Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) on Friday named Josh Yearsley as the new chief of staff of her congressional office, with former chief Scott Fairchild departing to run her re-election campaign.

The change will take effect beginning Feb. 14. Yearsley previously served as a senior adviser to the Nevada Democrat and as administrative director. He initially joined her office when she began her Senate tenure in 2017.

“For years I have relied on Josh Yearsley to guide our office, making sure we are serving every Nevadan who reaches out for help and getting our communities the support they need,” Cortez Masto said in a statement provided to The Nevada Independent. “During this critical moment, I am proud to have Josh take on this new role and I am confident he will be an asset as we continue our work for the people of Nevada.”

Before working for Cortez Masto, Yearsley worked as operations director for former Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) between 2011 and 2017 and in the office of Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) between 2005 and 2010. 

Fairchild, the campaign manager for Cortez Masto's 2016 Senate race, was in his second stint as her chief of staff. He stepped down to become executive director in the 2020 cycle of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) tapped Cortez Masto to lead the DSCC in 2018.

“Scott Fairchild has been an important partner throughout my time in the Senate, leading our office’s legislative strategy and pushing for commonsense measures that make a difference for Nevada communities,” Cortez Masto said. “I am grateful for Scott’s counsel and appreciate his continued support.”

Before helping Cortez Masto win Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) Senate seat, Fairchild was the national campaigns director for the League of Conservation Voters and managed Rahm Emanuel's successful 2011 campaign to be mayor of Chicago, according to Politico. Emanuel served in the U.S. House from Illinois and as White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama. Emanuel was confirmed as ambassador to Japan in December on a bipartisan vote.   

This story was updated on Feb. 4 at 8:39 a.m. to note Josh Yearsley is currently senior advisor to Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.