sister was born deaf,” says Holmberg-Douglas. “I have attributed my unwillingness to let obstacles stall me to her because I watched her in an instrumental time in her life where she was in a rural town as a deaf high school student and she just didn’t let anything get in her way. She continued to pursue her dream. I am extremely proud of my siblings and very close to my family.”

Before her time in the communications sector, Holmberg-Douglas studied Agricultural Business with a minor in Food Studies at California State University, Chico. Throughout her adolescence, Holmberg-Douglas was very involved with agricultural organizations such as Future Farmers of America (FFA), so she envisioned herself embarking on a career in agricultural communications.

Her experience volunteering as a speech coach for a local high school FFA team ultimately set Holmberg-Douglas on her path to Sacramento. She coached the extemporaneous speaker, whose father was the Chief of Staff to then Assemblymember Brian Dahle (R-Redding). Holmberg-Douglas was offered an internship in Dahle’s office, and since then she has been working in politics.

Sen. Dahle saw potential in Maxie from the beginning of her political career, and to this day he continues to commend her work in the Senate.

“I was honored to have Maxie work on my team in the Assembly, and now as an excellent resource in the Senate,” says Sen. Dahle. “She is an exemplary leader, having a brilliant ability to meticulously balance the art of leadership, while keeping a positive mindset no matter how stressful the legislative year can be. I have no doubt she will continue to do great work on behalf of the People of California.”

Holmberg-Douglas found that her Agricultural Business degree was very applicable to her work in policy, as Dahle is a farmer. She quickly moved positions from intern to office assistant, and by the time she graduated college, she was a full time Communications Director for the former Assemblymember.

“I was very hesitant about my age for a long time. I was self conscious until I realized I was hired for this job. Somebody believed in me and saw potential, and perhaps I should believe in myself in the same regard.”

“My circumstances have been unique,” says Holmberg-Douglas. “My internship really paved a path for me that was so smooth. I dabbled in all of these different things until I landed on communications. And then it was very evident that that’s what I was most effective and most efficient in my work time and work product doing.”

Holmberg-Douglas then moved over to the Senate, working as Press Secretary and Communications Director for Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). Right after she joined Sen. Grove’s team, the Senator was elected Republican leader, which provided Holmberg-Douglas with plenty of opportunities for growth.

“She saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself until more recently, and so I am just extremely grateful for the opportunity that she gave me to grow in her office,” says Holmberg-Douglas.

This experience led seamlessly to her current position as Director of Communications for the California Senate Republican Caucus, because when Senator Scott Wilk (R-Lancaster) became leader, he tapped Maxie for this position. Where Maxie previously worked as a Communications Director for individual members, she now leads a professional team, which engages in marketing and messaging for all Senate Republicans.

Sen. Roger Niello (R-Roseville) is but one example of a figure who has been favorably impressed by the work that Holmberg-Douglas has done with the Senate Republican Caucus.

“I’ve been very impressed with the Senate Republican PR folks, headed by Maxie,” says Sen. Niello. “She is a combination of aggressive, charming, and very smart. And those are pretty important qualities for someone who is going to be a spokesperson of a political caucus.”

In addition to strategizing for all Senate Republicans, Holmberg-Doulgas also partners with individual members, supporting their offices directly. Most recently, her team partnered with Sen. Grove to work on human trafficking legislation.

“I got to meet the survivors, who experienced absolutely horrifying things. Having the opportunity to tell their story comes with so much reward for me,” said Holmberg-Douglas. “What felt like an insurmountable challenge ended up turning into an entire movement. A big part of that was the bill’s author, but also our messaging and our media behind it is what propelled it into a movement. And so I’m extremely proud of that.”

With many esteemed professionals who supported her and demonstrated confidence in her abilities as she worked her way up the communications ladder, Maxie desires to invest in her communications team in the same way.

“I’m proud of the team structure and the supportive environment that I’ve fostered,” said Holmberg-Douglas. “We have brainstorming meetings that I think are a lot of fun. It affords everyone the opportunity to write down their idea and contribute it to the group. That’s a culture I’ve tried to intentionally cultivate on the team. And I think it takes time. You have to build your trust with members of the team, you have to show them that you’re investing in them and that you believe in them.”

Holmberg-Douglas’s interest in fostering positive relationships and team dynamics extends beyond her work in the legislature; she helped found the Republican Staff Association in California to provide people with the opportunity to form connections with political candidates and members outside of their day-to-day work.

Holmberg-Douglas plays an active role in her community not only through her work in the Republican Staff Association, but also as a board member of Wellspring Women’s Center, which services women who are near or who have recently encountered homelessness.

“I think it’s important to give back to the community that you’re building,” she says. “And right now I’m trying to build my roots in Sacramento, so I’m excited to be a part of that board, and they do a lot of great work.”

Despite Maxie’s skill sets and confidence in her work, she still struggles with the pressures of being a young person in politics. Maxie has built quite the political portfolio at the age of 27, and she has experienced questioning of her qualifications on the basis of age along this journey.

“Learn your skills, recognize how to harness them, and don’t look back.”

“I was very hesitant about my age for a long time. I was self conscious until I realized I was hired for this job. Somebody believed in me and saw potential, and perhaps I should believe in myself in the same regard,” she says. “It’s not without merit that young leaders feel self-conscious when they are promoted early. Not that it’s intentional from anybody who’s doing it, but it’s a challenge that you have to overcome by believing in yourself the same way that the people who promoted you do. The hardest thing to do is recognize that yourself.”

Imposter syndrome can feel like a parasite, impossible to shake, but Holmberg-Douglas has some advice for young leaders who are entering the policy world: “Learn your skills, recognize how to harness them, and don’t look back. In public service, when you have a talent or a skill set that’s of value, build upon and hone in on your skillset. And the world is kind of your oyster in politics in that regard,” she says.

Maxie describes her ability to communicate and to publicly speak as her strongest skill sets. She learned to hone in on these skills as an intern for Sen. Dahle, and she employed it to work her way up to her position as Director of Communications for the Senate Republican Caucus, where she utilizes it every day.

“I really enjoy the work that I’m doing,” she says. “I see myself doing this, either in this capacity or a similar capacity long term, because right now, it creates such a healthy work life balance for me, because I enjoy going to work. And I don’t think everybody gets that opportunity.”