Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-Mont.) chief of staff Stephanie Schriock was named president of influential abortion-rights group EMILY’s List, replacing Ellen Malcolm, the organization’s founder, who is stepping down in February.

Schriock is well-respected in Democratic circles, with a resume that includes stints as the National Finance Director for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign and Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) hard-fought Senate campaign and recount.

She was she was named one of Washingtonian magazine’s “Forty Under Forty: Young Washingtonians to Watch” in 2007.