Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Krista Pfefferkorn

99. Krista Pfefferkorn

It might take a minute to find a Capitol staffer with more institutional knowledge than Krista Pfefferkorn. She debuted on the list last year, ostensibly in recognition of the tremendous challenges associated with being chief of staff to a member like Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco. Wiener seems almost allergic to the concept of carrying minor legislation – everything he does seems high profile. Legalizing psychedelics, major anti-NIMBY housing reforms, transportation, LGBTQ rights and so much more, whatever is likely to be very difficult and controversial, Wiener is all about it. And there quietly in the background is Pfefferkorn, dealing with the reality of the death threats her boss gets on the regular, managing the extra security he needs to get to and fro, regular hand-holding for nervous staff, etc. It’s a lot, and it became even more this year when Wiener became chair of the Senate budget committee. Some chiefs are higher profile, but nobody is better at keeping the trains running for her boss than Krista Pfefferkorn.

Updated Aug. 7, 2024